What’s New with Thrive in Joy?
Nick’s Iconic Warped Tour Photo in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Exhibit
A 2010 photo of Nick floating on a sea of hands towards the Warped Tour main stage was part of the 2019-2020 Forever Warped: 25 Years of Warped Tour exhibit in the Baker Gallery at Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Including this photo in the exhibit was the result of a coincidence that Nick’s mom, Mary (who lies to say there are no coincidences), happened to be working at USC’s Thornton School of Music when Warped Tour Founder Kevin Lyman joined the faculty. Mary gave Kevin a T-shirt with the photo on it and the rest is history. “It was the only piece that I insisted had to be included in the exhibit,” said Lyman. Watch this interview with Kevin as he tours the exhibit.
C11 Part of Multiplying Good Student Project That Won a National Jefferson Award
The Hopeful Hands Team asked Thrive in Joy to bring our C11 program to share with foster teen residents at Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services. The Hopeful Hands students identified several ways to support foster teens and provide resources. The successful impact of their program resulted in their team taking 2nd place at the September 24, 2020 Virtual National Jefferson Awards Gala which is normally held in Washington D.C. See the students’ presentation at the national gala here.
USC Hybrid High Community Partner of the Year Award in 2021
In April of 2021, the Thrive in Joy Nick Fagnano Foundation received a Community Partner of the Year Award at the annual Ednovate Network of Charter High School's virtual "More Like Family" Event.
Thrive in Joy Awarded USC Good Neighbor Grant
Thrive in Joy was among 54 USC Good Neighbor 2020/2021 grant recipients for our C11 program which offers high school students a unique approach to self-discovery and empowerment. Through Club Thrive in Joy students are encouraged to activate their character strenghths for positive, multi-generational change in their school community and the larger world. By engaging students that support social-emotional learning, students gain a greater understanding of self and become more confident in their ability to respond to challenges and opportunities while also assuming leadership roles. See video from the awards ceremony here.
Thrive in Joy Funds New Preschool in DR with Grant from the Retail Orphan Initiative
This year the Retail Orphan Initiative, a professional organization supported by tech companies that service large retailers, funded a Thrive in Joy proposal to refurbish a building for the 90 preschoolers at Tia Tatiana School in the desperately underserved Domincan Republic community of Herrera. In addition to benefitting the school’s youngest students, moving the preschool from the main building will free up classrooms and allow older students to attend all day classes—currently, they split the day, with younger students in the morning and older students attending afternoon classes.
Backyard BBQ Featuring Rack n’ Roll Ribs (Larchmont Buzz article)
Educators, community members, and prospective volunteers gathered on August 14, 2022 to kick off the new academic year. Food was provided by Rack n’ Roll Ribs, a new delivery-only brand extension of Thrive Kitchen LA. Attendees heard from Naydelin Fuentes, USC Hybrid High senior, about a project she hopes to launch this year with Thrive in Joy’s support. Cindy Gonzalez shared her enthusiasm for the C11 program in her role as a facilitator at Esperanza High, and Thrive in Joy’s co-founders Mary and Jay Fagnano spoke about the ever-growing impact of the organization. Read more in the Larchmont Buzz.
