January 31, 2025 Graduate of Friends of the Children Featured on the Today Show Tah-Jae Franklyn, a graduate of Friends of the Children – Seattle, will sing at our 2025 Find Your Spark! Gala on April 25, 2025 We’re thrilled to share that Tah-Jae Franklyn, a graduate of Friends of the Children – Seattle, was recently featured on the Today Show! On the January 31st episode of Today with Jenna & Friends, GRAMMY Award-winning artist Ciara co-hosted alongside Jenna Bush, where they highlighted the incredible work of the Why Not You Foundation, founded by Ciara and Russell Wilson. The segment opened with a powerful clip of Tah-Jae singing before she shared her inspiring journey. As a child, she met Ciara through Friends of the Children – Seattle, and years later, their paths crossed again before Tah-Jae performed at a youth concert at Seattle Symphony Hall. Those moments helped fuel her dream of becoming a professional singer, making it an emotional full-circle experience when she surprised Ciara on the Today Show stage to thank her personally. For Tah-Jae, music has always been a guiding force. Singing gave her focus in school, and with the support of Friends of the Children, she was able to take voice lessons and join Arts in Motion, helping her grow as an artist. Today, she performs throughout Seattle, including at Climate Pledge Arena with Macklemore and singing the national anthem at a Seattle Sounders game. During her Today Show appearance, she was surprised with a $5,000 award from the Why Not You Foundation, which she hopes to use to record a demo to gain momentum for her music career. We are beyond excited to announce that Tah-Jae will be performing at our upcoming Friends of the Children–SF Bay Area Find Your Spark! Gala on April 25, 2025! Tah-Jae's journey is a testament to the power of mentorship, and we can’t wait to celebrate her talent and resilience with you. Join us for an unforgettable evening and witness Tah-Jae’s inspiring performance live! Watch her Today Show appearance here.