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Since 2011, Son of a Saint, (www.sonofasaint.org), a 501©(3) has enhanced the lives of young, fatherless males in New Orleans through mentorship, tutoring, counseling, recreation and volunteer experiences.
Founded by Bivian “Sonny” Lee III, Son of a Saint serves boys left fatherless due to death from gun violence or illness, long-term incarceration, or abandonment. Through mentorship, tutoring, counseling, recreation and volunteer experiences, Sonny hopes to prevent his boys from the fates that killed their fathers.
Sonny’s father, Bivian Lee, Jr., was an NFL defensive back for the New Orleans Saints from 1971 to 1975. Tragically, in 1984 Bivian, then 36 years old, suffered a heart attack and died, leaving behind his wife, five-year-old daughter, Tamica, and three-year-old son, Bivian “Sonny” Lee, III.
As an adult, Sonny came to understand the struggles and challenges his mother faced, and gained an appreciation for the opportunities he was afforded as a child
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As an adult, Sonny came to understand the struggles and challenges his mother faced, and gained an appreciation for the opportunities he was afforded as a child—experiences that included emotional support, sports, and education. He credits his mother for ensuring he had male mentors that provided role models and helped him cope with the loss of his father.
Sonny had been working in the non-profit sector for many years and felt ready for a change. Troubled by yet another report of a murder of an African American male in his beloved city, he’d been tossing ideas around in his head about what could be done to stem the cycle of violence that plagued New Orleans. He knew he wanted to work with youth and create something he would lead.
Thinking of his own childhood—fatherless at three, raised by a strong mother and other supporting relatives, mostly women, he knew that whatever he did had to include assistance for the single mothers raising children left fatherless.
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Thinking of his own childhood—fatherless at three, raised by a strong mother and other supporting relatives, mostly women, he knew that whatever he did had to include assistance for the single mothers raising children left fatherless. His mother had provided many opportunities for him- he learned many sports, took music and art lessons, traveled and had the benefits of academic tutoring and emotional counseling as needed. He sat at his computer and typed all night, brainstorming what his program would include. The name Son of A Saint came to him in the midst of planning and organizing. He identified four pillars to focus on: education, mentoring, counseling and recreation.
Son of a Saint accepts boys at age ten and about ten new boys join each year. They remain with the organization until they are 18. Throughout, the boys receive academic tutoring, extensive cultural and sporting activities, camping and travel, emotional support counseling, and volunteer opportunities. Mentors from the New Orleans community, including local businessmen and other professionals, university athletic directors, and students assist with programming. A board oversees fund-raising from foundations, local government, and individuals.
There are currently 25 mentors working with 60 SOAS mentees. Many of the mentors bring SOAS boys to their workplaces to show them various career options. SOAS also assists the boys in obtaining scholarship money for private parochial schools in New Orleans as well as for college. SOAS also helps boys find part-time jobs and full-time work when they graduate high school. Additionally, SOAS has arrangements with three other local schools to provide mentoring and counseling to other fatherless boys not enrolled in SOAS and invites families of mentees to events and excursions.
While still a young organization, Sonny fully expects that the boys that are mentees today will return as mentors in the future; paying forward the valuable lessons and experiences they received from Son of A Saint to others.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
This is what GMP needs more of!! Thank you!
Great article Lisa. I wish I could write like you. Would you consider being on the BOD of SOAS? I’d love to see you more often down here.
Sounds like a wonderful organization with its heart in the right place Lisa!
It’s a great organization. I got involved a couple of years ago and I honestly get more out of it than I put in. The young men will be the pillars of our community down here in a couple of decades.Check it out http://www.sonofasaint.org