2021 A N N UA L R E P O R T
C E L E B R AT I N G A D E C A D E O F I M PAC T
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.
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SON OF A SAINT
A LETTER FROM THE CEO
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
2021 ANNUAL REPORT
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SON OF A SAINT
A L E T T E R F R O M T H E B OA R D C H A I R M A N
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 2021 ANNUAL REPORT
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SON OF A SAINT
Board of Directors I N CO M I N G O F F I C E R S ( 2022 – 2024)
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SON OF A SAINT
William H. Hines
Carol G. Asher
Chair
Vice Chair
Peter Hamilton, III
Theodore C. Sanders, III
Secretary
Treasurer 2021 ANNUAL REPORT
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WHO WE SERVE
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.
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AG E S 10 -21
84%
6%
5%
5%
Black or African American
Latino
2+ Races
White
SON OF A SAINT
42%
80%
95%
H AV E A N I N CO M E OF LESS THAN $12 ,000 P E R Y E A R
Q UA L I F Y F O R F R E E / REDUCED LUNCH
R AC I A L MINORITIES
2021 ANNUAL REPORT
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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 • Pay taxes
232% INCREASE The cost of keeping one youth in confinement has increased an alarming 232%, up from $46,662 in 2014.
• Raise a family • 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.
$155,000 PER YEAR In Louisiana, the cost to keep one youth incarcerated is approximately $155,000 per year.
A GENERATIONAL CYCLE
(Justice Policy Institute, 2020).
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%
75%
71%
Of youth in prison come from fatherless homes.
Of male patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes.
Of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes.
“Father Absence, Father Deficit, Father Hunger,” Psychology Today, Kruk, 2012 • Journal of Research on Adolescence, Harper & McLanahan, 2004 • “Drugs, Guns, and Disadvantaged Youths,” Crime & Delinquency, Allen & Lo, 2012 • What Can the Federal Government Do To Decrease Crime and Revitalize Communities?” Panel Papers, US Department of Justice, 1998
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SON OF A SAINT
O U R I M PAC T
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
CELEBRATE INDIVIDUALITY
Son of a Saint focuses on early prevention with guidance, positive encouragement, and high expectations.
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%
1%
New Orleans average: 75%
New Orleans average: 9%
80%
0%
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE
COLLEGE ENROLLMENT
New Orleans average: 61% *100% of graduates are enrolled in post-secondary education or employed in jobs that offer career growth opportunities.
STUDENTS RECEIVING OUT-OF-SCHOOL SUSPENSION
YOUTH NOT EMPLOYED OR IN SCHOOL (AGE 16-19)
New Orleans average: 15%
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0
New Orleans average: 18
New Orleans average: 29 (per 1,000)
ACT SCORE
TEEN BIRTH RATE
WHAT OUR MENTEES ARE SAYING EQUIPPED
MOTIVATED
They feel equipped to make responsible choices and reach the goals they set for themselves.
They feel motivated to attend college and have increased awareness of planning for college and career pathways.
United Health Foundation (2021). • Perry (2016). • National Center for Education Statistics (2020). • Louisiana Department of Education (2020). • The ACT (2019). • Louisiana Department of Education (2020). • National Center for Education Statistics (2019). • Louisiana Department of Education (2020). • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020). • Louisiana Department of Education (2020). • The Annie E. Casey Foundation (2020). • The Cowen Institute (2012).
2021 ANNUAL REPORT
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10 -Y E A R T I M E L I N E : A L O O K B AC K OV E R T H E F I R S T D E C A D E
2011
2014
2015
2016
FOUNDED WITH 5 MENTEES
ESTABLISHES FIRST HOME
50 MENTEES ENROLLED
FIRST MENTEE TO GRADUATE
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.
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SON OF A SAINT
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.
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.
2019
2020
2021
FORM ALIZES PROGRA MMING AND STAFF EXPANSION
L AUNCHES CA MPAIGN TO BUILD A HOME FOR OUR BOYS
ENROLLS L ARGEST NUMBER OF MENTEES AT 200
Son of a Saint formalizes distinct program areas and expands staff capacity to support its multidimensional services.
Son of a Saint launches a Capital Campaign to build A Home for Our Boys and supports mentees’ families during COVID-19.
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.
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.
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. 2021 ANNUAL REPORT
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SON OF A SAINT
A L E T T E R F R O M T H E CO O/C F O
The year 2021 brought a vast array of new experiences and opportunities for the entire Son of a Saint network. a 10th anniversary year of unprecedented growth, In 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 $75,000. As I continue to serve as Son of a Saint’s Chief Operating and Financial Officer, I am both moved by all we recently accomplished, and motivated to continue reaching even greater heights of impact, service, and success. On behalf of the entire Son of a Saint organization, our gratitude runs deep because we know that only through collaboration, coalition, and community coming together are we able to continue blazing a trail that will light the way for countless others in the many years and decades ahead of us.
OLA ADEGBOYE Chief Operating Officer/CFO 2021 ANNUAL REPORT
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2021 F I N A N C I A L S
ASSETS
G I V I N G C AT E G O R I E S
43% Individuals
32% Corporate
Current Assets: Cash and Cash Equivalents Promises to Give Investments Prepaid Insurance Total Current Assets
Tot al ($)
$
Restricted Assets: Restricted and Cash Equivalents School Scholarships Capital Campaign Restricted Promises to Give Total Restricted Assets
1 , 891 , 824 1 ,161 ,0 01 6 46 , 33 8 3,699,163
Property & Equipment: Construction in Process Building & Improvements Furniture and Equipment Vehicles Software Development Less: Accumulated Depreciation Total Property & Equipment
1 , 496 ,062 1 ,7 20, 57 5 113 ,933 67, 8 4 4 19,0 0 0 (106 ,978) 3,310,436
TOTAL ASSETS
$ 10 , 760 , 824
LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
25% Foundations
Current Liabilities: Accounts Payable Note Payable
SON OF A SAINT
Tot al ($)
$
2,156 1 ,0 04 ,124
Total Current Liabilities
1 ,0 06 , 280
Net Assets: Without Donor Restrictions With Donor Restrictions Total Net Assets
6 , 208 ,970 3 , 5 45 , 574 9,7 5 4 , 5 4 4
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS 15
1 , 886 ,799 1 , 813 , 226 51 , 20 0 — 3,751,225
$ 10 , 760 , 824
Without Donor Re s t r i c t io ns ($)
INCOME Revenues and Other Support Contributed Support: Grants Donations In-Kind Donations School Contract Income Other Income Investments Income / (Loss)
$
$
6 , 598 , 356
$
2,6 48 , 802
– 2, 492,782 – – – –
Tot al ($)
$
695 , 87 2 6 , 878 ,092 920, 35 4 (1 ,678) 30, 3 80 –
(568 ,118) $
Without Donor Re s t r i c t io ns ($)
EXPENSES Program Services
$
568 ,118
Net Assets Released from Restriction TOTAL REVENUE AND OTHER SUPPORT
695 , 87 2 4 , 3 85 , 310 920, 35 4 (1 ,678) 30, 3 80 –
With Donor Re s t r i c t io ns ($)
1 ,924 , 66 4
– $
With Donor Re s t r i c t io ns ($) $
165 ,740
8 , 523 ,020
Tot al ($) $
2, 814 , 5 42
Supportive Services: General and Administrative
331 , 245
—
331 , 245
Fundraising
78 4 , 893
—
78 4 , 893
TOTAL EXPENSES
$
3,764,940
$
165,740
$
3,930,680
TOTAL NET OPERATING INCOME
$
2,833,416
$
1,758,924
$
4,592,340
Other Revenue/Expenses: COVID Payroll Protection Program (PPP) CHANGE IN NET ASSETS
$
2, 833 , 416
—
—
— $
1 ,7 58 ,924
$
4 , 592, 3 40
Net Assets at Beginning of Year
3 , 37 5 , 55 4
1 ,786 ,650
5 ,162, 204
Net Assets at End of Year
6 , 208 ,970
3 , 5 45 , 574
9,7 5 4 , 5 4 4
2021 ANNUAL REPORT
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New Mentees We welcomed two new classes of mentees — 37 in June 2021, and 26 in January 2022.
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AARON
AHMAD
AIDYEN
ALEXANDER
ALFRED
ANDRE
ANGELO
ANTHONY
AYDEN
BERNARD
CALVIN
CAMDEN
CEDRIC
CHARLES
CHASE C.
SON OF A SAINT
CHASE L.
CORONJI
DAIDEN
DAMARI
DANIEL
DARIUS
DARRYL
DONALD
DWAYNE
ELIJAH
FURNELL
GABRIEL
GENE
HARET
HUNTLEY
IMAND 2021 ANNUAL REPORT
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19
ISAIAH J.
ISAIAH L.
JADARIUS
JADEN
JEFFREY
JIMARION
JONATHON
JOSHUA B.
JOSHUA D.
KAMRON
KÀRON
KE’MYRAN
KEITH J.
KEITH S.
KEVIN
LAJUAN
SON OF A SAINT
LESLIE
LYNNOX
MADDEN
MALIK
MATTHEW
MAX
NATHANIEL
NEAL
RAYMOND
SHAPIRO
TIN
TRA’
TRENDELL
WARREN
WILLIAM
ZORY 2021 ANNUAL REPORT
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2021 Y E A R I N R E V I E W
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.
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SON OF A SAINT
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.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT
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2021 Y E A R I N R E V I E W
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.
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SON OF A SAINT
STEM
Sports & Recreation
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.
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.
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.
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.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT
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TESTIMONIALS
JAEDON SIMMONS
VERGIL SPEED
2021 Mentee of the Year
2021 Mentor 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.
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.
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. 25
SON OF A SAINT
JADA IRVING
TRACEY ROBINSON
Mom of mentees Dylan and Jayce
Mom of mentee Winston
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.
“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. 2021 ANNUAL REPORT
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TESTIMONIALS
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. 27
SON OF A SAINT
200 MENTEES From 2020 – 2021 Son of a Saint increased from 130 to 200 mentees
25 GRADUATES From 2011 – 2021
100% FORWARD
All Mentee Graduates are enrolled in College/Postsecondary education or employed with opportunities for career advancement
2021 ANNUAL REPORT
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MENTEE PROFILES
NEW MENTEE!
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.
MENTEE FOR 9 YEARS!
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.
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G R A D UAT E S P OT L I G H T
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.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT
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JAVIER CASTELLON
Javier joined Son of a Saint in its earliest phase at the age of nine years old.
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SON OF A SAINT
M E N T E E S P OT L I G H T
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.
2020 ANNUAL REPORT
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LEADERSHIP
2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS RYAN BURKS
CAROL G. ASHER
NANCY REBOLD
President, RYCARS Construction (Board Chair)
Community Activist
Founder, Child Advocates of Connecticut
WILLIAM H. HINES
KEVIN C. GREEN, JR.
THEODORE C. SANDERS, III
Vice President Ochsner Community Based Clinics, Ochsner Health
Chief Executive Officer, Louisiana Asset Management Pool
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)
HENRY KING
BYRON SLOSAR
Managing Member, King & Jurgens, LLC
Chief Executive Officer & Founder, HIVE Diversity
CHIP KNIGHT
CLEVELAND SPEARS, III
Chief Banking Officer, Hancock Whitney Bank
President/CEO, Spears Group
JEN HAYES LEE
BIVIAN “SONNY” LEE III
Head of Marketing, The Bump
Founder & CEO, Son of a Saint
2021 AMBASSADORS JON BATISTE
A.J. KLEIN
KENNETH POLITE
Musician
NFL Linebacker
United States Assistant Attorney General
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
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SON OF A SAINT
SOLANGE KNOWLES
MARK ROMIG
Recording Artist
Chief Marketing Officer, New Orleans & Company
DONALD LINK
STEPHEN STRYJEWSKI
Restauranteur
Restauranteur
DEUCE MCALLISTER
BENJAMIN WATSON
New Orleans Saints Hall of Famer
Former New Orleans Saint
THOMAS MORESTEAD
MATTHEW WINKLER
NFL Punter
Journalist; Founder, Bloomberg News
P.J. MORTON
JUSTISE WINSLOW
Maroon 5; Founder, Morton Records
NBA Forward
DR. JOHN NICKLOW President, University of New Orleans
T H A N K YO U TO O U R 2021 A N N UA L S U P P O R T E R S
($50,000+)
Ella West Freeman Foundation
The Goss Family
Advantage Capital
Freeport-McMoRan Corporation
Greater New Orleans Foundation
The Allstate Foundation
Marie & Todd Gregory
Baptist Community Ministries*
Greg Keller
David & Meredith Griffin
Amanda & Ryan Berger*
King & Jurgens, LLC
Patrick Gros
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation*
Jeffrey Scott & Corine Koornhof
Ben & Shania Grubbs
The Boeing Company
La Societe Des Dames Hospitalieres
Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Co.
Latter & Blum
Darvis Harvey
Law Office of Roderick Alvendia, LLC
Bill & Mary Hines
Libby-DuFour Fund
IBERIABANK | First Horizon
Trevor Colhoun*
The Magnolia Companies of Louisiana, LLC
Leslie Jacobs*
Emeril Lagasse Foundation
The Patin Family
Goldring Family Foundation
The Rebold Family / Patricia & Bernard Goldstein Family Foundation
Bart & Kaitlin Kelly
Boysie Bollinger* Ryan & Stephanie Burks Andrew Yeates & Christopher Cedotal
Gustaf W. McIlhenny Foundation* Hancock Whitney* Michael & Alicia Johnson* Jones Walker* Kavanagh Family Foundation Khoury Family Charitable Foundation*
Richard C. Adkerson Family Foundation RosaMary Foundation David Schulingkamp Laura Scriba Stand Together Foundation
Robert & Sheryl Merrick
Jonathan & Karen Whitcomb Fund*
Methodist Health System Foundation, Inc.*
($10,000-$24,999)
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
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
Wayne Teetsel
J. Storey Charbonnet
($25,000-$49,999)
Stephen & Beth Conner
Asher-Meyers, LLC
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
AT&T
Casey Cowley
The Capital Group Companies
Dora Ferber & the Ferber Family of Houma Foundation
Charitable Foundation Capital One Chevron Crescent River Port Pilots’ Foundation
Kevin Clifford
Doug Ellin Entergy Felipe’s Taqueria Gallo Family*
JPMorgan Chase & Co. 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 2021 ANNUAL REPORT
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( 2 02 1 A N N U A L S U P P O R T E R S , C O N T I N U E D )
($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
New Orleans Rotary Fund, Inc.
Stephanie Winkler
Nike Community Impact Fund
WiseHeart Foundation
Pomegranate Hospitality
Woolard Family Foundation
PH Henry LLC Seth Levine & Alexa Pulitzer Brigita Rodriguez Jaclyn & Sam Stubblefield Theragun, Inc Union Pacific Foundation
SON OF A SAINT SCHOLARS 2021 SUPPORTERS $1.15M Patrick & Christina Comer
University of New Orleans Foundation
$50,000+
The Wendy’s Company
Frank Friedler Jay Himmel
($2,500 - $4,999)
Melissa and Morris Mintz
Abita Brewing Company, LLC Dat Dog
$25,000-$49,999
Episcopal Community Services
Jeffrey Scott and Corine Koornhof
Tim & Luba Flanigan
$10,000-$24,999
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph C. Canizaro
Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
A Gift through the Catholic Community Foundation
John W Kelsey Henry & Cary King
Beth and Jimmie Colón*
Chip & Jennifer Knight
Cox Communications
Krispy Krunchy Foods, LLC
Ari Currera
Liberty Bank and Trust Company
Timothy Francis
Lockheed Martin
Frederick J. Gisevius, Jr. Foundation
MightyCause Foundation
Katherine & Tony Gelderman
Melinda & Morris Mintz
Where Y’at Magazine
The Giving HOPE Foundation
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation
$5,000-$9,999
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 35
SON OF A SAINT
Shaun Norris Ochsner Clinic Foundation Ruby Slipper Cafe
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
Amanda Aiken Clancy DuBos Keith Duet
Susan & Charles Schadt
Patricia Ross & Charles Gay
Shell Oil Company Foundation Matching Gifts
Peter Hamilton Lynnette and Patrick Judge
Tranchina & Mansfield, LLC
Michael Parenton
Union Ramen
George Rosevally
U.S. Bancorp Community Development Organization Sarah and Tommy Usdin Valley of the Sun United Way James Washington The Whitman Family Foundation
*Multi-year pledge
I F YO U LOV E NEW ORLEANS, INVEST I N IT S F U T U R E
VO LU NTE E R O PP O R T U N ITI E S 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.
WH AT IT M E A N S TO B E A M E NTO R 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.
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2021 ANNUAL REPORT
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S O N O FA S A I N T.O R G