The JLOCC is proud to present a total of $10,000 in grants to these deserving organizations.

Through his Santa Ana based non-profit netz 4 life, Ray Roman uses innovative educational and leadership - building programs to engage and inspire at risk youth to restore their communities - one neighborhood at a time.  Ray was born in Ceiba, Puerto Rico and currently resides in Orange County where he is in a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Chapman University.  He has been playing basketball ever since he could remember and the things he enjoyed most were the experiences and relationships he gained on the court.  Playing basketball not only gave him a sense of camaraderie, but also a sense a confidence and self-respect. He strongly believes that he can share with the youth of today his passion and belief that anything is possible. He is a firm believer that the choices we make in life dictate the life we will lead.  Through his work with netz 4 Life, Ray hopes to provide youth with a sense of hope that they too are important and can change the world for a better tomorrow. Whether working in Community Parks, Neighborhoods or on school grounds, netz 4 life will “Reach Out & Embrace Tomorrow’s Leaders” throughout Orange County.  With the aim to restore energy, vitality and pride to communities and creating roles for Tomorrow’s Leaders, JLOCC is proud to be a part of netz 4 Life and their efforts in the community.

Families and Schools Together (“FAST”) is a multi-level approach recognized as one of the leading programs in the nation addressing factors that put children at risk. Developed at the University of Wisconsin and has been in nationwide use for 15 years, FAST creates a family support for children who are exhibiting emotional and behavioral problems in school and bridges the gap between parents and the school. FAST is designed to build protective factors for children and empower parents to be the primary prevention agents in their children’s education, hence helping avoid problems such as adolescent delinquency, violence, and addiction. FAST’s long-term goal is to provide its program to all ten (10) Title 1 elementary schools in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District and to establish and replicate the FAST model at other similar communities.