Peter Samuelson, Finding Happy
It began by fostering hope
In 1999, producer and philanthropist Peter Samuelson had a conversation that would change everything. A former foster youth, now a college student, confided that while she had survived the system, she had never once felt seen. That conversation lit a spark in Peter. What if foster youth didn’t just survive—but thrived?
From that single story grew a revolutionary idea: create college-prep academies on university campuses across the country, wrapping young people in care, consistency, and high expectations. No longer isolated, foster youth would be mentored, nurtured, and empowered—year-round, for four years, and beyond.
With a background in storytelling and a drive to dismantle injustice, Peter founded First Star. It began at UCLA. It grew to include campuses across the country. And today, First Star scholars are graduating high school, enrolling in college, and becoming the leaders and changemakers of tomorrow.
The idea was never just about academics. It was about belonging—building safe, stable communities where trust is restored and young people rediscover their own power.
Peter’s mission—from Hollywood to the halls of higher education—is chronicled in his powerful new memoir, Finding Happy, published by Regalo Press and distributed by Simon & Schuster.
At First Star, we see that world being built every day—through mentorship, advocacy, and the unwavering belief that foster youth deserve not only opportunity, but joy, dignity, and a future filled with promise.
Read more about Peter’s bold path, First Star’s origin story, and how service can lead us all toward our own version of happiness. Find your copy at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Bookshop, Target, and Walmart.