Dear NLPOA

Hello my name is Jonathan A., before anything I would like to thank you for your support that impacts lives like mine. I’m one of the former students of Just Us 4 Youth and now I am a Transitional Aged Youth, and employee for Just Us 4 Youth. I currently work through a program that provides former foster youth like me vocational opportunities. I work at the TAY House, giving back to the community and helping the young adults that are housed here. I know first hand how your donations are blessing these clients and our vision here at JU4Y. We appreciate you all!

I was born in California and I grew up in Colombia with my family. At the age of 11 years old I came back to the U.S without my family. I was taken by the Department Of Children’s And Family Services (DCFS) and I was placed in a group home in the City Of Pomona, that’s when I met Eric Vasquez and his program.

Unfortunately I made a series of poor decisions that caused me to commit a crime, which then caused me to be incarcerated over a three year span of my high school years. I was on probation as a result of this but I was growing and developing along the way with the help of my mentors and JU4Y. I was supported to become successful with my life and they also encouraged me to do the good for my community. I have since ended my term with probation and I am now attending my first year of college. I have been with JU4Y since 2015 until today and they are still helping me as much as they can. My next plan in life is to finish college and get a degree in sociology.

Thanks for allowing me to share my story and be connected to you! Once again, thank you for your generosity and consideration of youth and young adults like me.

Sincerely,

Jonathan A.

Dear NLPOA

Hello my name is Jonathan A., before anything I would like to thank you for your support that impacts lives like mine. I’m one of the former students of Just Us 4 Youth and now I am a Transitional Aged Youth, and employee for Just Us 4 Youth. I currently work through a program that provides former foster youth like me vocational opportunities. I work at the TAY House, giving back to the community and helping the young adults that are housed here. I know first hand how your donations are blessing these clients and our vision here at JU4Y. We appreciate you all!

I was born in California and I grew up in Colombia with my family. At the age of 11 years old I came back to the U.S without my family. I was taken by the Department Of Children’s And Family Services (DCFS) and I was placed in a group home in the City Of Pomona, that’s when I met Eric Vasquez and his program.

Unfortunately I made a series of poor decisions that caused me to commit a crime, which then caused me to be incarcerated over a three year span of my high school years. I was on probation as a result of this but I was growing and developing along the way with the help of my mentors and JU4Y. I was supported to become successful with my life and they also encouraged me to do the good for my community. I have since ended my term with probation and I am now attending my first year of college. I have been with JU4Y since 2015 until today and they are still helping me as much as they can. My next plan in life is to finish college and get a degree in sociology.

Thanks for allowing me to share my story and be connected to you! Once again, thank you for your generosity and consideration of youth and young adults like me.

Sincerely,

Jonathan A.

Dear NLPOA,

I hope this email finds you well. My name is Josey R. and I was a recipient of a scholarship that was awarded to me by your organization in 2019. Recently a student I work with, Georgina G., was applying for a scholarship as well and it reminded me that I too was fortunate enough to be awarded one. I wanted to write to you all to give you an update on my academic journey and in life. I also wanted to thank you for the opportunity and for helping me during a much needed time. I had no means of paying for my summer school classes but because of this scholarship I was able to buy the needed materials like books/ school supplies and it paid for my parking pass for the semester.

This coming fall I will be a junior at Cal Poly Pomona. I am majoring in Sociology and although this past year was unexpected and challenging I was able to push through.

My second semester of my Freshman year was cut short due to the pandemic, which also led to my entire Sophomore year being completely online. This was such a huge challenge because I was having to motivate myself, self-learn/ self teach, and although I was insanely stressed and losing my mind I was able to still push through. I’m excited to say that for my Junior year I get to go back on campus and get the full college experience I hoped for.

As you know, I found out about the scholarship through my mentor Eric Vasquez and I now work for him and his organization. I am doing an intensive learning Apprenticeship program where basically I am learning what it is to run a Nonprofit Organization. I have been so lucky and so blessed to have been able to be given an opportunity to work with youth that are hurting and suffering like I once was. I now get to be the person in their lives who motivates them and encourages them to do well not only in school but in life.

Thank you for the work you all do and for the many lives you continue to bless and touch. I hope to hear from you all soon and I will try and stay in touch. Please feel free to share this with the rest of your team.

Blessing and well wishes,

Josey