Gary Jimenez

Executive Director
What do you love about Jumpstart? There's no other program like Jumpstart. Not only do we make a difference in the lives of children, but we provide a meaningful and engaging experience for the volunteers as well. I also get so excited to see the results and the knowledge gains that children make each year. It's so wonderful to see that such an impact can be made through a program that seems so simple but is really comprehensive. What is the most rewarding experience you've had while working at Jumpstart? Looking back over the past 2 years it's been thrilling to build Jumpstart in Southern California. We've been able to nearly quadruple the number of children we serve and it's been so rewarding to see our strategy have a real-life impact on families and communities.

Christine Manley

Community Corps Manager
I love how Jumpstart looks at the big picture and fosters sustainability by not only serving children but also recruiting volunteers from within the community, working with local organizations, involving families, supporting teachers, and inspiring volunteers to be future teachers and child advocates.   The most rewarding experience for me has been seeing children enthusiastic and excited about learning. At Jumpstart’s Read for the Record on October 6th of this year, volunteers read “Llama Llama Red Pajama” to groups of preschoolers and the children couldn’t get enough of the real baby llamas that were at the event.

Jennifer Childress

Development Director
What do you love about Jumpstart? There are many challenges in the world where the solutions are difficult or unclear. But we know that high-quality early education transforms the lives of children well in to their adulthood and middle age. Participation in these programs quite literally changes the trajectory of people's lives. I am so proud to be part of an organization that is making such a measurable impact. What is the most rewarding experience you've had while working at Jumpstart? The time I first saw the program in action, I was volunteering at a literacy fair at one of our preschools. After spending the morning with the most amazing kids and seeing how they drank in knowledge like nothing I'd ever seen, I was more inspired than ever to get back to work!

Ben Scholes

Program Coordinator
What do you love about Jumpstart? My favorite thing about Jumpstart is that we are a attacking the achievement gap at its inception. Having been a teacher in elementary school classrooms, I have seen firsthand how wide the gap can be even in kindergarten. What is the most rewarding experience you've had while working at Jumpstart? Seeing the joy in children when they receive books of their own to take home and read again with a family member reminds me that the time I spend at my desk is well worth it.