Meet Jonathan

Jonathan is one of those students that stands out in the crowd.  As one of our SFIC recipients, we can’t help and admire his fortitude and tenacity when it comes to his education.

When he first came to The United States from the Dominican Republic with his mother and older sister, he found that the major challenge he had to overcome was learning English and adapting to his new surroundings.  He adapted extremely well and continues to excel in his studies.

Jonathan is a senior at Hudson Catholic Regional High School in Jersey City.  His favorite thing about attending the school is how much they care about all the students. Putting them first and the emphasis on the importance of education.

He will be attending Villanova University “GO WILDCATS” on the Villanova O’Toole Family Presidential Scholarship which will cover ALL FOUR YEARS of his education.  He plans on majoring in Communication.  “I have a passion for film and photography, and this major is very versatile.  My dream is to travel the world and explore different cultures while documenting them through media.”

“Receiving the SFIC tuition assistance and now the Villanova O’Toole Family Presidential Scholarship has helped my family tremendously financially since I’m not sure I would have been able to afford receiving such a high quality education otherwise.

One day I would love to be able to help people from low income families that are in the same situation as myself and as an immigrant, give them inspiration to pursue their dreams and be a beacon of hope.

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART AND CONTINUE TO SPREAD POSITIVITY THROUGH YOUR DONATIONS AND ACTIONS.”

Manuela Yeboah – Alumni with a Mission

Manuela is one of the many SFIC Alumni who exemplify the main core reason for our mission – values! She is currently working as a Teacher at North Star Academy Charter School of Newark.  Previously Manuela was a Trainer for Global Kids which is a non-profit organization focused on youth development and civic engagement for underserved youth around the world. She graduated from Saint Michael’s College with a Bachelor of Science degree focusing on Environmental Science and Biology. “I have a strong passion for social justice, youth work, activism, and environmentalism–specifically in the environmental justice sector.” She has worked for the Sadie Nash Leadership. “I enjoy reading, painting, and traveling in my free time.” Manuela is just one of many siblings in her family to receive SFIC assistance and graduate from Catholic schools. Her father continues to value the education his daughters receive and the assistance that The Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children has been able to provide with the gifts from donors!

It’s All in the Family – Meet SFIC Alumni James

Catholic education is a tradition in the Suazo family. Just ask James. James is a former recipient of The Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children (SFIC) and one of 11 children who attended or are attending a Catholic school in his family. The most recent to enter is his young brother Joseph who just now entering second grade.

James graduated from William Paterson University’s Cotsakos College of Business where he participated in the Financial Planner Program. He previously attended St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark and Mother Seton Elementary School in Union City. He gives back by volunteering as a coach and mentor for the youth basketball team at Mother Seton Elementary School. “I have a passion for helping others”, said James. While attending William Paterson, he visited high schools and educated high school students about the importance of Financial Planning as part of the student chapter of the Financial Planning Association.

He is currently an Associate Financial Planner at Baron Financial Group and hopes to continue utilizing his experience in Financial Planning in service to his community. “I am grateful to the donors who continue to provide many families and children the opportunity to pursue a quality education. Thank you for all your assistance.”

Ten Questions with SFIC Alumni and Author Jonathan Frejuste

1. 1. Tell us about your family and upbringing.  What was it like growing up in Newark, NJ?
      My parents are Haitian immigrants who came to America to pursue greater opportunity by building a life based on the values of perseverance, self-reliance, hard work, and education. They moved to Newark, NJ where I was born and raised. Newark is a great and resilient city where I acquired my toughness and motivation for social justice.
   2. Why did your parents choose to send you and your siblings to Catholic schools? What things did they have to sacrifice (to do so)? My parents chose to send me to Catholic schools to receive a quality education in a safe environment. My parents had a great work ethic, which they instilled in me, and demonstrated through working hard to build a strong foundation for their children.
   3. How did your parents learn about SFIC and how did a SFIC scholarship make it possible for you to attend a Catholic school within the Archdiocese of Newark? 
      My parents were made aware of the SFIC through my high school. The SFIC scholarship made high school tuition more financially bearable for my parents.
   4. What was your experience attending Catholic schools? What did Catholic education teach you about yourself, your community, and service to others? 
      My experience at Immaculate Conception High School was remarkable.  I learned about the power of service to shape the hearts, minds, and destinies of young people to become active and caring members of the community through the community service projects.
   5. How did Catholic education prepare you for college? How did it prepare you for life? Do you think you’d be the man you are today without a strong moral foundation? 
      The Catholic education focuses on my academic and spiritual development, which led me to have academic success and ability to engage diverse communities with an openness and sensitivity.
   6. Tell us about your book, “Bridge The Gaps – Lessons on Self-Awareness, Self-Development, and Self-Care”. Why did you decide to write it? Are there any parts of the book inspired by your Catholic education and faith? Where would someone go to find it? 
      Bridge the Gaps is a personal and community development guide that is designed to provide people with tools and a blueprint to build, rebuild or reposition their lives, families, and communities. The common denominator of all the people I’ve met on my journey is that no one comes from a perfect family. Whether your home was affected by abuse, addiction, or incarceration or you came from a great home with imperfect parents, we all come with some assembly required and deficits or gaps in our development that need to be bridged. I wanted to provide a guide to help people accomplish that goal. My faith is an organizing principle in my life and played a major role in my decision to write the book. You can find the book on my website www.thebridge330.com.
   7. Tell us about the service projects you have been involved in within your community? Did you always believe you would return to your inner-city roots or did you have other plans? If so, why did those plans change? 
      I started my career in the field of auditing with a Big 4 accounting firm where I earned my CPA license. I was on my way to climbing the corporate ladder, but along the way, my plans took a major turn when I learned about the racial prejudice in the criminal justice system manifested in the mass incarceration of people of color, specifically those from my community. The state of NJ has the highest disparity in black to white incarceration rates. For every 1 white adult, there are 12 black adults incarcerated. For every 1 white minor incarcerated, there are 30 black minors incarcerated when black and white adults and minors commit crimes just about the same. These startling statistics speak to the legacy of racial prejudice and systemic injustice that affect us all very deeply. It caused me to re-orient my life to help people affected by incarceration and do my part to heal the effects of the narrative of racial difference in our society. I currently serve at a local New Jersey Prison providing life-coaching courses to inmates who would like to rebuild and reposition their lives to successfully reenter society upon release and avoid recidivating.  I also serve as a speaker and workshop facilitator for several schools and organizations throughout NJ.
   8. How did The Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children impact your life? How did it impact your parent’s lives? What would you say to parents who are considering sending their children to Catholic schools? 
      The work of the SFIC is encouraging and important because it gives economically disadvantaged families an opportunity to send their children to quality schools, and it restores a sense of hope in the world by showing that there are people who care about others. To any parent considering sending their children to Catholic schools, I would let them know that my experience with Catholic education has been tremendous, particularly with its focus on preparing students academically and spiritually to contribute to the common good of all.
   9. What would you say to the SFIC donors who helped make your Catholic education possible? 
      Your contribution is vitally important because you are investing in young people who can break negative cycles in their families and communities and build a foundation for a better tomorrow. Thank you for your investment.
   10. Tell us something that we don’t know about you.
       At one point in my childhood, I memorized the movie Lion King from start to finish.Jonathan’s book “Bridge The Gaps – Lessons on Self-Awareness, Self-Development, and Self-Care” is also available at Amazon.com. Shop and purchase the book through

       smile.amazon.com/ch/51-0546401 and Amazon donates to The Scholarship Fund For Inner-City Children. For more information on the book visit http://www.thebridge330.com/.

Adwoa is a recent SFIC Alumni and graduate of Benedictine Academy (Class of 2016).  She is currently a junior at Howard University School of Business and is majoring in International Business with a concentration in Computer Information Systems.  She was recently chosen as one of Forbes Under 30 scholars.