Children’s Network of Hillsborough County (CNHC) has named Kathryn and Gilbert Melendez their 2024 Foster Parents of the Year.

The couple began fostering in 1996 in Massachusetts, relocated to Hillsborough County, and resumed fostering in 2004 after being licensed through Camelot Community Care. They open their hearts and home to teenage girls, offering a nurturing and stable environment. To date, they have fostered nearly 170 youth and adopted three.

The girls in the Melendez home receive the love, dedication, and hope they need to heal from the trauma they have experienced. Local child welfare professionals have consistently noted their impact, citing positive changes in the behavior of the teens. The youth themselves also have nothing but good things to say about the Melendezes.

“Kathryn and Gilbert Melendez epitomize excellent foster care,” observed CNHC CEO Terri Balliet. “We are so grateful for their incredible work and boundless compassion for Hillsborough County girls. Their devotion and selfless service truly change young lives forever!”

The Melendezes’ dedication extends even beyond their home. Kathryn volunteers on the Hillsborough County Foster/Adoption Parent Association Board, supporting other foster families. The couple has also inspired others to consider fostering, and they are a true asset to the community.

“It was truly an honor to be nominated. My husband and I never expected to win,” Kathryn Melendez said. “It still doesn’t seem believable that it’s been 20 years that we have been fostering.”

If you are inspired by the Melendezes, please consider joining them as foster parents in our community. Visit ChildrensNetworkHillsborough.org today to learn more about fostering, the licensing process, and how to begin your journey.

Children’s Network of Hillsborough is the nonprofit lead agency that cares for abused, neglected, and abandoned children in Hillsborough County.