2006 Holiday Basket Project |
Throughout her career, San Diego child advocacy attorney Jeanette Day witnessed a tragic transition that most people didn't even know existed - foster youth leaving the Juvenile Court system without essential family support. Jeanette knew these youth deserved more assistance from caring adults and set out to improve their prospects. In 2002, she enlisted the help of a friend, Diane Cox, to create gift baskets of household items for youth who had emancipated from foster care with little or no family to count on.
Moved by the spirit and the challenges faced by these courageous youth, Jeanette and Diane enlisted the help of Louarn Sorkin, who assumed a leadership role in recruiting and organizing volunteers to rally even more support for this underserved population. By 2003, Just in Time was born as an auxiliary of the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation (now known as Promises2Kids).
With her infectious passion to serve and remarkable ability to engage and inspire others to support her innovative approach, Jeanette led Just In Time to partner with foster agencies to develop a network of case managers that connected them to youth. The My First Home and Basic Needs Programs were initiated, as well as efforts to increase awareness, community involvement, and contributions that would benefit transitioning foster youth.
A major turning point for the auxiliary occurred in 2004, when Kathryn Vaughn became Just in Time's President. Inspired by the courage of these transitioning foster youth, Kathryn established a visionary goal: to create a dynamic, independent, and sustainable organization that would have the capacity to assist hundreds of youth each year. It was at this time that Tony Hsu joined the group as Treasurer, establishing a financial foundation for the organization and working diligently in partnership with Kathryn to obtain the 501(c)3 non-profit corporate status, effective July 2006. (JIT nonprofit tax EIN#: 20-5448416)
With the change in status, and under Kathryn's extraordinary dedication and leadership as President and volunteer Executive Director, JIT was transformed into an organization with multiple life-changing programs, such as College Bound and financial literacy training, all supported by successful public and private partnerships with significantly increased community outreach for this compelling cause. Another milestone during Kathryn's tenure was the hiring of Meredith Hall Praniewicz, one of JIT's first recipients, as the first full-time Program Director.
In 2010, Kathryn handed over the gavel to Diane Cox who dedicated her talents, time and energy as Vice-President of the organization since its earliest days and now serves as Board President in the next chapter of its remarkable evolution. Under her leadership, JIT hired its first full-time Executive Director, Don Wells, a supporter of Just in Time since its inception.
As it grows, Just in Time retains the commitment and collaborative spirit that defined its earliest beginnings. Over the years, volunteers who have joined and worked alongside these five co-founders as an extended family to foster youth county-wide have also experienced how a foundation of compassion, the commitment of caring volunteers, and the support of engaged partners makes Just in Time an organization that truly gives "help from the heart."
| 
