Simone Biles celebrates after completing her remarkable comeback, turning the heartbreak of the Tokyo Olympics into one of the greatest redemption stories in sports history(Image via Getty)Simone Biles is known around the world for her Olympic success. But behind the medals is a childhood that was far from easy. Her early years shaped the way she sees children facing difficult situations today.That is why Biles has put her name and time behind Friends of the Children-Houston. The organisation gives children something Biles knows can change a life: a trusted adult who stays by their side.How Simone Biles turned her difficult childhood into support for children in HoustonSimone Biles spent three years in the Houston-area foster care system after her biological mother struggled with substance use. Her grandparents, Ron and Nellie Biles, later took care of her and eventually adopted her.Years later, Biles helped bring Friends of the Children to Houston. The organisation pairs children with professional mentors who make a 12-year commitment to them. The goal is simple. Children should have someone they can trust as they grow up.Tre Maxie, executive director of Friends of the Children-Houston, explained why Biles has such a strong connection with the programme in a Stand Together interview.“One of the exciting things about Simone bringing Friends to Houston, which is her hometown, is her background as a foster kid. She can relate to a lot of our kids who are either foster kids or have some instabilities in their life. To have a model where you have community members raise their hand and say, ‘I want to work with this kid for 12 years,’ it’s tremendous. It has the potential to really transform the lives of some of our children, who have more challenges than any person should have, much less a child.”That is what makes Biles’ involvement different. She is not simply supporting a cause from the outside. She knows what it feels like when a child’s life changes because of the adults around them.The Houston chapter started in 2023. Its first group included 24 children between the ages of 4 and 6, along with three mentors. Those mentors are expected to remain part of the children’s lives for 12 years.Biles has also spoken about the importance of having someone believe in you. During a Friends of the Children event, she said:“I love Friends of the Children so much because you guys have mentors, your Friends, who believe in you, and that you can do anything you put your minds to.”Simone Biles is using her Olympic success to give children a bigger dreamSimone Biles’ work with the organisation has also gained attention through her Olympic journey. During the Paris Olympics, Friends of the Children held watch events at the World Champions Centre, where Biles trained, giving local children a chance to watch her compete.For those children, Biles represents more than Olympic medals. Her story shows them that their starting point does not have to decide where they finish.Biles has never hidden her connection to foster children. In a Vanity Fair interview, she said:“I’ll always advocate for foster kids. I was a foster kid and something very out of the ordinary happened to me.”She also spoke about bringing the organisation to Houston, saying:“We’re opening a chapter in Houston. I think the kids deserve that.”That belief remains at the heart of her work. Biles knows that not every child will become an Olympic champion. But with the right support, they can still discover what they are capable of.Her gymnastics career gave her a global platform. Now, she is using that platform to make sure children facing difficult beginnings know they can dream beyond them.