Did you know:

AmeriCorps VISTA Member Lisa Parola is developing

JIT 2.0! She’s increasing our content on twitter and
YouTube & is also adding all-new JIT social media
platforms, like: http://jitfosteryouth.tumblr.com/.
And go to www.facebook.com/jitfosteryouth to help
us reach our goal of 500 “likes” by the end of April!

Monthly Memo - April 2011

HEADLINES:
 Welcome to the JIT Monthly Memo!
 JIT May Open House, Financial Fitness Car Seminar & Rivers 5K!
 Career Horizons, JIT Calendar & College Bound 2011!
 The Last Word: Sofia Thayer

Greetings from JIT!

Welcome to the first Monthly Memo from Executive Director Don Wells and Program
Director Meredith Praniewicz. With so much going on at JIT, we thought we’d give you a
monthly snapshot of the highlights of the past month’s work on program highlights, as well
as kudos to our youth and volunteers, and preview of what’s coming up. Share your JIT
news and what you think at dwells@JitFosterYouth.org !

Change Your Luck on Friday the 13th in May!

JIT will raise awareness and connect to transitioning foster youth at the first Just In Time Open House during
Foster Care Month on Friday May 13, 2011 in the Casey Family Programs building. From 4:30p-7:30p youth will
have the opportunity to connect with agencies and organizations in an informal setting to learn about the
resources available that can positively impact their lives. For more info, contact nsdevico@JitFosterYouth.org.
Financial Fitness S1: Survival Guide: A Guide to Everything Cars
It was a full house and an evening overflowing with information as JIT Champion Don
Meredith (top) led an interactive presentation on purchasing, repairing and negotiating
anything and everything related to the care and feeding of autos. It was a HUGE success
with our youth who stayed after the two hour session with more questions!

Look for more FF Seminars (NEXT: Creating, Managing and Repairing Credit) in the
months to come.
Upcoming Events to Benefit JIT
Future JIT Spotlight April 11-22
For the very first time and, and as part of our UCSD College Bound Drive
developing relationship with the Rivers of Hope
April 26 & May 19
Foundation, JIT has been invited to participate in
Gold Diggers – Hats Off San Diego
the June 11 Philip Rivers 5K Walk & Fun Run. Model’s & Annual Luncheons
This includes a JIT booth at this high visibility event
and links to the various event marketing platforms! May 18
On June 11, we’ll also have the Fit for JIT Team doing the 5K Walk & Beginning of Hope Fashion Show
http://www.blanchetdesigns.com/news.html
Fun Run. Want to participate? See the attached flyer and contact
meredith@JitFosterYouth.org. June 18
College Bound 2011
 Career Horizons for Young Women
Networking Mixer
Saturday, March 26, 2011

Career Horizons is now in high gear as you can see by the images on this page! Thanks to the incredible
young women and Career Mentors who came together 60 strong, our friends at Miguel’s in Old Town
for their hospitality, and volunteer Pamela Stutzka and our the JIT staff for making it a great JIT day!
YOUTH
Shonta Battle
Sarah Colton
AnaMaria Esparza
Jasmine Hardeman
Mariah Jameson
Candace Kaimuloa
Helena Kelly
Otani Laster
Kymberly Lee
Shari Leiton
Beronica Obney
Shandy Pinkowski
Natasha Pol
Rosaura Rodriguez
Christina Silva
Vivian Simmons
Sofia Thayer MENTORS
Melissa Villagomez Stephanie Andrews-Higgins
Araina Webber Laura Barton
Princess Webber Helen Bechefsky
Stefanie Blitvich
Lavana Whitake Bianca Burt
Tara Ceranic
Gracie Chau Ng
Carol Choi
Diane Cox
Nancy De Andrade
Elisabeth Eisner
Patricia Feld
Lisa Foster
Gretchen Griswold
Brittany Hart
Lee Hawley
April Hayter de Lopez
Joanne Hewitt
Four upcoming Career Horizons group sessions: Ann Hubler
Sidney Hunter
Dina Lieber
Session One: April 6 & 9 Negeen Mirreghabie
Obstacles in the Workplace (gender, cultural, etc) Marcy Morrison
Udoka Nwanna
Linda Pasas
Session Two: May 11 & 14 Dania Raum
Finding Your Voice (relationships & conflict) Kim Richards
Robyn Richison
Terry Satin
Margie Schingle
Session Three: July 6 & 9 Janet Wahl
Finding Your Niche (passion & your dream career) Renee' Williams
Trish Benesh
Daphne Fields
Session Four: Aug 10 & 13 Donna Koehler
Genevieve Knych-Rohan
Making our Career Map (putting it all together)
Yolanda Loya
College Bound 2011 is Here!
APRIL
6&9 Career Horizons Session I
9 My First Home Storage Day
Playwrights Project Performance
11-22 UCSD College Bound Drive
26 Gold Diggers Model’s Luncheon

MAY
In 2009, UCSD helped JIT surpass our goals with a My First 11&14 Career Horizons Session II
Home for the Holidays Drive. Now, the UCSD and the JIT 12 JIT Board Meeting
families will come together once again from April 11-22 for 13 JIT Open House
14 My First Home Storage Day
College Bound 2011. It’s part of their Volunteer 50
18 “Beginning of Hope” Fashion Show
Anniversary campaign and will give dozens of transitioning Fundraiser by Stacey Blanchet Designs
foster youth the resources and encouragement they need 19 Gold Diggers “Hats Off to San Diego”
to begin a new life chapter as college students. 21 Volunteer Gathering – BBQ Beach Day

Look for details on the JIT April homepage and possible JUNE
media coverage of College Bound stories! 11 Phil Rivers 5K Walk and Fun Run 2011
My First Home Storage Day
18 College Bound Event
Help JIT Reach our College Bound Goal!
Make sure help is on the way for JIT’s CB Class of 2011 and give at least 65
transitioning foster youth the resources and encouragement they need to begin a new
life chapter as college students. On June 18, that support will once again include
laptops and printers, essential dorm furnishings and school supplies, and connections
with potential lifelong mentors and successful JIT College Bound Alumni.

Go to http://bit.ly/bqY6VE to make your contribution today and give your friends and
family an easy opportunity to help by sharing the link in your next email. It’s easy and
a great investment in our future!
THE LAST WORD: Sofia Thayer, JIT College Bountiful
I was born in Vladivostok, Russia, and escaped the communist regime with my mother
when I was eight. As many Russians do, my mother fell victim to alcoholism and I
entered the foster care system after ninth grade.

While in foster care, I lived in four different placements and attended three different high
schools. College is not something people talk to foster youth about, so I did not grow up
with a cultural expectation to pursue postsecondary education. I saw college as
Sofia & Board Member Trish Benesh something out of my reach: an unaffordable, mysterious place. It was not until I was
Sofia Thayer announced as valedictorian of my graduating class in high school that I began to picture
Cum Laude UCSD 2009 myself in college. Today I am the first San Pasqual Academy alumnus to graduate from a
USD Law & MBA 2011 four-year university.
I have hit some rough patches and JIT was ALWAYS there to give me either emotional or financial support. In most
cases, both were vital. JIT even helped me get into USD law school by helping with my entrance essay and providing
a letter of recommendation! JIT has ALWAYS been there and now, it is my turn to return the favor. I feel so blessed to
have had the help from JIT that now I want to spend the rest of my life giving back/changing someone's life.

I have been told that I have changed lives by inspiring and motivating people. Perhaps my experiences were a
blessing in disguise because I would not be the resilient woman that I am today.