Fosterpalooza 2025 Shines a Light on the Power of Community Support
This story was submitted by Daniel Terhune of Foster Midland, a powerful reminder of what it looks like when people in our community step up with purpose and heart. At Max Loves Midland, we believe in lifting up voices like Daniel’s—because when we share stories of love, resilience, and community-driven care, we all grow stronger together.
“Join us at Fosterpalooza 2025 - because every child deserves to be seen, supported, and celebrated.
Children in our community are waiting; not just for beds or meals, but for people who see them, choose them, and stay.
I’ve always had this vision of myself in the future; not as a hotshot executive or a world traveler, but as a grandpa. That’s been the dream all along. The kind of grandpa who spoils the kids, tells stories from decades past, slips them snacks when their parents aren’t looking, and always has time.
That longing to care for kids didn’t come out of nowhere. My grandpa Von was a foster parent. My parents ran an adult foster care home, and our house was always full of people who needed care and dignity. I worked as a CNA in long-term care for eight years. One of my first jobs was being a nanny to five children, helping their family relocate to the Middle East. From a very early age, I knew what it looked like to serve others, especially the most vulnerable.
So it’s no surprise that, on just our second date, my now-wife and I talked about our shared dream of fostering or adopting someday. Even then, we both knew we wanted a home that welcomed others - a family that might not look typical but would be built on purpose and love.
In 2018, after years of dreaming and preparing, we were officially licensed as a foster home. We were overjoyed. The journey to get there hadn’t been easy. We’d experienced the pain of infertility and miscarriages, the quiet kind of heartbreak that so many carry but few talk about. Still, we felt a strong conviction that we weren’t meant to keep waiting for life to "begin." We knew there were already children who needed what we had: a home, some stability, and people who would say, "Yes, you belong here."
Just a few days after being licensed, we got a call: a toddler needed a place to stay. We didn’t hesitate. That child had a place in our home and in our hearts.
From there, the pace didn’t slow. Within six months, we had welcomed five foster children into our home. Their ages ranged from six months to sixteen years. Each child brought their own story, their own heartbreak, and their own resilience. At the same time, my wife was pregnant with our first biological child. Life got very full, very fast.
There were court dates and parental visits, sleepless nights, behavioral challenges, and lots of moments where we felt overwhelmed. But there was also joy, growth, and the kind of love that doesn’t wait for things to feel easy.
As we got deeper into the world of foster care, something became very clear: there wasn’t nearly enough support for foster families. Navigating the system felt isolating, and while we knew many passionate workers and advocates, we struggled to find places for collaboration and mutual support.
So, we started building what we wished existed.
Together with a small group of people who shared our heart, we launched monthly meetings for foster families. We created space for connection, education, and encouragement. We made sure there was free childcare. And thanks to support from local partners, we had everything we needed to make it feel like a true community.
It was beautiful. Foster parents left feeling seen, kids had a place to have fun, and all of us left with a little more strength to keep going.
Still, we weren’t done.
Fosterpalooza was born as a fun, public way to celebrate foster families and raise awareness. It was about bringing the joy back. About showing fostering in all its complexity—yes, it’s hard, but it’s also full of hope.
We wanted to give people a reason to smile, to engage, and to maybe, just maybe, consider stepping into the gap themselves.
Now, we’re in our fifth year of Fosterpalooza. It has grown beyond what we imagined. Every year, we see families come together, youth feel celebrated, and the broader community reminded that there’s something they can do. Whether it’s fostering, supporting a foster family, or advocating for better systems, we all have a part to play.
People often ask how we do it, how foster families continue despite the struggles and the challenges, how we open our home, again and again, not knowing how long a child will stay, or what heartbreak might follow. The truth is, it’s not easy. But it’s worth it.
Because every child deserves to feel safe. To be seen. To be wanted.
And while my journey started with the dream of being a grandpa someday, what I’ve found is something just as beautiful: family, built on intention, resilience, and love. Our family now includes two of our own, and we look toward the future when we will open our home to foster youth again.
Caring for foster youth, caring for their families, caring enough to send them home and celebrate reunification. Our community and our children need people who care. If our story can do anything, I hope it helps others realize that they’re not alone; and that the calling to care is always worth answering.
Please join us at Fosterpalooza 2025, because every child deserves to be seen, supported, and celebrated. Foster care is full of heartbreak and hope, and no one should walk that road alone.
That’s why Fosterpalooza exists: to lift up foster youth, support foster families, and show our community just how powerful it is when we come together.
Fosterpalooza is a free, family-friendly event filled with fun, food, community, and inspiration. Whether you’re a foster parent, former foster youth, community member, or just someone who cares, this night is for you.
Come learn how you can make a difference:
-Become a foster parent
-Support foster families with meals, rides, or respite care
-Volunteer your time or talents
-Partner with local organizations
-Just show up—it matters more than you know
You don’t have to foster to care. You just have to show up.
Let’s show our kids and the families who care for them that they’re not alone.
When: July 22nd, 2025 from 5:30-7:30pm
Where: Grove Park - 100 E Grove St Midland, MI 48640
Bring a friend. Bring your kids. Bring your heart.
Together, we can build a stronger, more compassionate community - one child, one family, one act of kindness at a time.”
- Daniel Terhune, Foster Midland
Do you have a Midland County story you would like to tell that aligns with our vision?