Pictured: With Liquid Castles, Inc., Stacey Maloney shares hope with local foster kids. Photo courtesy of Stacey Maloney.

Local attorney Stacey Maloney is on a mission to support young adults who have experienced the foster care system through her non-profit, Liquid Castles Inc. A 501(c)(3) organization, Liquid Castles is dedicated to empowering these young individuals and providing them with resources to thrive as they transition into adulthood.

Maloney’s inspiration for starting the organization comes from her own mother’s difficult childhood. After being placed in foster care as an infant along with a sibling, Maloney’s mother endured years of separation before being reunited with her family. At age 13, following the death of her birth mother, she found herself placed in an orphanage. Despite these hardships, Maloney’s mother and her siblings rose to be kind adults who lead successful lives. Her mother, for example, went on to have a career in the fashion industry.

Two years ago, Maloney decided to take action and give young people facing similar circumstances the opportunity to build a brighter future. Liquid Castles aims to provide foster teens and young adults with critical support, including financial assistance for their first car purchase or transportation costs for employment, as well as financial aid for first-time home purchases. In addition, the organization celebrates the 13th birthday of foster youth with a $100 gift certificate and surprise gifts, in honor of the same age Maloney’s mother was when she entered the orphanage.

Maloney has ambitious plans for the future of Liquid Castles. While her efforts currently focus on the 12th Judicial Circuit of Sarasota, she hopes the organization will expand and attract broader support, including high-profile figures like actress Rosie Perez, who coincidentally shared the same orphanage as Maloney’s mother.

“I want these kids to understand that life is beautiful,” says Maloney. “You may not have had a choice in the family you were born into, but don’t let your past define you. Everyone faces challenges—it’s how you choose to respond to them that shapes your future.”

Pictured: With Liquid Castles, Inc., Stacey Maloney shares hope with local foster kids. Photo courtesy of Stacey Maloney.