 Born in Portland, Maine, Victoria Rowell was raised in foster care for 18 years. Emmy nominated, Rowell has been honored with ten NAACP Image Awards for her theatrical contributions. In her role on the hit series Diagnosis Murder, Rowell co-starred with the legendary Dick Van Dyke for eight seasons. Rowell also wrote for the series, featuring the issue of foster care and adoption. Additionally, Ms. Rowell negotiated employment for emancipated foster youth on the show. Sony Television has supported a foster care and adoption storyline, at Rowell’s suggestion, for over a year on the number one daytime drama, The Young and the Restless, which reaches an audience of millions weekly, both domestically and internationally. In addition, the storyline has received Congressional recognition. In 1990, Rowell founded The Rowell Foster Children’s Positive Plan (RFCPP). The mission of RFCPP is to give direct services in the areas of: fine arts, higher education, healthcare, financial literacy reunification programs, cultural enrichment, and resource family support. RFCPP partners with Sony, CBS Television, Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson, The Magic Johnson Foundation, Cedric The Entertainer and Lorna Kyles, Dr. Phil, Sharon Stone, The Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation, Camp to Belong, The Califronia Endowment, and many others. For four years, Rowell has been the National Spokesperson for the Annie E. Casey Foundation. In recognition of her contributions in educating and supporting foster children and her work for human rights and world peace, Rowell received the United Nations Association Award. Recently, Rowell received an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities from the University of Southern Maine in recognition of her work in foster care and adoption.
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