YTFG Fellowship on Disconnected Youth & Social Policy

Mary Lee Kimmins, YTFG Fellow

Law Student - University of Memphis Law School

Mary Lee is the first fellow of the YTFG fellowship program that offers in-depth research opportunities for graduate students interested in disconnected youth and policy issues, while creating a learning exchange between funders and youth leaders impacted by public systems of care.

Mary is a graduate of Austin Peay State University.  She graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a minor in Leadership.  She is attending the University of Memphis School of Law in order to practice family law and to advocate for children’s rights. 

Mary is not new to philanthropy.  Prior to serving as a YTFG fellow, she worked for the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative whose mission is to help foster youth transition successfully to adulthood.   Mary came into foster care at the age of 12 and was in the system for almost five years before being adopted by her case manager one week before her 18th birthday. 

Since the age of 15, Mary has been actively involved in improving the foster care system.  She is a member of the Tennessee Youth Advisory Council, the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, TN Foster Youth CARE, and President of the National Foster Youth Advisory Council. 

Mary was the first youth in her state to be a certified PATH (Parent As Tenders Healers) trainer and works with the Department of Children’s Services to recruit and train Foster/Adoptive parents.

In the spring of 2004, Mary was chosen to be a Foster Youth Intern (FYI) by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.  As a Foster Youth Intern, she interned in Washington, D.C. for Senator Elizabeth Dole.  Mary was a presenter at the Wendy’s Three Tour Challenge, for the Dave Thomas Foundation.

Other accomplishments include Adoptive Person of the Year 2000 and being honored in 1998 as a Tennessee Hero and receiving a Proclamation from the Tennessee House of Representatives acknowledging her accomplishments.

Click here to read Mary Lee's personal story.