Frequently Asked Questions
-
When was the organization founded?
2011
-
Who founded Son of a Saint?
Bivian ‘Sonny’ Lee, III
-
How many youth do you currently serve?
We serve a total of nearly 500 youth, including our active mentees, our alumni, and those receiving tuition support.
-
What is the size your team?
Approximately 30 full-time staff members and some supporting part-time staff members.
-
Which staff roles directly support the mentees?
Director of Programs, Case Managers, Mental Health Specialists, Success Coaches, Programs Assistant, Education & Career Manager, Recreation Coordinators, Drivers, Logistics Coordinator, Academic Interventionist
-
What are the admissions criteria for boys to join?
Young men initially join Son of a Saint between the ages 10-12. Their father is no longer in their life due to death, long-term incarceration (15 or more years left to serve), deportation, or having been adopted by a single mother.
-
What geographic area do you serve?
Greater New Orleans area. This includes more than 90 schools and covers 25 different zip codes.
-
What services do mentees receive?
Mentorship, case management, access to mental health services, academic support, nutrition education, recreation and sports activities, transportation, travel opportunities, job shadowing and career exploration, STEM.
-
What is the time commitment for mentors?
Time commitments may vary, depending on the level of involvement. Typically, the time commitment for mentors is 4+ hours per month.
-
What types of mentorship opportunities are available?
One-on-one mentoring, team or group mentoring, academic mentoring, career mentoring.
-
What is the time commitment for volunteers?
The time commitment for volunteers varies based on the event and their availability.
-
What type of volunteer opportunities are available?
Outreach and event volunteering, transportation volunteering, education volunteering, fundraising/development volunteering, activity/project volunteering.
-
What is Son of a Saint's annual budget?
Son of a Saint’s financial information is available via our annual report and in our financial audit.
-
Is transportation to activities provided for mentees?
Yes, we have a Logistics team.
-
What education support is provided to mentees?
We provide 1:1 tutoring, study hall, and an education/career manager and two success coaches who provide academic support and assists with college track and career goals.
-
What is the size of your board?
19 Board Members
-
Do you plan on expanding outside of New Orleans?
Son of a Saint’s focus is on expanding within New Orleans.
-
Do you support young girls in New Orleans?
We do, but only through our educational scholarship program.
-
How do you support moms and guardians?
We assist mothers/guardians with accessing individual and family counseling through external providers with co-pay assistance. We also provide access to individual nutrition counseling and some social event opportunities for community-building among moms/guardians.
-
Do you partner with other nonprofit organizations?
Yes, we collaborate/partner with several nonprofit organizations throughout Greater New Orleans. Find our more on our Friends page.
-
Do you offer internships?
Yes, we regularly offer semester-based internships in several departments. Check our Jobs page for current offerings.
-
What are the requirements for mentees to remain active?
Mentees are expected to participate in at least 2 activities each month. There are about 20 events each month for them to attend.
-
What types of activities are available to mentees?
Son of a Saint offers a wide range of recreational activities for our mentees, ranging from sports to arts to nutrition etc.
Specific Questions?
-
Programming/Mentees
Walter Bridges
-
Mentors
Vanessa Pitts
-
Volunteers
Shannon Murphy
-
Transportation
Conor Farley
-
Donations/Grants/Foundations/Major Gifts
Maddie Brenner
-
Partnerships
Joshua Friedmann
-
Community Engagement
William B. Jones
-
Building and Facilities
Kurt Ruschiensky
-
Branding and Communications
Elliot Hutchinson
-
Finance
Ola Adegboye
-
Human Resources and Operations
Sean Parsons
-
Leadership
Bivian ‘Sonny’ Lee, III