Jesus grew up in South Los Angeles, in a neighborhood known for drugs, gang violence and crime. He never knew his father, and his mother was forced to give him up as a baby.
By the time Jesus was ten, he was disruptive and doing poorly in school. Staff at the United Way-funded agency All People's Christian Center, where Jesus attends, said he was known for his bad behavior and low academic achievement.
All that changed when Jesus was enrollled in Tomorrow's Leaders, a United Way after-school program which helps at risk kids acquire 21st century skills through weekly tutoring sessions, computer training and social development activities.
The program had a big impact on Jesus. His grades shot up and his behavior improved dramatically. In spite of his past and all the negative influences in his neighborhood, Jesus is a great example of what can be achieved with a little hard work and the right support from United Way and caring people like you.
"My grades went from an F to an A"