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ABOUT US
The Youth of Honor Foundation was established in 2006 after continued concern of the number of youth going through the United States juvenile justice system. With over 85% of the youths who serve time being released back into society, the Youth of Honor Foundation team saw that a positive, long-term impact could be made by proactively educating these youth that they are of value and can achieve any goals they have for themselves. It is our belief that every child has potential and when focused in a positive manner, that potential can assist them and others in reaching their dreams.
The Youth of Honor Foundation will intervene in the lives of troubled youth through motivational seminars on living life the right way. We will bring in real-life stories of people who have overcome obstacles in life to succeed and now live a life that no one had ever thought they could. Through our 10-Step Program, youth will work through curriculum that teaches them and allows them to make personal statements of commitment to themselves to use each day as a building block for success. As youth complete the program they will receive a certificate of achievement that they can proudly display so others can see their commitment to themselves, their family and their community.
The success we achieve will be measured by the youths we serve and assist. The life of every child is valuable. Children need guidance which, in turn, serves as the fertilizer for growth. The fertilizer required can not reach into the dark halls of our juvenile detention centers without the persistent light and love of others. We hope that you will join us in our quest for the next generations' journey into the light by helping us reach just one child at a time.
Lastly, but of equal importance, the Youth of Honor Foundation will strive to work very closely with the parent(s) of our youth. It is our belief that the role of the parent(s) is vital to strengthening the moral fiber and the self-confidence of our youth while creating a nourishing environment that yields towards a positive progression of each and every youth. While there is an old saying "It takes a village to raise a child", we are going to expand on this note by saying; "It takes caring people in the village to step up and help raise a child." Together, we will make a real difference!
WHO WE ARE
Youth of Honor Foundation Board
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Founder / President: H. Ron Brashear, Director - Information Technology @ Telcordia & Exec VP/Managing Editor - www.insideboxing.com
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H. Ron Brashear founded Youth of Honor Foundation in 2006 and coined the phrase GET YOH JUMP ON LIFE. He is actively involved with redirecting youth through his ‘Personal U-TURN’ training program at youth detention centers around the country. A motivational speaker, a philanthropist, and author, Ron is passionate about seeing at-risk youth turn toward the path of a new perspective and new opportunities in life.
Ron received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from National Louis University and is the author of BOUNCING BACK…Living life the right way. This book chronicles Ron’s life and how he was able to rise above the impact of the negative influences to become an IT Program Management Director at Telcordia, a family man and an entrepreneur. His zeal for writing landed him the position of Executive VP and Managing Editor of www.insideboxing.com and afforded him the opportunity to meet and subsequently nurture a special relationship with his hero Muhammad Ali.
A native of Elizabethtown Kentucky, Ron is also the nephew of Carl Brashear, the 1st African-American Navy diver whose life was depicted in the 20th Century Fox Motion Picture, Men of Honor, starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Robert Deniro. He resides in Atlanta with his wife Audrey and their daughters Olivia and Jillian.
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Vice-President / Executive Director: Tom Grason, Sr. Manager; AT&T
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 As an IT Professional for over 14 years, Tom has taken on a wide variety of assignments that range from code writing, international program management to being a Chief of Staff for a Senior Executive. In every position he has held Tom has leveraged his strong communication and interpersonal skills to build a network of relationships. He realizes that by incorporating the thoughts and experiences of others greater heights can be achieved.
Tom has taken these same strong personal attributes outside the workplace and begun his own very successful freelance photography business (http://www.tomgrason.com). Starting out with only a camera and some courage, he has been blessed enough to capture some historic events while building a portfolio full of stars (eg. Muhammad Ali, Michael Vick, Usher). Whether it was shooting ringside at a Laila Ali bout or supporting a non-profit event for the premier entertainer of our time, Usher, Tom has always captured the moment to the delight of his clients.
Mr. Grason received a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Management Information Systems from Florida State University with a minor in Communications. Tom currently resides in Atlanta with his wife, Sharon, and their two daughters, AnnMarie and Emma.
Besides being the Executive Director/Secretary of the Youth of Honor Foundation, Tom also sits on the board of another non-profit, 99 Wayz 2 Win, which brings life training skills to disadvantaged youth through non-parental mentoring relationships. In addition to positions on boards, Tom supports the following other non-profit foundations through his photographic services activities - Allen Rossum Healthy Kids Klub, TJ Duckett Foundation, DeAngelo Hall Foundation, Usher's New Look Foundation, Athletes Helping Youth.
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Treasurer: Twlya Mickens, Accounting Professional; Ross Lane & Company, LLC
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Photographer - Community Events: Eric VanDyke, Say Cheeze Photography
 Eric has been a professional photographer for over 15 years with his work spanning from boxing to non-profit community support activities. His professionalism, talents and passion has enabled Eric the opportunity to work with many of today's top celebrities, entertainers and athletes. As his success has grown, Eric has always remembered to share his passion with others. As a member of the Youth of Honor team, he not only brings his photography skills and love of working with youth, he also provides a vast network of contacts to assist with spreading the message of Youth of Honor's mission.
- Communications Director / Editor-In-Chief: Joyace Lopez, Executive Assistant, Schiff Hardin LLP
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 Joyace Lopez realized her dream of writing as early as middle school when she began writing short stories using her mother’s manual typewriter. Although her compilations of stories were lost in a subsequent move, she never lost her passion to write at every opportunity.
In high school, Joyace joined the yearbook staff and wrote for the high school newspaper. Living in West Germany gave her an opportunity to diversify and even write editorials for the Stars and Stripes military newspaper. Telling the story and gaining perspectives from several angles, Joyace decided to major in Mass Communications in college. She was offered a stipend during her junior year to become editor-in-chief of the student publication, The Blue and White Flash. (This position was usually afforded to seniors). Joyace did not stop at that milestone. While taking a production class in college, Joyace was selected from among several student hopefuls to provide television public service announcements for “On the Agenda,” a community affairs public relations broadcast for the Jackson, Mississippi ABC affiliate, WAPT-16. She also hosted a weekly radio broadcast called “JSU Up-to-the-Minute,” where she wrote regularly for the news segment entitled “For Your Good Health.” After interviewing the public affairs officer for the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra on that program, Joyace was asked to intern for the Orchestra as a public relations writer. She wrote press releases, newsletters, and put together flyers for upcoming Symphony events. Joyace was also selected to draft a brochure for the facilities operations at Jackson State, which was given to incoming freshmen as a facilities reference guide.
As if she wasn’t busy enough, Joyace freelanced while in college as a writer for the Jackson Advocate, Jackson’s oldest minority-owned newspaper. Following came several articles, including the rise and fall of minority-owned businesses in the state and the hope and prayer that a capital murder conviction and subsequent death penalty sentence of a 16 year-old black male would be overturned due to his being convicted based solely on circumstantial evidence. She also served as sports correspondent for The Clarion Ledger/Jackson Daily News. The turning point in Joyace’s writing career came when she and a team of writers, news anchors, broadcasters and photographers took a weekend road trip to the Mississippi Delta in early 1990 to report on stories ranging from the atrocities of living without plumbing and running water, the ever-present share-cropping industry, the history of Delta Blues, the catfish and farming industry, and the rise of the use of crack-cocaine by young people resulting in an epidemic of venereal disease in Washington County to pre-teen pregnancy (children as young as age 9), not to mention segregation.
Joyace’s passion to reach even just one lost youth has lead her on her journey to the doors of YOH. With candor and wit, Joyace works tirelessly, along with the rest of the YOH staff to put out a top-notch product and nothing shy of less. Doubling as a career mom and mentor, Joyace works as a legal assistant for the largest Chicago-based law firm, Schiff Hardin LLP. She holds her B.S. in Mass Communications with a concentration in Public Relations from Jackson State University, Jackson, MS (1990) and her ABA Accredited Paralegal Certificate from National Center for Paralegal Training Atlanta, Georgia (2000). She is the proud mom of hip hop artist Big L (a/k/a DI), an aspiring young engineer (Frederick) and baby George. She is married and resides in Roswell, Georgia.
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Community Program Liasion: Charlette Wynn, Executive Director - The Small Business Center
 Ms. Wynn has over 15 years of consulting and program management experience. She has held an increasing levels of leadership positions at companies such as Electronic Data Systems (EDS), Deloitte & Touché, GE Capital, and AT&T. Charlette is widely known for her contributions in leading large integrated programs, quality initiatives and operational improvement efforts. Charlette’s leadership experience spans across a wide range of strategic initiatives. She has led global assignments in Brazil, Canada, England, France, Spain, and Sweden. A partial list of her past clients includes Allstate, Applied Computer Services (ACS), Bank of America, Bank One, Boeing Aircraft, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), Coca Cola Enterprises, Experian, Fulton County, General Motors, Masco Contractor Services, IXC Communications, Lloyds TSB of London, Morgan Stanley, Navistar Financials, Sears, Sun Microsystems, United Airlines, and Unibanco Bank of Brazil. Wynn’s background and experience is complimented and supported by a team of highly professional executives with over 100 years of business and entrepreneur experience across several industries and training from some of the most prestigious consulting firms and educational institutions.
Foundation Advisory Board
- Phillip Brashear - Retired Blackhawk Helicopter pilot (Chief Warrant Officer 4); President of Carl Brashear Foundation (www.carlbrashear.org)
- DaWayne Brashear - Professional Model, Actor, Interior Designer; Son of Carl M. Brashear
- Charles Watson - CEO, CW Management; Former business manager for 4-time Heavyweight Champion of the World Evander Holyfield and current manager for the late 4-time Superwelterweight World Boxing Champion, Vernon Forrest; Senior Partner of Fight Knight, LLC (www.fightknight.info)
- Denise Donahue - Owner, Cadmus Contruction (www.cadmusconstruction.com) - Cadmus Construction, LLC provides turnkey, integrated design/build solutions with a commitment to green and sustainable design, development and construction. Utilizing alternative energy solutions combined with superior building systems, Cadmus Construction mandates the responsible use of resources in the selection of construction materials and methodologies. Builders of the first platnium LEED home in Georgia - Weatherford Place
- Dr. Lonnie J. Edwards, Sr. - Retired, Assistant Superintendent, DeKalb County Schools and author of the book, "A Teacher's Touch: Reaching Beyond the Boundaries" - a moving account of his relationship with a physically disabled former student. Edwards was featured with student Nancy Miller on the Sally Jesse Rapheal Show and cable network Showtime is producing a movie based on the book. Edwards has been an educator for more than 30 years and holds two masters degrees and a doctorate from Clark Atlanta University. Founder of Edwards-Miller Foundation for Physical Disabilities, Inc. (http://www.edwards-miller.org)
- Reina Bauer - Senior Loan Officer, Silverton Mortage Specialists - Reina has been working in the mortgage industry for more than five years and brings her uncompromising standards of integrity, honesty and service to Silverton Mortgage Specialists, Inc. (http://www.silvertonmortgage.com/ReinaBauer.html)
OUR NON-PROFIT STATUS
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