Taking Children A Step Closer to Their Destiny 
A STEP CLOSER FOUNDATION, INC. is a result of the vision of two attorneys Kendra Randall Jolivet and Yolanda F. Sonnier. They are the partners of Randall & Sonnier, LLC, a law firm which represents children in abuse and neglect cases in Baltimore City. Although the cases originate in Baltimore City, Randall & Sonnier has had to travel to every county in the State of Maryland, as well as the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Wisconsin and Missouri to visit and service their clients.
Through daily representation of children, Kendra and Yolanda became fascinated with the talents and potential of children, but found there were financial limitations to what the government could provide to foster the children’s abilities. Kendra and Yolanda’s office began to assist their clients with services such as filling out financial aid forms, job applications, college applications, and other government forms. Their law firm also paid for transportation for their clients staying on campus out-of-state to come home for breaks, prom expenses, singing lessons, clothes, and even underwear. They have given gifts to their clients for birthdays, graduations, going away to college, getting their first apartment and aging out of the foster care system.
For the past six years, Randall & Sonnier, LLC has sponsored a Holiday party each December to ensure children have a day of fun and receive at least one gift during the Holiday season. They invite their clients and children living in various group homes in the state of Maryland. Numerous individuals, businesses and churches annually donate funds and gifts for the event. These donations have allowed children to leave the parties with bicycles, computers, toy store gift cards, televisions, cell phones and many other wonderful gifts.
With the formation of A Step Closer Foundation, Kendra and Yolanda intend to spread their missions to benefit children involved in the child welfare system throughout the state of Maryland and the United States. They envision helping on a larger scale by providing funds for internships, visitation centers, camps, housing, and scholarships in addition to continuing the services previously mentioned.
