Our Story
A.C.T. Wright was founded on a core belief: the past doesn't have to define the future. Tonia Wright went from teenage mother to successful entrepreneur and philanthropist through the power of resilience, education, and support. She demonstrates how adversity can be transformed into a force for positive change.
At just 15 years old, Tonia became a mother and she was quickly faced with the harsh reality that she lacked the most basic life skills. This experience sparked her determination to pursue an education in childhood development, aiming to provide her children with better opportunities than she had. ​
​​After completing her degree in 1991, Tonia established a childcare center in Riverside County. For over 30 years, her facilities educated thousands of children, from infants to school-age, focusing on essential life skills. With support from her husband and family, Tonia created new opportunities and achieved financial independence beyond her wildest dreams.
​Tonia's life dramatically changed with the sudden loss of her husband in 2011 and her oldest son in 2016. These tragedies reinforced her belief in the importance of support networks, life skills, and coping mechanisms for navigating life’s unexpected challenges.​​
In 2021, Tonia established the A.C.T. Wright Foundation because she observed the negative impact that the COVID-19 lock-downs had on the mental health and development of the teens and young adults around her. Many of these struggles stem from uncertainty, anxiety, depression, financial stress, peer pressure, bullying, social media shaming, gender identity, drug addition, and record high suicide rates.
The A.C.T. Wright Foundation focuses on providing 16-24 year olds with life skills development and safe housing to help them achieve personal growth and success. By offering opportunities in education, career development, financial literacy, and independent living skills, we believe our young adults can overcome their personal challenges to reach their full potential.