The 2008 American Dreams Concert will once again be co-organized by Iowa Friends of Foster Children Foundation and Rusty Johnson, a former foster youth from Oskaloosa, who is a professional saxophonist now based out of Texas. With his truly unique saxophone sound, Rusty specializes in jazz, pop, and contemporary worship, dazzling and inspiring audiences at every performance. When not touring or performing, Rusty takes to another of his passions, child welfare advocacy. Raised in the Iowa foster care system, Rusty uses his personal experience to connect with youth, foster parents, communities and legislators. He expresses his feelings as follows: “Early in my life I grasped onto music and began to receive support and encouragement. Extra-curricular activities are more than a vital part of a foster youth’s life.”

The Iowa Friends of Foster Children Foundation provides items that benefit and normalize the lives of foster children that are not covered by the state’s foster care or medical programs (senior pictures, musical instrument rental/lessons, sports equipment, etc). To help us in our efforts to serve these children, Friends will present the third annual Rusty Johnson’s American Dreams Concert, to benefit Iowa’s foster youth at the Hoyt Sherman in September