Austin, Texas - April 17, 2025 - Cheryl Elizabeth Williams is more than just a crown and sash. The reigning Miss Germany 2025, crowned by Virgelia Productions, is a powerhouse advocate for foster youth, combining grace, grit, and a fierce passion for change. With a past rooted in adversity and a future laser-focused on reform, Cheryl is rewriting the narrative for thousands of children left behind by the system.
Raised in the foster care system herself, Cheryl knows firsthand the challenges that come with aging out without a support system. But she didn’t let trauma define her. Instead, she carved her path through education, earning a full scholarship to the University of Montevallo, graduating summa cum laude from Kansas State University, and now continuing her studies in Neuroscience at Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education. Her academic journey alone is inspiring — yet it’s her mission that sets her apart.
Today, she leads FUNdamentals for Foster Care (FundFC.org), a nonprofit she founded in 2019 that provides STEAM toys, mentorship programs, and critical life skills for foster youth. She is also a certified trauma life coach, author, and recent recipient of an honorary degree in Ministry for her work in healing and empowerment.
In 2024, Cheryl was crowned National Queen Ms. Elegant by Pure International Pageants and honored with The Denise White Award at the Global Beauty Awards—personally presented by Denise White herself, a former foster youth and trailblazing CEO. This lifetime achievement award recognized Cheryl’s unwavering dedication to giving foster youth a fighting chance.
Cheryl now uses her platform to amplify a cause many overlook: the urgent need for reform in how we support youth aging out of foster care. “Too many of these kids are punished for circumstances out of their control,” she says. “We’re locking them up for not having a place to go — when we should be giving them the tools to succeed.”
Cheryl is calling on Texas legal professionals and lawmakers to follow the lead of Colorado and Michigan, where courts have banned mandatory life sentences for 19- and 20-year-olds in murder cases. In Michigan, recent court rulings emphasize rehabilitation over incarceration for emerging adults—a model Cheryl believes Texas must adopt immediately.
“We need legal frameworks that prioritize mental health services and education, not incarceration, for youth with no placement. These are not criminals—they’re kids who’ve been failed by the system,” says Cheryl.
Her message is urgent: Texas must stop sending foster youth to jail simply because they have nowhere else to go.
A $1.55M Vision for Independence
Through her organization, Cheryl is working to secure $1.55 million in donations to establish a transformative group home for aging-out youth. This home would serve as a launchpad, offering:
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Two-to-a-room structured housing
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On-site counseling and life coaching
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College prep, work-study, and job training
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Financial literacy and emotional resilience programs
With a clear three-year growth strategy, FundFC’s group home will offer more than shelter—it will be a second chance.
Media Contact
Company Name: FUNdamentals for Foster Care
Contact Person: Cheryl Williams
Email: Send Email
Phone: (817) 297-2066
Country: United States
Website: http://www.fundfc.org
