When Michael “Mika” Rauch talks about Hillside, the word that rises to the surface again and again is hope. It’s not abstract for him. It’s lived experience. At 14, Mika entered Hillside’s foster care program during what he describes as a dangerous and deeply painful chapter of his life. “It saved my life,” he says plainly. “It got me away from a very abusive situation, and now I’m 30 and I’m happy because of it.”
That gratitude is what brings him back today, not as a youth in need, but as a donor determined to lighten the load for others. Now in a stable place financially, Mika chose to give in the most direct way he could: by purchasing essential supplies for Hillside families. Socks, toothpaste, menstrual products, food—simple items that can make an enormous difference. “I appreciated the simplicity of direct involvement,” he explains. “Knowing that what I’m giving can directly help somebody and take the burden off their shoulders.”
For Mika, Hillside represents second chances. He believes deeply in the power of support systems to interrupt cycles of pain and open doors to possibility. His advice to youth in foster care reflects that belief: embrace the resources available, and don’t let past hurt define your future.
Mika’s commitment to giving back doesn’t stop with Hillside. He recently launched his own nonprofit, Mrs. Reesher’s Reserves, named in honor of the woman who helped his survive before entering foster care. The organization provides anything a child might need to succeed—from school supplies to toiletries to baby formula. “Kids should never have to suffer for the struggles their parents face,” he says.
His message to the community is simple: acknowledge the good foster care can do, and consider helping however you can. Hope grows when people choose to give it.
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