January 9, 2007
Seventeen years ago Frank Sorino had a vision of creating a place for teenagers to go to get away from the draws of life on the street. Sorino envisioned a safe haven that would combat the growing number of juvenile gang, drug, crime and health problems.
“There was no place for teenagers to go. So we decided to start a boxing team that would attract the tough kids that usually lead the gangs,” Sorino said.
He began by gathering a small group of boys and teaching them the basics of boxing. The group started small, but grew quickly as word spread of Sorino’s after-school boxing lessons. Because of the group’s popularity, Sorino created a nonprofit organization, naming it Join Hands Save a Life (JHSL).
For many of Carlsbad’s youth, the long-standing program has served as positive alternative to violence, illegal activity and drugs.
“Boxing kind of lets their aggression out, gives them discipline, and it’s also respected with their peers,” Sorino said.
Today JHSL serves 300 youth and more than 5,000 youth visit annually. Because the sport requires a strict discipline, teens in Sorino’s group easily turn down offers of drugs and alcohol to maintain a high performance while boxing.
Throughout JHSL’s tenure, Sorino has opened his home to the teen boxers, creating a gym in his garage to meet the training needs of the organization’s regulars. He dreamed of opening a facility where the teens could go to train, hang out and be together in a safe environment, but lacked a location and sufficient funding to make it a reality.
Recently, Bill Horn of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors allocated $110,000 to help toward the completion of a new youth center and gym for JHSL. These funds will help make the center a reality for the teens of JHSL.
The center’s frame has been erected, but Sorino is hoping to complete the facility’s roof and walls before the onset of winter.
The Carlsbad Business Journal sat down with Sorino to discuss the final stages in this project and the future of JHSL.
CBJ: What activities are provided by JHSL?
Sorino: Our activities include weight-lifting, hiking, aerobics, biking, rowing, boxing, soccer, basketball, baseball, fishing, aerobics, dance, martial arts, jump ropes, sparring, community service projects, work projects, field trips, mentoring, homework, computers, art, conflict resolution, diet education, free physicals, meetings, clean-ups and barbecues.
CBJ: What is the expected outcome for teens attending JHSL?
Sorino: It is our goal to provide free services for low-income youth, change bad habits into good ones, keep youth out of jail, develop a daily exercise routine to produce health and fitness and to prevent serious health problems before they develop. These goals and objectives can be measurable and time-specific, by keeping a daily log of each participants activities, exercises, food and drinks consumed, weight-in and measurements.
We expect the overall health and well being of each participant to improve, thus preventing many health problems in the future. We expect their grades to get better because they will be more alert and healthier in school. We expect the older youth to get jobs and get a higher education because good health produces confidence.
CBJ: What needs does the facility still have?
Sorino: “Join Hands Save A Life, Youth Center” will be a wonderful addition to our community. Many subcontractors have provided free construction time, which is as valuable as cash contributions. The youth center services a community of individuals that don’t have a lot of disposable income but are willing to volunteer time and construction services.
We now ask businesses join us in this effort to serve and help the underprivileged youth in our community. Partnerships will help us drive enthusiasm, support and volunteerism with the local community.
Seventeen years ago Frank Sorino had a vision of creating a place for teenagers to go to get away from the draws of life on the street. Sorino envisioned a safe haven that would combat the growing number of juvenile gang, drug, crime and health problems.
“There was no place for teenagers to go. So we decided to start a boxing team that would attract the tough kids that usually lead the gangs,” Sorino said.
He began by gathering a small group of boys and teaching them the basics of boxing. The group started small, but grew quickly as word spread of Sorino’s after-school boxing lessons. Because of the group’s popularity, Sorino created a nonprofit organization, naming it Join Hands Save a Life (JHSL).
For many of Carlsbad’s youth, the long-standing program has served as positive alternative to violence, illegal activity and drugs.
“Boxing kind of lets their aggression out, gives them discipline, and it’s also respected with their peers,” Sorino said.
Today JHSL serves 300 youth and more than 5,000 youth visit annually. Because the sport requires a strict discipline, teens in Sorino’s group easily turn down offers of drugs and alcohol to maintain a high performance while boxing.
Throughout JHSL’s tenure, Sorino has opened his home to the teen boxers, creating a gym in his garage to meet the training needs of the organization’s regulars. He dreamed of opening a facility where the teens could go to train, hang out and be together in a safe environment, but lacked a location and sufficient funding to make it a reality.
Recently, Bill Horn of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors allocated $110,000 to help toward the completion of a new youth center and gym for JHSL. These funds will help make the center a reality for the teens of JHSL.
The center’s frame has been erected, but Sorino is hoping to complete the facility’s roof and walls before the onset of winter.
The Carlsbad Business Journal sat down with Sorino to discuss the final stages in this project and the future of JHSL.
CBJ: What activities are provided by JHSL?
Sorino: Our activities include weight-lifting, hiking, aerobics, biking, rowing, boxing, soccer, basketball, baseball, fishing, aerobics, dance, martial arts, jump ropes, sparring, community service projects, work projects, field trips, mentoring, homework, computers, art, conflict resolution, diet education, free physicals, meetings, clean-ups and barbecues.
CBJ: What is the expected outcome for teens attending JHSL?
Sorino: It is our goal to provide free services for low-income youth, change bad habits into good ones, keep youth out of jail, develop a daily exercise routine to produce health and fitness and to prevent serious health problems before they develop. These goals and objectives can be measurable and time-specific, by keeping a daily log of each participants activities, exercises, food and drinks consumed, weight-in and measurements.
We expect the overall health and well being of each participant to improve, thus preventing many health problems in the future. We expect their grades to get better because they will be more alert and healthier in school. We expect the older youth to get jobs and get a higher education because good health produces confidence.
CBJ: What needs does the facility still have?
Sorino: “Join Hands Save A Life, Youth Center” will be a wonderful addition to our community. Many subcontractors have provided free construction time, which is as valuable as cash contributions. The youth center services a community of individuals that don’t have a lot of disposable income but are willing to volunteer time and construction services.
We now ask businesses join us in this effort to serve and help the underprivileged youth in our community. Partnerships will help us drive enthusiasm, support and volunteerism with the local community.