Who We Are | Son of a Saint

F$3 Who We Are | Son of a Saint

Mentees

JOSH

2020 Son of a Saint Graduate
ALEJANDRO

2016 Son of a Saint Graduate
ANQUAN

Mentee since 2014
Class of 2022
CC

2019 Son of a Saint Graduate
APSU

2020 Son of a Saint Graduate
Byron

Mentee since 2015
Class of 2021
DANNY

Mentee since 2016
Class of 2025
Dawson

Mentee since 2016
Class of 2023
DUSTIN

Mentee since 2017
Class of 2026
ERROL

2019 Son of a Saint Graduate
ISAIAH

Mentee since 2016
Class of 2022
JAEDON

Mentee since 2016
Class of 2022
JA'KOBE

Mentee since 2016
Class of 2021
JAMAL

Mentee since 2016
Class of 2022
JASON

Mentee since 2016
Class of 2026
Julio

2015 Son of a Saint Graduate
KEYLON

Mentee since 2015
Class of 2023
KOLBE

Mentee since 2014
Class of 2021
KYZER

Mentee since 2017
Class of 2025
LESTER

Mentee since 2017
Class of 2025
LOUIS

2019 Son of a Saint Graduate
MALAKHI

Mentee since 2017
Class of 2025
Malcolm

Mentee since 2017
Class of 2023
MALIK

Mentee since 2017
Class of 2024
MILES

Mentee since 2011
Class of 2020
NATHAN

2019 Son of a Saint Graduate
NILE

2020 Son of a Saint Graduate
QUINTEN

2020 Son of a Saint Graduate
SEDDRICK

Mentee since 2016
Class of 2022
Miles

2018 Son of a Saint Graduate
TAYLOR

2019 Son of a Saint Graduate
TERROL

2020 Son of a Saint Graduate
TREY

Mentee since 2012
Class of 2021
ANDREW H.

Mentee since 2013
Class of 2021
WINSTON

Mentee since 2016
Class of 2022
ZANDER

Mentee since 2013
Class of 2022
JAHEIM

2020 Son of a Saint Graduate
DEVONTE

Mentee since 2014
Class of 2020
DEVYN

Mentee since 2014
Class of 2021
KEVIN

2020 Son of a Saint Graduate
SCOOTER

Mentee since 2014
Class of 2022
JAVIER

Mentee since 2011
Class of 2021
MARQUELL

2019 Son of a Saint Graduate
SEMAJ

2019 Son of a Saint Graduate
JAMAL

Mentee since 2018
Class of 2023
D’MARIO

Mentee since 2018
Class of 2025
JACE

Mentee since 2018
Class of 2026
THOMAS

Mentee since 2018
Class of 2022
MARK

Mentee since 2018
Class of 2025
ALVIN

Mentee since 2018
Class of 2026
BRANDON

Mentee since 2018
Class of 2025
ACE

Mentee since 2018
Class of 2024
BRYCE

Mentee since 2018
Class of 2024
MYRON

Mentee since 2015
Class of 2022
DARRYL

Mentee since 2018
Class of 2025
RAHN

Mentee since 2018
Class of 2025
Armando

Mentee since 2018
Class of 2022
BENJAMIN

Mentee since 2019
Class of 2024
Brandon

Mentee since 2019
Class of 2023
Lil Clint

Mentee since 2019
Class of 2027
DARRYN

Mentee since 2019
Class of 2023
DONOVAN

Mentee since 2019
Class of 2026
ETHAN

Mentee since 2019
Class of 2025
Jared

Mentee since 2019
Class of 2023
Jashyne

Mentee since 2019
Class of 2023
Jason

Mentee since 2019
Class of 2024
Jaylon

Mentee since 2019
Class of 2024
Jonathan

Mentee since 2019
Class of 2026
Jordan

Mentee since 2019
Class of 2026
JORDEN

Mentee since 2019
Class of 2024
Kamal

Mentee since 2019
Class of 2023
Thomas

Mentee since 2019
Class of 2025
TYE

Mentee since 2019
Class of 2026
Wryght

Mentee since 2019
Class of 2022
Clayton

Mentee since 2017
Class of 2021
JAYDEN

Mentee since 2019
Class of 2025
MARK

Mentee since 2019
Class of 2025
JENNARO

Mentee since 2020
Class of 2027
JAE

Mentee since 2020
Class of 2024
JAI

Mentee since 2020
Class of 2026
JADEN

Mentee since 2020
Class of 2025
ISIAH

Mentee since 2020
Class of 2025
ISAIAH

Mentee since 2020
Class of 2026
BEAU

Mentee since 2020
Class of 2024
RYAN

Mentee since 2020
Class of 2024
RONTRAE

Mentee since 2020
Class of 2026
MI'KING

Mentee since 2020
Class of 2027
MAYKOL

Mentee since 2020
Class of 2026
ZION

Mentee since 2020
Class of 2024
TAJ

Mentee since 2020
Class of 2024
JOSHUA

Mentee since 2020
Class of 2026
KE'WAN

Mentee since 2020
Class of 2025
Equan

Class of 2024
Jayden

Class of 2024
Sherrod

Class of 2024
Chase

Class of 2024
Haret

Class of 2024
Hiram

Class of 2024
Imand

Class of 2024
Joshua

Class of 2024
Kamron

Class of 2024
Karon

Class of 2024
Keith

Class of 2024
Matthew

Class of 2024
Neal

Class of 2024
Calvin

Class of 2025
Delvyn

Class of 2025
Jacoi

Class of 2025
Jameson

Class of 2025
Remi

Class of 2025
Robby

Class of 2025
Tyson

Class of 2025
Andre

Class of 2025
Isaiah

Class of 2025
Warren

Class of 2025
Amir

Class of 2026
Larnell

Class of 2026
Lucien

Class of 2026
Maxwell

Class of 2026
Sylas

Class of 2026
Tyrez

Class of 2026
KT

Class of 2026
Dwayne

Class of 2026
Keith

Class of 2026
Nathaniel

Class of 2026
Daniel

Class of 2027
Edwin

Class of 2027
Jaden

Class of 2027
Kai

Class of 2027
Shane

Class of 2027
Tyson

Class of 2027
Kemike

Class of 2027
Alfred

Class of 2027
Angelo

Class of 2027
Brandon

Class of 2027
Calvin

Class of 2027
Charles

Class of 2027
Jaden

Class of 2027
Damari

Class of 2027
Jason

Class of 2028
Jayce

Class of 2028
Julian

Class of 2028
Christian

Class of 2028
Camden

Class of 2028
Elijah

Class of 2028
Max

Class of 2028
Brennen

Class of 2029
Dylan

Class of 2029
Tra

Class of 2029
Bernard

Class of 2030

Mentors

Lon

Lon Nichols, Son of a Saint Mentor since 2011
Chris

Chris Musco, Son of a Saint Mentor since 2014
Allen

Allen Smith, Son of a Saint Mentor since 2013
Jon

Jon DeTrinis, Son of a Saint Mentor since 2016
Beau

Beau Martin, Son of a Saint Mentor since 2017
Eddy

Eddy Jurgielewicz, Son of a Saint Mentor since 2017
Christopher

Christopher Kirk, Son of a Saint Mentor since 2017
Vergil

Vergil Speed, Son of a Saint Mentor since 2019

Mentor Leadership Council

Chris

Christopher Kirk, Son of a Saint Mentor since 2017
Daniel

Daniel Harris, Son of a Saint Mentor since 2020
Topher

Topher Bordenave, Son of a Saint Mentor since 2018
Rafael

Rafael Velasquez, Son of a Saint Mentor since 2019
Jonathan

Jonathan Turner, Son of a Saint Mentor since 2020
Michael

Michael Gervais, Son of a Saint Mentor since 2020

Our Founder

Sonny

As President/Executive Director of Son of a Saint, Bivian “Sonny” Lee III has dedicated his life to enhancing the lives of fatherless boys. Since establishing the organization in early 2011, Sonny has grown Son of a Saint to reach 200 boys with an operating budget of more than $4 million. Prior to founding the organization, Sonny served as chief aide to Tom Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans. He was previously was Director of Operations for the New Orleans Zephyrs AAA baseball team and Director of the New Orleans Jazz Institute.

Sonny graduated with honors from St. Augustine High School and later earned a degree in marketing and management from the University of New Orleans. He is currently pursuing his Executive Master of Nonprofit Administration at Notre Dame. A TEDx speaker on community service, decision-making and the importance of education, Sonny’s nonprofit work has been highlighted on CNN, Al Jazeera America, NPR and local television stations and newspapers. His work on behalf of the community and the Son of a Saint organization has garnered numerous awards, including:
- 2021 Distinguished Friend to Behavior Therapy Award, Association for Behavioral & Cognitive Therapies
- 2019 "A-List" Honoree, Adore Magazine
- 2018 Homer Hits Alumnus of the Year, University of New Orleans
- 2017 Southerners of the Year, Southern Living
- 2017 Role Model Award, Young Leadership Council (YLC)
- 2017 Children's Hero Award, Children's Bureau of New Orleans
- 2016 New Orleanian of the Year, Gambit Weekly
- 2015 Angel Award, Blue Cross Foundation
- 2015 Ten Outstanding Young Americans, United States Junior Chamber
- 2014 People to Watch, New Orleans Magazine
- 2013 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award
- 2013 Champion of Change Award, Crescent City Chapter of Links, Inc.
- 2013 Millennial Change Maker Award, Spears Consulting
- 2011 40 Under 40, Gambit Weekly
To book Sonny for speaking engagements and appearances, contact Megan Baldassari at megan@sonofasaint.org.

Staff

Sonny

Bivian 'Sonny' Lee III
Founder + CEO
OLA

Ola Adegboye
Chief Financial and Operating Officer
LILA

Lila Turner
Director of Development
Julio

Julio Bermudez
Logistics Coordinator
Meredith

Meredith Clancy
Senior Case Manager
T'ereal

T'ereal Altemus
Case Manager
LaKee

LaKee Moss
Case Manager
Jasmine

Jasmine Thomas
Case Manager
TARA

Tara Lark
Sr. Mental Health Specialist
Emily

Emily Prevot
Mental Health Specialist
ELLIOT

Elliot Hutchinson
Creative Director
JULIANNA

Julianna Gentile
Communications and Content Coordinator
Jesse

Jesse Weber
Education and Career Manager
Megan

Megan Baldassari
Office Manager
William

William B. Jones
Community Engagement Manager
Bekah

Bekah Cossaboom
Grants Manager
Nick

Nick Guth
Donor Relations Manager
Brett

Brett Weaver
Mental Health Specialist
Shaq

Shaq Cosse
Program Manager
Maddie

Maddie Brenner
Partnerships Manager
Nikki

Nikki Martens
Emeril Lagasse Foundation - Son of a Saint Nutrition Education Specialist
DeVanté

DeVanté Starks
Success Coach
Taurean

Taurean Mingo
Success Coach
Kila

Kila Moore
Development Assistant
Jayant

Jayant Patel
Volunteer Coordinator
Jalen

Jalen Johnson
Recreation Coordinator
Kevin

Kevin Lynch
Recreation Coordinator
Verga

Verga Fortenberry
Part-Time Driver

Board of Directors

William

William H. Hines
Managing Partner, Jones Walker
Board Chair
Carol

Carol Asher
Community Activist, Vice Chair
PETER

Peter Hamilton III
The Law Offices of Peter Hamilton III
Secretary
THEO

Theo Sanders
CEO, Louisiana Asset Management Pool
Treasurer
AMANDA

Amanda Berger
Attorney
Development Committee Chair
RYAN

Ryan Burks
President, RYCARS Construction
Board Member Emeritus
Kevin

Kevin C. Green, Jr.
Assistant Vice President, Hospital Medicine Service Lines, Ochsner Health
HENRY

Henry King
Member, King and Jurgens Law Firm
Chip

Chip Knight
Chief Banking Officer, Hancock Whitney
Trajan

Trajan Langdon
General Manager, New Orleans Pelicans
Jen

Jen Hayes Lee
Head of Marketing, The Bump
Tamica

Tamica Lee
TV Personality
Robert

Robert W. Merrick
Chairman & CEO, Latter & Blum, Inc.
Nancy

Nancy Rebold
Founder and Director, Child Advocates of Connecticut
Cleveland

Cleveland Spears
President/CEO, Spears Group
Carol

Carol Starr
Head of Inst'l Sales, Capital One Securities
SONNY

Bivian “Sonny” Lee III
Founder/President, Son of a Saint

Advisors

Mike

Mike Hartnett
Photography
Meghan

Meghan Graham
Mental Health
JASON

Jason Otis
Creative
Jeremy

Jeremy Davis
Programming
LIZA

Liza Rebold
Communications + Content
JASON

Jason Roth
Financial
JAMES

James Shaw
Photography

Major Sponsors & Partners (See Sponsorship Levels)

Thanks to our 2021 Supporters

Spotlight: Link Stryjewski Foundation
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Partnership Profile

Creating opportunities and empowering young people in our city — those goals are at the heart of both Son of a Saint and the Link Stryjewski Foundation (LSF). LSF’s passion, commitment and New Orleans love equal our own. That’s why we make such natural partners.

LSF has been a valued, generous partner to Son of a Saint for several years. Our relationship started in 2017 when LSF graciously invited us to their Bal Masque event, a festive annual fundraiser. The next year, Chefs Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski became official Son of a Saint Ambassadors, and hosted the Costa Rican Benefit Dinner in May 2018 to support our international travel program.

In the years since, LSF has supported us with their time, in-kind donations, philanthropic contributions, and many delicious meals.

This year, LSF truly went above and beyond to not only expand, but also solidify their partnership with our organization. In February 2022, LSF donated $100,000 to help build the Link Stryjewski Foundation Dining Room in our new headquarters, The Ochsner Health Son of a Saint Bivian Lee Jr. Center.

For the young men in our program, the dining room will be a place to gather for nutrition education, culinary classes, chef demonstrations — and serve as a place to build connections over freshly prepared meals.

“We are pleased to be able to make this ongoing commitment to Son of a Saint,” said LSF founder Chef Donald Link. “The young men that come out of this program are the future of our city.”

“Our partnership with Son of a Saint is a natural evolution of our investment in the New Orleans community and its improvement,” said LSF co-founder Chef Stephen Stryjewski. “We are honored to be a part of the solution.”

Spotlight: Urban South
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Partnership Profile

This beloved local brewery supports Son of a Saint in countless ways, including with its Building Lives drink series.

If you’ve spent much (or really any) time in New Orleans, you’ve seen Urban South around. Maybe you’ve had one of their delicious craft beers on a hot afternoon or have spent time with friends at their vibrant taproom. But there’s more to Urban South than what they brew. They also have a well-earned reputation for their philanthropic efforts within our city. That’s one of the many reasons why we’re thrilled to have them as a partner.

Our connection began in 2019 when former Urban South Director of Brewing Operations, Alex Flores, participated in Son of a Saint + Dat Dog’s 5th Annual National Hot Dog Day celebration and competition, and ultimately walked away as the winner. Each year since, Alex along with the Urban South team have shown incredible support to Son of a Saint in numerous ways, including supporting the organization’s mentor and volunteer recruitment efforts, donating to special and signature events, and running retail campaigns to help us raise critical funds.

“We are honored to partner with Son of a Saint to work on a product that benefits such an incredible organization. New Orleans is built on community, and no one is doing more than Son of a Saint for the youth in our community,” says Alex. “The Building Lives collaboration celebrates the vibrancy of New Orleans and the opportunity for a better future that Son of a Saint presents to the fatherless boys in our city.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Urban South was among the first of our partners to step up, donating hand sanitizer and PPE. The following June, Urban South deepened its partnership and its charitable efforts by creating a unique giveback retail campaign, featuring a custom Building Lives Brew drink which is updated and released seasonally, with proceeds directly benefitting the mission and mentees of Son of a Saint. In August 2021, Alex Flores was named Son of a Saint’s Mentor of the Month.

“In my time working as a mentor with Son of a Saint, seeing the real-time impact is inspiring,” adds Alex. “Watching these boys go off to college, achieve goals they never imagined and have such bright outlooks on their own future is so rewarding.”

We’re thankful for everything Urban South brings to our partnership, especially their ongoing creativity and innovative ideas, and we’re so grateful to have them as part of the Son of a Saint family.