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FAYETTEVILLE, GA – Bloom, a Georgia nonprofit serving children and families impacted by foster care, recently honored the extraordinary legacy of two foster fathers whose dedication, compassion, and commitment have made a lasting difference in the lives of children.
Bloom recently presented foster father Tom Riley with the inaugural Nazeeh Shabazz North Star Fatherhood Award, created in memory of longtime Bloom foster parent Nazeeh Shabazz.
Nazeeh fostered with Bloom for more than five years and was known throughout the Bloom community as a fierce advocate for children, a trusted mentor to other foster parents, and a devoted father. Every child who entered his home was immediately treated as family and reminded that they were loved, valued, and capable of accomplishing great things.
“Nazeeh Shabazz was, in every sense, a north star: steady, guiding, a light that others could follow home,” said Pamella Talley, Bloom’s Senior Vice President of Foster Care and Prevention Services.
The award was created to recognize foster fathers who embody those same qualities of unwavering commitment, service, and unconditional love.
Its first recipient, Tom Riley, has demonstrated that commitment time and again. Tom and his wife, Lucy, first became involved in foster care after supporting another foster family through Promise686. They later became licensed respite foster parents with Bloom and have since opened their home 63 times to 20 different children, providing 329 days of care.
Whether a child stays for a weekend or several months, the Rileys strive to give each one something every child deserves: consistency, safety, joy, and a sense of belonging.
Tom’s impact also reaches beyond the children who enter his home. He regularly steps in to support other foster families, demonstrating the importance of a community willing to surround children and caregivers during some of their most challenging moments. One of the most meaningful reflections of the Riley family’s impact can be found in a notebook kept in their home. Before leaving, children are invited to write a letter to the child who will stay there next. Each begins with the same words: “Dear the next foster kid.”
Together, the letters tell the story of children who arrived at a temporary home and left knowing they were safe, cared for, and that they belonged.
By naming the award in Nazeeh Shabazz’s honor and recognizing foster fathers like Tom Riley, Bloom hopes to celebrate the powerful role caring adults can play in changing the trajectory of a child’s life.
The Nazeeh Shabazz North Star Fatherhood Award is now permanently displayed at Bloom’s main office in Fayetteville, serving as a reminder of Nazeeh’s legacy and the extraordinary difference one caring adult can make for a child in foster care.
To learn more about becoming a foster parent with Bloom, visit https://bloomfosters.org/our-programs/foster-parenting/.
About Bloom
Bloom is a Georgia-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children and families impacted by foster care. Through foster care, family support, essential resources, and programs for young adults transitioning from care, Bloom works to ensure children and youth have the stability, resources, and relationships they need to thrive.
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