Foundation For Second Chances

Watch your Kids, advocate for a child abuse and molest station Tiffany Haddish…

I have been volunteering for this amazing non-profit for about a year now and I have to say that I am learning so much about philanthropy and am surrounded by passionate people who are invested in their community and are committed to making a positive impact!

I participated in the FFSC Christmas Around the World event this year and was so moved by the families that attended and seeing the direct impact that FFSC had on them that I am looking forward to doing my part in giving back through this organization.

This foundation is grassroots and I truly admire the work, commitment, and dedication that the FFSC team puts into giving back. I can't imagine how hard it must be to make time for everything considering that most of the council is all volunteer based holding down a 9-5, families, and a life. But this foundation makes it happen and I am truly inspired by them!

Looks like a good cause but poorly ran organization. No one answers the phones and there's no staff in the office. According to the California Department of Justice Attorney General's Office website on charities, Foundation for Second Chances is currently delinquent, that is, not in good standing with their registration. Big red flag if you ask me. Look online for yourself.

I have been working with Foundation for Second Chances on the STEM education for underrepresented students (3rd-5th graders). The STEM project has been running for two years. The project is well-organized. Kids are very involved, learning scientific concepts and methods from hands-on projects. People at Foundation for Second Chances are passionate about their mission. It's a nice volunteering experience for me.

I would really love to Volunteer for you guys, how can I go about this?

I have been working with the foundation and I can honestly say that Foundation For Second Chances exists to make a difference in the community and a difference in kids lives.

I've worked with this organization and have witnessed first hand the impact it has on the community. In a effort to promote health and fitness the 2014 Health Fair provided valuable information, resources and services to the community and brought together people from all walks of life. The fair offered immunizations, a cooking class, a fitness clinic, a host of vendors, arts and crafts and nutritious snacks for kids. The organization offers great programs that youth are benefited by and can participate in. It also has a variety of volunteer opportunities for people interested in giving back to the community.

I began my journey with Foundation For Second Chances as an intern. I was determined to find an organization rooted in education, mentoring and leadership, and I found just that and more here at Second Chances. The programs offered here engage the community like no other.

These programs provide the additional educational, leadership and life skill that are so desperately needed in the communities that we serve. I have the pleasure of seeing just how much we mean to these children and teens in the community through their smiles, warm greetings and discussion. Often times they are unsure of their success without the nurturing programs ; we invest so much time in to assure that the kids we serve have the absolute best chance of growing into the success they desire.

Foundation for Second Chances is doing such a phenomenal job with the youth in Los Angeles. They truly deserve all of the recognition and honors that any nonprofit can receive !

I was introduced to the Foundation for Second Chances some years ago when my niece and nephews were students in the after school program. Upon meeting the founder, Melissa Wyatt, I understood the driving force behind the program and the commitment to the children the organization serves. The people who work for the FFSC are a heartfelt bunch with a dedication that is unparalleled. All of the programs that are spearheaded by the FFSC are not only beneficial to the students in the programs, but the community at large, and that is truely the way to positively impact a community. I am committed to supporting the FFSC's efforts and have pulled family and friends into the fold. If more people reach out to give and get helping hands for this cause, we all win.

The organization has several initiatives including the following:
* After school educational program
*Community beautification days
*Mentoring program
*Annual community health fair
*Annual Gift of Giving holiday event

Each program addresses a specific concern, and together create a more comprehensive approach to building a better community.

I became a board member with Foundation for Second Chances because they were making a difference in the lives of young people. Everyone in the organization is passionate about working with young people to help them develop to their full potential. The passion is infectious and I wanted to be part of what I sensed was a movement.

What makes Second Chances different is the intimate relationships between staff and parents. Everyone knows everyone and it reminds me of the old adage "it takes a village to raise a child."

I became a board menber with the Foundation after witnessing firsthand the passion and drive that the Executive Director Melissa Wyatt put into Foundation For Second Chances on a daily basis . Her devotion to helping these children to overcome the challenges placed in front of them struck a cord within me. I knew I had to be a part of such an amazing organization. We combined our skills and talents to produce a very successful event in 2010 called "A Taste of Health and Fitness" which was very instrumental in raising the awareness of health and fitness options for the surrounding community. I look forward to working the Foundation in many more future events. They are a much needed resource and cannot be allowed to diminish in their effectiveness.

I LOVE Second Chances! Amazing people making a difference and I get to be a part of it :) This is such a rewarding program I have just started my second year (of many more to come!).

Growing up in a single-parent household, I always longed for a male figure in my life. Serving as a mentor through Foundation for Second Chances has allowed me to take on this role in the life of a young man. This experience has been extremely rewarding, on numerous levels. Not only have I developed a great relationship with my mentee, I have also learned a lot about myself.

The program is designed in such a way that mentors do not feel lost or overwhelmed when establishing and developing a relationship with their mentees. The trainings, support sessions, and manuals available made me feel competent in becoming a mentor.

The monthly group outings the staff coordinates are an excellent opportunity for both my mentee and I to meet and interact with numerous mentor matches. The outings vary from recreational to educational, and everything in between. On other occasions, my mentee and I hang out, grab a bite to eat, visit cool places, and talk about whatever is on our minds. Regardless of the type of activity, we always have a great time.

Staff at Foundation for Second Chances is extremely inviting and dedicated to making the mentoring experience enjoyable and memorable.

Foundation for Second Chances (FFSC) is an invaluable resource for the community. It offers tutoring, mentoring and other academic-centered programs for at risk kids in the Los Angeles area and beyond.

I've participated in several FFSC programs over the years and each one was a success.

There was the health fairs where kids and their families learned about the benefits of washing hands with soap to limit germs and proper eating habits. The programs worked so well because of the energy and excitement FFSC and its volunteers had for their mission.

There was the school beautifcation projects; kids and and their families became invested in the appearance of their schools by voluteering a weekend to paint their school and plant flowers. From what I hear, the students now have immense pride in their school and how it looks.

Kudos to Foundation for Second Chances. It is a great nonprofit!

The efforts of Foundation for Second Chances to help families in need by providing social and educational support is a great example of what a few like minded individuals can accomplish. Whether through tutoring, afterschool programming, or mentoring, FFSC provides opportunities for individuals to have positive impact in the lives of other. Lastly, FFSC's diverse and dynamic staff makes FFSC a rich source of ideas and resources, and a great place to work.

Since 2009, I've had the pleasure of working with Foundation for Second Chances. I've volunteered with different organizations serving youth for 6 years, and being a part of the mentoring program has been one of the most rewarding and positive experiences I've ever had. There's a very strong sense of community at Second Chances--the staff is passionate and full of energy and always available, the volunteers are truly wonderful people with big hearts and great intentions, and the kids are nothing short of amazing.

Through the Kick Off events at the park and Chuck E. Cheese, we got to know the kids and their families before being matched. I know some other mentoring programs will make matches just based on an initial application, so it was really great for the volunteers and the kids to be actively involved in the matching process. In March 2010, I met a quiet young girl from the South L.A. community with all the potential in the world. As we now head into our second year together, I can see her becoming a bright young woman, and I'm so grateful to have her as a friend. My funny, caring, ambitious, 11-year-old friend. She's taught me so much, and I like to think I've helped her grow, too.

I have been working with Foundation for Second Chances (FFSC) for the past 3 years, volunteering with the their Community Initiatives Events (Gift of Giving, Health Festival, Community Beautification Projects). FFSC is an outstanding agency with a really wonderful and fun group of volunteers. Their staff is very personable and warm, and makes the organization feel more like a lovely family to be a part of versus just another nonprofit. I have volunteered with various nonprofits where I feel like just another face in the crowd, but with FFSC I feel truly recognized and valued. What I also love about FFSC is that they really care about the children and families in their community. At each community event I've attended they really go out of their way to make their clients feel special and cared for. You should see the faces on the children at the Gift of Giving event...it's priceless. The event offers the kids everything from face painting, cookie decorating, a visit with Santa, sports and games, a gourmet meal, card and Christmas tree decorating, and Christmas gifts for all the kids. So much fun! They also do an amazing job with their community beautification projects--murals, flowers, community gardens, painting, trash pick-up. Their work makes such a difference and it is truly great to be a part of it!

Foundation for Second Chances is highly committed to providing quality services to South Los Angeles Youth. Such an organization goes above and beyond in assuring that it remains connected to and in tune with the communities that it seeks to serve.

I volunteer as a mentor for the Foundation for Second Chances Mentoring Program (SCMP) in Los Angeles. I am completely impressed with the overall mission as well as the day-to-day function of SCMP. I have volunteered with several organizations and few, if any, have been as effective at having such a direct positive impact on the lives of those they seek to serve.

SCMP seeks to provide potentially at-risk children with positive reinforcement on a one to one basis in an effort to help them build strong self-esteem and develop healthy decision making skills. Rather than moralize, we are taught to encourage our mentees to evaluate the options and outcomes available for any given situation so that they can make constructive choices on their own. I know with absolute certainty that this is one of the most effective ways to improve individual communities and society as a whole.

The dedicated staff that manages the program does so with exceptional and consistent professionalism and enthusiasm. The positive tone and example they set radiates throughout the program. The thorough training and ongoing guidance they provide to us serve as invaluable tools for shaping our mentor/mentee relationships.

I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to be a part of SCMP. I will carry these memories and experiences with me for a lifetime.

The passion and commitment of 2nd chances is amazing. I am a mentor and the thoroughness and thoughtfulness that goes into each relationship has truly blown me away. There is so much care, compassion, and love for the 2nd chances kids and the foundation is truly an incredible pathway for the children to live a positive and healthy life. I feel grateful to be a part of such a beautiful and compelling cause!

I have been working with the Foundation for Second Chances Mentoring Program for almost a year now and it has been wonderful. Everyone is so nice and organized and has made this process enjoyable and easy.

I was matched with a 4th grader. She’s the sweetest girl and we get along so well! Being an only child, it is really nice to mentor a child. I look forward to our weekly talks and hearing about what is new in her life and at school. We’ve really warmed up to each other quickly and I’m looking forward to getting to know each other even better and going on many more fun filled adventures.

In the past, the process of Big Brother/Big Sister was intimidating and it deterred me from joining the program. Second Chances was so welcoming and made the process so easy. I am very happy to be part of this organization and look forward to many more memorable experiences.