Mission | Vision | History | Board of Directors | Staff | Volunteers | Partners/Donors | Accomplishments | Grants and Funds

Founding JIT President, Kathryn Vaughn,
California Volunteer of the Year


Co-founder, Louarn Sorkin,
LEAD San Diego Award Winner

Accomplishments and Recognition

  • Distributions to Youth. Since its inception in 2003, JIT has distributed over $1 million in assistance to San Diego foster care alumni. In 2009 alone, there were 1200 youth assists.

  • Community Recognition. JIT's record of excellence in making a positive impact on the prevention of child abuse in San Diego County has been recognized countywide, including the 2009 Star Award from the San Diego County Commission on Children, Youth and Families.

  • Media Attention/Visibility. JIT has mobilized the San Diego community by bringing public attention to the plight of this underserved population. In addition to local media, including a feature article in the San Diego Union Tribune and news segments on KUSI, Channel 10, KGTV, and KPBS. NBC News/San Diego aired segments on JIT's "My First Home for the Holidays" drive in December 2009. JIT also speaks to rotary clubs, businesses and community groups·

  • Low Overhead. Because of JIT's affiliation with Casey Family Programs, which provides JIT with pro bono office space in the Casey Youth and Family Transition Center, and because of the large volunteer force serving JIT, the vast majority of donations goes directly to the JIT programs and the youth they serve.

  • JIT Program Director Recognized. Meredith Praniewicz was nominated for the national Ruth Massigna Award through Casey Family Programs for her leadership in the foster care community.

  • Volunteer of the Year. JIT Founding President Kathryn Vaughn was named 2010 California Volunteer of the Year by the Governor and First Lady.

  • LEAD San Diego. Co-founder Louarn Sorkin received the LEAD San Diego Community Spotlight Visionary Award for visionary leadership that captures the breadth and depth of civic responsibility.

  • Youth Success. JIT's greatest achievement is the success of the youth that have benefited from its programs. As a testament to JIT's effectiveness, one of JIT's early recipients graduated from UCSD in June 2008 and has become the first full-time JIT Program Director. Another recipient who graduated from San Marcos State University is employed as Event Coordinator for the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park and serves on the JIT Board of Directors