In 2021, Son of a Saint commemorated a decade of impact, service, and success, continuing its crucial work of mentoring and transforming the lives of fatherless young men across Greater New Orleans.
Throughout this landmark anniversary year, the organization reached new heights and strengthened its diverse network of partners, supporters, and staff. As Son of a Saint enters its bright future, the organization looks forward to adding more programs, mentors, and services, and building the lives of more young men than ever before.
We doubled the number of mentees in our program, reaching 200 young men and marking the highest mentee enrollment in Son of a Saint’s history.
In 2021, Son of a Saint experienced the privilege and the honor of celebrating a decade of impact, service and success. The year also resulted in the achievement of our organization, including staff growth from 10 to more than 25 talented team members, as well as the development of partnerships at the regional and national level, including Ochsner Health, Nike, the NBA Foundation, and Stonepeak. With meaningful support from our collective network of committed donors, supporters, partners, and collaborators, we accomplished our greatest feat thus far:
We doubled the number of mentees in our program, reaching 200 young men and marking the highest mentee enrollment in Son of a Saint’s history.
Each new mentee entering our program will have access to wraparound services and resources. Stepping into the Son of a Saint experience means connecting to services that will have transformative changes for our young men—including an adult male mentor, therapy, academic scholarships, tutoring, ACT preparation, STEM education, internships, travel experiences, and much more.
Our organizational capacity continues to increase in a variety of ways and across nearly all aspects of the program.
Throughout 2021, we enhanced our educational services, including increasing our ability to provide tuition support via the Son of a Saint Scholars program, which turns individual or business state tax liability into tuition dollars. We also expanded programmatic offerings for our mentees, ranging from broadened supportive services in mental health, to added travel and summer camp opportunities.
At Son of a Saint, we say that mentorship and support take many forms. Some of you supported through professional counsel; some gave time to drive a mentee from school; some supported our single-mother families via Hurricane Ida relief and response efforts; some gave major capital gifts to fund our new building; some attended our record-setting 2021 Gala; and others provided words of encouragement to our staff and mentors.
As we reflect on this past decade, and look onward to the next, the importance of our mission is stronger than ever. We provide the resources our young men need to succeed. We are grateful that we have the chance to do it together will all those in our corner.
Cheers to 10 years and many more decades to come!
BIVIAN “SONNY” LEE III
Founder + CEO, Son of a Saint
Son of a Saint is truly an experience like no other. This journey comes full circle for me, especially when I get the opportunity to meet strangers and they share their volunteering or mentoring experience with the organization, and I see their faces light up with joy. Their excitement comes from an authentic encounter with the SOAS mission of helping fatherless boys.
My father was one of those fatherless youths, which is why this organization resonates with me. A business owner encountered my father when he was around the age of 10. This man became my father’s mentor and supporter until he went to college and served in the United States Air Force. My father’s life, as well as my own and that of my children, may not be the same if it were not for the support shown to him by that man whom I’ll never know, but to whom I will forever be indebted.
I know exactly what can happen when a fatherless young man is given support, guidance and wisdom, and is shown how to mix those elements with his own self-determination: you get greatness. The organized, professional version of what that man provided for my father is called Son of a Saint. Through its work, Son of a Saint is the bridge between fatherlessness and greatness.
The year 2021 brought a plethora of challenges to our region, including new and unforeseen COVID-19 variants, the effects of Hurricane Ida, an uptick in local crime such as carjackings, and other areawide challenges. While all these tumultuous events were simultaneously taking place, the Son of a Saint team didn’t go hide under a rock. On the contrary, we doubled down on our efforts to show how our mission was greater than the collective negative moments and events.
These are just a few of the things Son of a Saint accomplished in 2021:
• We maintained and enhanced our COVID-19 response plan to support our boys and their families with basic needs and critical services such as food and educational support.
• We disbursed immediate financial assistance to 115 families who were in need as a result of Hurricane Ida.
• We began the multi-million-dollar construction and renovation project on the building that will be the future “Home for Our Boys”.
• We accelerated our Capital Campaign in the midst of uncertainty. The resolve and resiliency of our team coupled with the authenticity of our mission resulted in unparalleled support from our supporters and our historic partnership with Ochsner Health helped us raise over $4 million towards our capital campaign in a time when others said it couldn’t be done.
• We added 100 new mentees and increased our staff and programs to support this new cohort.
When I initially stepped into the role of Son of a Saint Board Chairman in 2019, we had three full-time staff members. Now, we have more than 25 members on the team. In 2019, we had an operational budget of $700,000. That budget now exceeds $4,000,000. Son of a Saint had 50 boys in the program at the start of 2019, and we now proudly serve more than 200. The growth of Son of a Saint is directly credited to the dedication, love and support of our donors, staff, mentors, volunteers, and community partners.
Every time you engage with Son of a Saint, you tell us something vitally important, which is that you see us and that you believe in us. I’m proud to have served as Chairman of this incredible organization. As I end my term of service in this role, I want to thank each and every one of you who have contributed to Son of a Saint and supported its mission during my tenure. You’ve inspired us, you’ve lifted us up, and you’ve opened doors for us.
As Son of a Saint continues to blaze new paths into 2022 and beyond, I ask that you not relax and rest on your laurels, but to do as you’ve done throughout 2021: Walk with a Can Do Spirit, Make Bold Courageous Decisions, Take Decisive Action, Add Value, and Make an Impact. The Best is Yet to Come.
God Bless,
RYAN BURKS Board Chairman, Son of a Saint
INCOMING OFFICERS (2022 – 2024)
William
H. Hines Chair
Peter Hamilton, III Secretary
C. Sanders, III Treasurer
Carol G. Asher Vice Chair
Theodore
Each year, Son of a Saint selects a group of boys ages 10-12 to join our program. These young men are fatherless due to their father’s death, incarceration, deportation or single motherhood, and are often boys in crisis. Son of a Saint employs a holistic approach, using a network of volunteers and partner agencies that enable us to address every boy’s individual needs. Each boy remains an official mentee until he is 21, but the connections remain, and we continue to advise and support him in the years of adulthood that follow. Our goal is to graduate self-sufficient, independent thinkers who are leaders and who give back to their community.
AGES
10-21
RACIAL MINORITIES
THE PROBLEM
Systemic barriers chronically deprive fatherless young men of the economic, health, and education resources needed for them to thrive. The resulting outcomes cannot be ignored.
PUSHED TO PRISON
WHEN REJOINING SOCIETY
LACK PREPARATION
When a young man is sent to prison for years, he rejoins society as an adult who lacks preparation to:
• Get a job • Raise a family
• Pay taxes
232% INCREASE
The cost of keeping one youth in confinement has increased an alarming 232%, up from $46,662 in 2014.
$155,000 PER YEAR
In Louisiana, the cost to keep one youth incarcerated is approximately $155,000 per year.
(Justice Policy Institute, 2020).
• Community involvement
DISEMPOWERED CITIZEN
A young man who enters prison will become a disempowered citizen. He may be on the public’s payroll for the rest of his life.
A GENERATIONAL CYCLE
He may not be a present father in his children’s lives. The cycle will continue and grow exponentially with each generation.
THE CARDS ARE STACKED AGAINST FATHERLESS CHILDREN
85%
Of youth in prison come from fatherless homes.
75%
Of male patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes.
71%
Of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes.
OUR IMPACT
Without consistent, long-term, multi-dimensional support, systemic barriers, including lack of a father figure, poverty, childhood trauma, inequitable education, housing instability, structural racism, and neighborhood violence are nearly impossible to overcome.
CONSISTENT, LONG-TERM, MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SUPPORT
EARLY PREVENTION
Son of a Saint focuses on early prevention with guidance, positive encouragement, and high expectations.
CELEBRATE INDIVIDUALITY
We engage mentees as active participants in their own development by emphasizing each youth’s strengths, cultivating trust, and fostering positive relationships. We encourage and celebrate individuality.
YIELDING RESULTS
100%
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE
New Orleans average: 75%
80% COLLEGE ENROLLMENT
New Orleans average: 61%
*100% of graduates are enrolled in post-secondary education or employed in jobs that offer career growth opportunities.
20 ACT SCORE
New Orleans average: 18
EQUIPPED
1%
STUDENTS RECEIVING OUT-OF-SCHOOL SUSPENSION
New Orleans average: 9%
0%
YOUTH NOT EMPLOYED OR IN SCHOOL (AGE 16-19)
New Orleans average: 15%
0
TEEN BIRTH RATE
New Orleans average: 29 (per 1,000)
WHAT OUR MENTEES ARE SAYING
They feel equipped to make responsible choices and reach the goals they set for themselves.
MOTIVATED
They feel motivated to attend college and have increased awareness of planning for college and career pathways.
2011
FOUNDED WITH 5 MENTEES
2014
2015
2016
ESTABLISHES FIRST HOME
Son of a Saint is founded by Bivian “Sonny” Lee, III with $100 in the bank and 5 mentees.
Entire communities of young men are growing up without a father figure. The result: 85% of youth in prison and 70% of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes.
Son of a Saint was founded as a direct response to this stark reality. Sonny’s mission was straightforward: to provide fatherless boys with the support that his mother had given to him, coupled with positive male role models in the form of mentors.
Son of a Saint establishes its first “home,” a duplex in Mid-city to host dinners, activities, and mentorship sessions.
Son of a Saint also takes its mentees on their first international trip to Montreal.
50 MENTEES ENROLLED
Son of a Saint increases its enrollment to 50 boys, marking a new milestone in providing preventative, long-term and holistic services to young men throughout the entire Greater New Orleans area.
Son of a Saint graduates its first mentee, Alejandro.
The Son of a Saint Family watched proudly as Alejandro went on to study at the International Culinary Center in New York City under scholarship.
Son of a Saint also hired its first full-time program staff member, thanks to support from NBA Player Justise Winslow. FIRST MENTEE TO GRADUATE
2019
2020
2021
FORMALIZES PROGRAMMING AND STAFF EXPANSION
Son of a Saint formalizes distinct program areas and expands staff capacity to support its multidimensional services.
Son of a Saint hired a fulltime licensed therapist, case manager, and education coordinator to provide more consistent, in-house support for mentees. The organization also added core elements to its program, including Nutrition Education, Career Development, STEM Education, and ACT Prep.
LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO BUILD A HOME FOR OUR BOYS
Son of a Saint launches a Capital Campaign to build A Home for Our Boys and supports mentees’ families during COVID-19.
Despite all odds, Son of a Saint and its Capital Campaign Chair Carol Asher raised 60% of their Capital Campaign fundraising goal during the COVID-19 pandemic; at the same time, Son of a Saint pooled its resources and adapted to a new and uncertain pandemic environment to support mentees’ families with basic needs and services.
ENROLLS LARGEST NUMBER OF MENTEES AT 200
Son of a Saint enrolls largest cohort of mentees to date, doubling the number of boys it serves (200 mentees total).
As Son of a Saint celebrates its 10th anniversary, the organization is seeing its impact: mentees are performing better in their ACT scores, graduation rates, and postsecondary success than the average student in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the US as a whole. These results are encouraging when looking at the alternative: 85% of youth in prison and 70% of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes.
Finally, the organization embarked on a full renovation of its new building, with the generous support of many individuals, foundations, and companies. The building will serve as a center for programming and a vehicle for growth in the years to come.
The year 2021 brought a vast array of new experiences and opportunities for the entire Son of a Saint network.
In a 10th anniversary year of unprecedented growth, Son of a Saint not only made new strides, but also received next-level support from our coalition of donors, partners, community supporters, and program collaborators, all of whom continue to show up stronger than ever and in the most unique ways for our boys and our Greater New Orleans community. The year 2021 brought a vast array of new experiences and opportunities for the entire Son of a Saint network, and it set the organization up strongly for our bright and bold future.
We successfully broke ground and entered into full construction for our upcoming and newly envisioned permanent headquarters, named The Ochsner Health Son of a Saint Bivian Lee, Jr. Center, located at 2803 St. Philip Street in the heart of Mid-City, New Orleans. The occasion marked yet another milestone for Son of a Saint in an already thrilling decade anniversary year. The building will effectively fulfill Son of a Saint’s mission and become ‘A Home For Our Boys’ in virtually every way. We welcome the new and improved space that will serve its purpose as a true center for Son of a Saint mentees to learn, create, bond, develop life skills, have fun, and much more, in one comfortable and familiar location. We have to thank Ochsner Health, Hancock Whitney Bank, Trapolin-Peer Architects, and Broadmoor Construction, along with our many committed supporters and board members, for not only believing in our bold future, but also actively supporting it.
During the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, we also saw impact in action with the increase of our talented and dedicated staff members in the functional
areas of programs, operations, and development. We also achieved a record-setting increase in our mentee enrollment. By the close of 2021, Son of a Saint reached the highest level of mentees joining the program in our entire organizational history, allowing us to begin holistically serving more than 200 boys. This is all thanks to the constant and sustained support from all those who support our mission.
Financially, we had a strong fiscal year ending December 2021, which was highlighted by our annual fundraising gala which generated over $500,000 in net income. This was easily our best and most successful gala to date and we are looking forward to surpassing last year’s numbers. We could not successfully support all of our mentees without the commitment and support of our mentors and volunteers. The estimated fair market value of donated services provided to SOAS during the fiscal year was approximately $847,000. In addition, there were numerous volunteers who donated their time in SOAS’s programs and supporting services. Our volunteer workers donated an estimated 3,100 hours of time and the estimated value based on volunteer rates was close to $75,000.
As I continue to serve as Son of a Saint’s Chief Operating and Financial Officer, I am both moved by all we recently accomplished, and motivated to continue reaching even greater heights of impact, service, and success. On behalf of the entire Son of a Saint organization, our gratitude runs deep because we know that only through collaboration, coalition, and community coming together are we able to continue blazing a trail that will light the way for countless others in the many years and decades ahead of us.
Total Current Liabilities Net Assets: Without Donor Restrictions With Donor Restrictions
Total Net Assets
Revenues and Other Support
Contributed Support: Grants Donations
In-Kind Donations
School Contract Income
Other Income Investments Income / (Loss)
Net Assets Released from Restriction
TOTAL REVENUE AND OTHER SUPPORT
INCOME EXPENSES Without Donor Restrictions ($) Without Donor Restrictions ($) With Donor Restrictions ($) With Donor Restrictions ($) Total ($) Total ($)
Program Services
Supportive Services: General and Administrative
Fundraising
TOTAL EXPENSES
TOTAL NET OPERATING INCOME
Other Revenue/Expenses: COVID Payroll Protection Program (PPP)
We welcomed two new classes of mentees — 37 in June 2021, and 26 in January 2022.
ALEXANDER ALFRED ANDRE
AHMAD
AARON
ANGELO
AIDYEN
ANTHONY AYDEN BERNARD CALVIN
CEDRIC CHARLES
CHASE C. CAMDEN
DANIEL
CHASE L.
DARIUS
CORONJI
DARRYL
DAIDEN
DONALD DAMARI
GENE
DWAYNE ELIJAH
HARET
FURNELL HUNTLEY
GABRIEL
IMAND
JEFFREY JIMARION JONATHON
JADARIUS
ISAIAH L.
ISAIAH J.
JOSHUA B. JADEN
JOSHUA D. KAMRON KÀRON KE’MYRAN
KEITH S. KEVIN LAJUAN KEITH J.
MATTHEW
LESLIE
MALIK
TRENDELL
RAYMOND
SHAPIRO
TRA’
ZORY
Son of a Saint During Hurricane Ida
Responding with speed and intention to meet emergency needs
Hurricane Ida unleashed unforeseen hardship on many communities in Louisiana at a time when families were already experiencing fragility and personal burdens from COVID-19. Homes were flooded, roofs were ripped from homes, and over 1 million households were left without power. The storm exacerbated the chronic job, financial, and housing instability experienced by many of the single-female guardian families that Son of a Saint serves. Some families evacuated and were faced with difficult decisions about depleting emergency savings; others were forced to consider taking out predatory loans; while others were not in a position to even be able to evacuate. Eleven families lost their homes and belongings to storm damage, while many others experienced long periods of displacement, home damage, and financial strain.
In the immediate aftermath of the storm, Son of a Saint responded with speed and intention.
We connected with our families, facilitating a survey-based needs assessment and individual phone conversations to gain an understanding of circumstances and emergency needs. We learned that the most pressing need and the best way to assist our geographically scattered families was to provide direct cash assistance to support basic needs and services such as batteries, gas, fans, generators, candles, flashlights, non-perishable food items, water, toiletries, and cash for temporary out-of-state accommodations.
With generous support from our dedicated community of supporters, Son of a Saint successfully distributed emergency cash disbursements to 115 families in need.
We then moved to Phase 2 Recovery Effort, which included distribution of meals, support with utility and rent payments, restocking household refrigerators once power was restored, rebuilding homes that sustained damage due to the hurricane, connections to community resources such as housing and job placement services, mental health services to help guardians and children cope with the stress and trauma of uncertainty, assistance with FEMA and other community resource or government assistance application forms, and reconnecting mentees with academics, including homework, college applications, and ACT prep.
Son of a Saint also created the “Son of a Saint Away” mentee experience, for 7 boys and families who had to relocate permanently or semi-permanently due to Ida and its after effects. These mentees are still active members of Son of a Saint and make visits to New Orleans 2 to 3 times a year.
Finally, Son of a Saint launched a partnership with The Allstate Foundation to proactively mitigate hardships during future disasters.
Agents from Allstate will volunteer their time to help families create individualized disaster preparedness plans that fit their individual circumstances and needs. The Foundation also provided the first $25,000 gift to a Son of a Saint Emergency Response Fund, which will be used during times of future hardship and financial strain for our families.
These response efforts are emblematic of Son of a Saint’s overarching approach — nimble, flexible, and responsive to needs as they emerge, and always putting our mentees and families first.
Mentee Experiences:
Summer Camp, STEM, and Sports & Recreation
Throughout 2021, Son of a Saint seized the opportunity to enhance programming offerings and introduce new opportunities and experiences to mentees. This progression was made possible thanks to the community of supporters, advisors, partners, and friends that surround and uplift our organization.
Summer Camp
Summer camp is one of the most important elements of Son of a Saint’s program, exposing our mentees to enriching experiences that allow them to broaden their horizons, learn new skills, and build positive, lasting, peer-to-peer relationships. These dynamic summer camp adventures provide safe environments for Son of a Saint’s young men to freely learn, grow, and develop their capabilities.
In 2021, Son of a Saint sent 55 mentees to summer camps all over the country. From Camp Belknap in Mirror Lake, New Hampshire, to Camp Jameson in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Camp Rockmont in Asheville, North Carolina, and beyond, our boys discovered and enjoyed newfound activities like caneoing, hiking, road tripping, and nature exploration.
STEM
Son of a Saint partnered with STEM NOLA to facilitate STEM Enrichment Workshops for mentees of all ages. Through these engaging activities and intentional partnerships, Son of a Saint spurred an increase of knowledge and interest in STEM-based careers, as well as an increased belief in STEM as a viable career path.
Son of a Saint is purposeful with the workforce development activities we engage our mentees in and mindful of the economic and individual impact we can create by steering our youths toward a future in STEM.
Sports & Recreation
One of the best ways for the young men to create bonds, practice consistency through routine, exercise, team building, and celebrate shared success, is through our myriad sports recreation opportunities. In 2021, Son of a Saint provided mentees a range of sports and recreation experiences in the form of wellness weekends, athletics clinics, a basketball camp in partnership with the University of New Orleans, and much more.
Hard work paid off in May 2021, when Son of a Saint’s talented flag football team, The Warhawks, clenched the championship for their division, marking a milestone achievement and ultimate, well-deserved victory for our mentees and their mentor coaches who persevered throughout the entire season.
JAEDON SIMMONS
2021 Mentee of the Year
Son of a Saint has given me opportunities to discover things about the world and most importantly about myself. As a child in a motheronly household, there are not many, if any, opportunities to have a patriarch teach you things about life and about how to grow up as a young man. Even though I have an amazing mother, there’s only so much a mother can do for her son. Sons like me would have to figure things out about themselves on their own, as a mother cannot relate to many of the phases and situations a maturing young man would go through.
Son of a Saint has given me the incredible opportunity to have not only one mentor teach me the ropes of life, but an entire organization. So many people in and around Son of a Saint have done wonders to help make me the successful young man I am today. I’ve learned so many social, networking, and mental control skills thanks to the resources Son of a Saint has offered and will continue to offer me.
VERGIL SPEED
2021 Mentor of the Year
My experience as a Son of a Saint mentor has been exceptionally significant and fulfilling! As a mentor to the young men of Son of a Saint, we are in a position to aid the mentees while they are — sometimes unknowingly — also inspiring us in so many ways. I had no idea that my relationship with my mentee Winston would become so profound, as I now consider him more like a younger sibling rather than solely my mentee.
JADA IRVING
Mom of mentees Dylan and Jayce
Son of a Saint has impacted my sons’ lives and mine tremendously. From the day I read about the program, my goal was to have Jayce and Dylan join Son of a Saint once they turned 10. Having them accepted was one of the greatest feelings I’ve experienced as a single mother. Son of a Saint hits the ground running with helpful and encouraging staff, along with so many program offerings to my boys, like counseling, tutoring, cooking lessons, cultural events, sports activities, and more. Most importantly, my sons are seeing positive examples of strong adults who are eager to lend a helping hand and help them grow into healthy, responsible young men. We now have a second family to join us on our journey, ensuring my sons’ future success.
TRACEY ROBINSON
Mom of mentee Winston
“Exposure” and “Expansion” — those are the two words that come to mind when I think of how Son of a Saint has impacted my son, Winston. He’s benefited from many events, people, opportunities, and resources that I, as a divorced single mama, quite honestly did not have access to. Before he was born, I knew I would be very selective on who was allowed into his environment and circle of influence.
I watched him grow from a 12-year-old boy and transform into a strong, ambitious, tenacious young man.
Son of a Saint exposed him to greatness in all areas of life from health and wellness, creativity, and entrepreneurship, to work ethic, networking, the importance of education, community service, along with so much more. Lastly, Son of a Saint has expanded his thinking of what he’s capable of as well as being intentional about continual personal growth. I’m grateful for this program becoming a critical, yet generous and edifying addition to my tribe of ushering Winston into manhood and beyond.
ALON SHAYA
Chef and Son of a Saint Ambassador
New Orleans, LA
I believe that the Son of a Saint organization not only changes individual lives for the better, but also makes our entire community a better and stronger place for us all. The potential that every child has to succeed is discovered and supported by the mentors who work with them. The incredible team at Son of a Saint are the sunlight that allows the children to blossom into men.
ANDREW YEATES
Founder, Physicians Group Laboratories, Providers Choice Laboratory New Orleans, LA
The commitment that Son of a Saint makes to each mentee is immense. Program services are available for mentees 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The sheer scope of Son of a Saint’s work continues to impress and inspire. I am humbled in our ability to support this amazing mission.
TRAJAN LANGDON
General Manager, New Orleans Pelicans New Orleans, LA
The opportunity to impact the lives of the youth has always been of great importance to me. After seeing how Son of a Saint has positively impacted the lives of so many young men and their families through education and experiences, I wanted to contribute to the growth of this inspirational movement. What they have done for youth in the city of New Orleans is simply amazing and they are working hard to do even more. I was blessed with a great family who provided me what was needed for me to succeed, but there are many young men that don’t have the necessary resources and skills to be successful in life. Son of a Saint’s mission is to transform the lives of as many of these kids as possible.
MICHAEL DORRELL
Chairman, CEO & Founder, Stonepeak New York, NY
Stonepeak is proud to support Son of a Saint, an incredible organization bringing critical social services to the community of New Orleans, and we look forward to building a deep and meaningful partnership with Sonny and the team in the years to come. Sonny continues to build and expand his wonderful community, providing a supportive framework that changes lives in a profoundly positive way. We are honored to play a small part in the continued build out of the organization and its programming and are excited for all of the ways the team will no doubt increase their already significant impact in 2022 and beyond.
From 2020 – 2021 Son of a Saint increased from 130 to 200 mentees
25 GRADUATES
From 2011 – 2021
All Mentee Graduates are enrolled in College/Postsecondary education or employed with opportunities for career advancement
NEAL JOHNSON
Neal joined Son of a Saint in January 2021. He is currently a rising 8th grader at Homer A. Plessy Community School.
Since joining the program in January 2021, Neal has demonstrated leaps of growth. His developing leadership skills are on display at Son of a Saint activities and day-to-day at school. Selected and trusted to be a peer mentor amongst his schoolmates, Neal’s emotional maturity and responsibility are recognized by the adults who meet him. Neal seizes opportunities to grow and learn, participating in many activities including nutrition education courses, STEM learning, weekly study hall, and horseback riding. One of Neal’s strengths is being able to adapt to new situations. Whether its an unfamiliar summer camp or attending activities, Neal learns to cope with his new surroundings and then excel, creating meaningful friendships along the way.
ZANDER DUNBAR
Zander joined Son of a Saint in 2013. He is currently a graduating senior at St. Augustine High School.
An exceptionally smart and dedicated student, Zander not only consistently maintains a 4.0 GPA, but also plays on his school’s golf team and excels as a state champion in track and field. Reflecting on his experience thus far, Zander appreciates the way St. Augustine and Son of a Saint have both challenged him to grow as a student and an individual, becoming more articulate and assertive. Zander is hard-working and pushes himself to succeed in all that he does. Upon graduating, Zander will attend Tulane University where he will run track. A finalist for the Posse Scholarship, Zander’s career aspirations are centered on a future in U.S. politics.
TERROL MARTIN
2020 Graduate
Terrol lives and works in New Orleans after graduating from McDonogh 35 High School in 2020. After high school, he successfully pursued and obtained his Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC®) card, and has started his career in the maritime industry.
In his spare time, Terrol visits and volunteers with Son of a Saint.
KOLBE CAGE
2020 Graduate
Kolbe graduated from Holy Cross High School in 2021. He is currently enrolled at the University of Arizona on a football scholarship and majors in business.
He looks forward to continuing his undergraduate career and exploring career options.
JAVIER CASTELLON
Javier joined Son of a Saint in its earliest phase at the age of nine years old.
In 2021, Javier graduated from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) with a 4.0 GPA.
Consistently a leader amongst his Son of a Saint brothers, Javier made the most of his experience, preparing his pathway for his promising future, including landing a paid hands-on internship with Trahan Architects at the firm’s downtown New Orleans office.
Javier was also named as the first recipient of the Son of a Saint + Felipe’s Scholarship, while also earning his place as a Posse Foundation Scholar ahead of his college experience at Case Western Reserve University. These achievements represent major wins, not only for Javier, but also for Son of a Saint’s Programs and Education Team, as it continues to strategically build the organization’s impactful college and career development tracks.
Javier personifies the best of Son of a Saint — a standout example to younger mentees in the program of what opportunities exist and await them in the real world through hard work, consistency, and dedication to achievable goals.
2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RYAN BURKS
President, RYCARS Construction (Board Chair)
WILLIAM H. HINES
Managing Partner, Jones Walker (Vice Chair & Governance Committee Chair)
AMANDA BERGER
Attorney (Development Committee Chair)
PETER HAMILTON, III
Attorney, The Law Offices of Peter Hamilton (Secretary)
CAROL G. ASHER
Community Activist
KEVIN C. GREEN, JR.
Vice President Ochsner Community
Based Clinics, Ochsner Health
HENRY KING
Managing Member, King & Jurgens, LLC
CHIP KNIGHT
Chief Banking Officer, Hancock Whitney Bank
JEN HAYES LEE
Head of Marketing, The Bump
NANCY REBOLD
Founder, Child Advocates of Connecticut
THEODORE C. SANDERS, III
Chief Executive Officer, Louisiana Asset Management Pool
BYRON SLOSAR
Chief Executive Officer & Founder, HIVE Diversity
CLEVELAND SPEARS, III
President/CEO, Spears Group
BIVIAN “SONNY” LEE III
Founder & CEO, Son of a Saint
2021 AMBASSADORS
JON BATISTE
Musician
BRYAN BATT
Actor/ Author/ Activist
ELIZABETH BOH
Philanthropist
TERENCE BLANCHARD
Jazz Trumpeter, Composer
MARQUES COLSTON
New Orleans Saints Hall of Famer
NINA COMPTON
Chef-owner, Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro
STEVE GLEASON
Former New Orleans Saint; Activist
A.J. KLEIN
NFL Linebacker
SOLANGE KNOWLES
Recording Artist
DONALD LINK
Restauranteur
DEUCE MCALLISTER
New Orleans Saints Hall of Famer
THOMAS MORESTEAD
NFL Punter
P.J. MORTON
Maroon 5; Founder, Morton Records
DR. JOHN NICKLOW
President, University of New Orleans
KENNETH POLITE
United States Assistant Attorney General
MARK ROMIG
Chief Marketing Officer, New Orleans & Company
STEPHEN STRYJEWSKI
Restauranteur
BENJAMIN WATSON
Former New Orleans Saint
MATTHEW WINKLER
Journalist; Founder, Bloomberg News
JUSTISE WINSLOW
NBA Forward
($50,000+)
Advantage Capital
The Allstate Foundation
Baptist Community Ministries*
Amanda & Ryan Berger*
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation*
The Boeing Company
Boysie Bollinger*
Ryan & Stephanie Burks
Andrew Yeates & Christopher Cedotal
Trevor Colhoun*
Emeril Lagasse Foundation
Goldring Family Foundation
Gustaf W. McIlhenny Foundation*
Hancock Whitney*
Michael & Alicia Johnson*
Jones Walker*
Kavanagh Family Foundation
Khoury Family Charitable Foundation*
Robert & Sheryl Merrick
Methodist Health System Foundation, Inc.*
NBA Foundation
Nike, Inc.
Benjamin B. Peeler, M.D.*
Ruth U. Fertel Foundation*
Ruth Lilly Philanthropic Foundation
Stonepeak*
United Way of Southeast Louisiana*
Valero Energy Foundation
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Wayne Teetsel
($25,000-$49,999)
Asher-Meyers, LLC
AT&T
The Capital Group Companies
Charitable Foundation
Capital One
Chevron
Crescent River Port Pilots’ Foundation
Ella West Freeman Foundation
Freeport-McMoRan Corporation
Instagram
Greg Keller
King & Jurgens, LLC
Jeffrey Scott & Corine Koornhof
La Societe Des Dames Hospitalieres
Latter & Blum
Law Office of Roderick Alvendia, LLC
Libby-DuFour Fund
The Magnolia Companies of Louisiana, LLC
The Patin Family
The Rebold Family / Patricia & Bernard
Goldstein Family Foundation
Richard C. Adkerson Family Foundation
RosaMary Foundation
David Schulingkamp
Laura Scriba
Stand Together Foundation
Jonathan & Karen Whitcomb Fund*
($10,000-$24,999)
Benjamin Allen
Arch Capital Services, LLC
Harold & Carol Asher
Atmos Energy Corporation
Baton Rouge Area Foundation
Joshua Blaine
Blue Oak BBQ Company
Boh Bros Centennial Fund
Lynne Burkart
J. Storey Charbonnet
Kevin Clifford
Stephen & Beth Conner
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Casey Cowley
Dora Ferber & the Ferber Family of Houma Foundation
Doug Ellin
Entergy
Felipe’s Taqueria
Gallo Family*
The Goss Family
Greater New Orleans Foundation
Marie & Todd Gregory
David & Meredith Griffin
Patrick Gros
Ben & Shania Grubbs
Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Co.
Darvis Harvey
Bill & Mary Hines
IBERIABANK | First Horizon
Leslie Jacobs*
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Bart & Kaitlin Kelly
Trajan & Tatiana Langdon
Jimmy & Vicki Lee
Liberty Foundation
Shane & Mona Loper
The Lupin Foundation
Beverly Matheney
Medtronic
The Napper Family
Stacey & John Olson
Platt Family Foundation
Pro Bono Publico Foundation
Quality First Marine
Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust
James D. Robinson, Jr. and Family
Lindsy & Jason Sanders
Daniel Schmitz & Tessa Albrecht-Schmitz
Adam Segel
Southern University System
Foundation, Inc.
Spears Group
Susco Solutions
Tesson Foundation
Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Verizon Foundation
What You Give Will Grow
Ebonie & James Williams*
Window World
Matthew & Lisa Winkler
($5,000 - $9,999)
Academy Sports + Outdoors
David & Lynn Adams
Amgen Foundation Matching Gifts
Program
Bryan & Rachel Bailey
The Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s Outdoor Fund
Allan & Cassandra Baudoin
Belle Chasse Marine Transportation
The Blackbaud Giving Fund
Blue Giant
Elizabeth Boh
Briggs Brothers
Enterprises Corporation
Jason & Bridget Burns
Marvin & Stephanie Campbell
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph C. Canizaro
A Gift through the Catholic Community Foundation
Beth and Jimmie Colón*
Cox Communications
Ari Currera
Timothy Francis
Frederick J. Gisevius, Jr. Foundation
Katherine & Tony Gelderman
The Giving HOPE Foundation
Diana & Sean Greenberg
GT Environmental Finance
Warmoth Guillaume
Gwendolyn Events
Peter Hamilton
Brian & Lisa Katz
Lee Lafleur
Laird Norton Family Foundation
Lauricella Land Company Foundation & Lauricella & Associates, Inc.
Ms. Ann Tenenbaum &
Mr. Thomas H. Lee
The LuLu Foundation
Jeffrey & Kristy Meyers
National Urban League
New Orleans Rotary Fund, Inc.
Nike Community Impact Fund
Pomegranate Hospitality
PH Henry LLC
Seth Levine & Alexa Pulitzer
Brigita Rodriguez
Jaclyn & Sam Stubblefield
Theragun, Inc
Union Pacific Foundation
University of New Orleans Foundation
The Wendy’s Company
($2,500 - $4,999)
Abita Brewing Company, LLC
Dat Dog
Episcopal Community Services
Tim & Luba Flanigan
Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
John W Kelsey
Henry & Cary King
Chip & Jennifer Knight
Krispy Krunchy Foods, LLC
Liberty Bank and Trust Company
Lockheed Martin
MightyCause Foundation
Melinda & Morris Mintz
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation
Shaun Norris
Ochsner Clinic Foundation
Ruby Slipper Cafe
Susan & Charles Schadt
Shell Oil Company Foundation
Matching Gifts
Tranchina & Mansfield, LLC
Union Ramen
U.S. Bancorp Community
Development Organization
Sarah and Tommy Usdin
Valley of the Sun United Way
James Washington
The Whitman Family Foundation
Stephanie Winkler
WiseHeart Foundation
Woolard Family Foundation
SON OF A SAINT SCHOLARS
2021 SUPPORTERS
$1.15M
Patrick & Christina Comer
$50,000+
Frank Friedler
Jay Himmel
Melissa and Morris Mintz
$25,000-$49,999
Jeffrey Scott and Corine Koornhof
$10,000-$24,999
Bob and Mindy Caplan
Giselli & Josh Danzig
Daniel and Stefanie Gallagher
Jude and Jennifer Heath
Henry and Cary King
Michael and Ashley Kirschmann
Jonathan Stewart
Where Y’at Magazine
$5,000-$9,999
Amanda Aiken
Clancy DuBos
Keith Duet
Patricia Ross & Charles Gay
Peter Hamilton
Lynnette and Patrick Judge
Michael Parenton
George Rosevally
*Multi-year pledge
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Son of a Saint has created a community of volunteers to aid in communicating the needs of the organization to external supporters, as well as to maintain and develop the spirit of service in every aspect of our growth.
OUTREACH + EVENT VOLUNTEER
Assist with event setup, guest registration and communication, as well as cleanup service. Outreach + Event Volunteers may also choose to be involved in event planning. Events and activities include attending fairs and community events, tabling booths, networking meetings and more.
TRANSPORTATION VOLUNTEER
Provide local transportation for our mentees to and from Son of a Saint events, school, home, games, programs and various engagements. Transportation Volunteers must provide a valid driver’s license, car insurance, and have a clean driving record. Requirements also include consistent access to a reliable vehicle that can comfortably transport up to three mentees.
EDUCATION VOLUNTEER
Provide mentees with individualized tutoring assistance for schoolwork and completing assignments. Duties include following lesson plans, reviewing textbooks, co-managing additional projects, and answering a mentees’ questions about specific educational topics.
FUNDRAISING/ DEVELOPMENT VOLUNTEER
Work with the Son of a Saint Development team to establish and execute specific fundraising strategies. These volunteers help solicit in-kind or monetary contributions and sponsorships from individuals, local businesses, and partner organizations. They will also assist in event coordination and large-scale fundraiser activation, including the Son of a Saint Annual Gala.
ACTIVITY/PROJECT VOLUNTEER
Organize and lead a range of Son of a Saint-related activities, and act as a liaison with programming staff and external partners, to help recruit and support new volunteers, and to ensure that activities are effective, safe, and enjoyable for those participating.
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MENTOR
We seek individuals who are professional, able to commit their time, in good legal and social standing, and who also have the ability to exercise cultural competence.
Listed below are the various mentorship opportunities
Son of a Saint offers:
ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP
Engages one mentee and one mentor; there is an organic pairing process to support this model.
TEAM/GROUP MENTORSHIP
Engages any ratio of mentees to mentors; it helps mentors and mentees form group relationships.
ACADEMIC MENTORSHIP
Support for success in school; they serve as a tutor, study buddy, or accountability partner.
CAREER MENTORSHIP
Supports career development programming; they serve as an employer, career coach, or job shadowing/internship site coordinator.
ACTIVITIES MENTORSHIP/CLUB ADVISORS
Creates a small community of mentees that connect over a planned event or common interest; they lead projects and events to foster robust programming.
STAFF MENTORSHIP
Supported by a Son of a Saint staff member through roles and responsibilities.
