Impacting generational change by empowering youth through relationships with professional mentors - 12+ years, no matter what. Friends of the Children – Los Angeles’ mission is to impact generational change by empowering youth who are facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with professional mentors – 12+ years, no matter what. Friends of the Children-Los Angeles pairs dedicated, salaried professional mentors with kids who face significant life challenges. We support them from kindergarten through graduation—for 12+ years, no matter what—helping to break the cycles of generational poverty and child welfare system involvement.