Leadership

Jeff Jordan
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Jeff Jordan

Founder, Chairman, Acting CEO

Jeffrey Jordan founded The Goodworx Foundation in the year 2004. Also an entrepreneur, Mr. Jordan holds a degree in Business from New Jersey City University. Mr. Jordan enjoys working in the non-profit world, dedicating his time and experience to the younger generation. He has worked with various non-profit organizations, including a foundation benefiting Pediatric Aids. He has also donated his time to non-profit inner-city basketball camps and other instructional activities. In 2000, Jeffrey Jordan actively participated in an organization which produced several high-profile events generating over 1 million dollars in donations.

It has long been his desire to create an organization, which could provide assistance for today's young people as they navigate through their youth. Mr. Jordan has a vision for The Goodworx Foundation; the dream is to continue creating unique, energetic, and influential programming that will aid young people, ages 8-23, in recognizing and developing their unique potential within.

Goodworx programming has served over 600 children and young adults since 2005. With programs across New Jersey, Mr. Jordan hopes to lead Goodworx by growing its programming content domestically, and eventually into the global marketplace. [...] READ MORE >>

Frances Ramirez
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Frances Ramirez

Executive Director

The overall operation of The Goodworx Foundation is directed by Frances Ramirez. Frances is currently enrolled in Kean University working on her Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Business Management. Recently, she was blessed with an amazing opportunity to study abroad in South Africa, where she was able to gain the experience of attending a university in a foreign country, learning first-hand about new cultures, sight-seeing a beautiful country, and especially gaining the experience of providing life skills services for children in a third world country. Frances volunteered with The Masifunde Learner Development which provides disadvantaged children who live in South African townships with dynamic programming that focuses on teaching life skills, promoting education, and providing children with opportunities to learn about their community and how to care for it. Alongside volunteers from all over the world, Frances participated in the Learn4Life!life skills program. Her experiences volunteering abroad with these children have had a tremendous positive impact on her personal life as well as her approach in mentoring and directing programming at the local level. It gives a heightened meaning to our philosophy that not only do our program participants learn from the mentors, but that our mentors learn immensely about themselves through volunteering. Along with her time spent abroad, Frances has many other service experiences that make her an invaluable asset to the foundation. While attending The George Washington University during her freshman year, Frances joined Jumpstart as an AmeriCorps member to help develop the literacy, language, and social skills of disadvantaged preschoolers to better prepare them for elementary school education. During her high school career in Sayreville War Memorial High School, she was actively involved in several programs including Student Council, Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society, Peer Leadership, and the Talented & Gifted Program. She also attended three leadership programs, New Jersey Girl's State at Rider University in New Jersey, the Leadership Training Conference through the NJASC (New Jersey Association of Student Councils) and a Congressional Student Leadership Conference with LeadAmerica at Bentley College in Boston. Overall, The Goodworx Foundation is extremely proud to have Frances Ramirez as part of the Goodworx family. [...] READ MORE >>

Rachel DiGiacomo
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Rachel DiGiacomo

Program Director - Elementary School Programs

In the fall of 2008, Rachel DiGiacomo began her role as Program Director of The GWx MTC/SUES After-School Program at Samsel Upper Elementary School. Rachel DiGiacomo graduated from Sayreville War Memorial High School in 2005. During her years at Sayreville, she was Vice President of the French Club and an active member of the French Honor Society. Also a former Peer Leader at the high school, Rachel has always been drawn to helping others and strives to set a positive example for the youth around her. Although she originally attended Rowan University with intention of becoming a mathematics teacher, she has recently changed her path and would like to pursue a career in child psychology. During her time at Rowan, she was also a part of iMPACT, a program that consisted of students that focused on setting an example for their fellow peers and helping new students get better acclimated to an unfamiliar environment. She is affiliated with the Keeping Kids Warm Charity. With this charity, she has traveled with other managers in her previous company to provide winter coats to underprivileged children. Having high hopes and expectations for the foundation and for The MTC Program, Rachel intends to grow with Goodworx and continue to make a positive impact on the lives of generations to come. [...] READ MORE >>

Samantha Pasewark
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Samantha Pasewark

Program Leader

Samantha Pasewark became a member of The Goodworx Foundation MTC Program in the fall of 2008 as the assistant program director at the Samuel Upper Elementary School. She graduated from Sayreville War Memorial High School in 2005 and during her years there she was a member in the Spanish Honor Society, TIGS, and chorus. She continued her education at Middlesex County College after receiving the NJSTARS scholarship. At MCC she discovered the love for teaching by tutoring and helping fellow peers achieve their goals. She has her Associated Degree in Biology and is currently attending Rutgers University majoring in Marine Biology as well as taking education classes. Her dream is to have an impact on the younger generation and become a Biology teacher. Her inspiration for mentoring youth came from the time she spends with her nieces and nephews. She hopes to continue to grow and learn from her experiences with Goodworx. [...] READ MORE >>

Breanna Weisenbach
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Breanna Weisenbach

Program Leader

Breanna Weisenbach is one of the newest members to the Goodworx Foundation. She was drawn to the organization when she learned of the MTC program and how it was designed to help students excel in all aspects of life. During high school she was involved in the Interact Club which organized many volunteer activities and fundraisers. Some of her favorite activities were running food and clothing drives for families in need, volunteering at Elijah's Promise Soup Kitchen in New Brunswick, NJ, and donating presents to the St. Peter's Children's Ward during the holidays. After high school, Breanna attended Middlesex County College and got her Associate's Degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management. She is currently working as a baker and is continuing to pursue her dream of owning a bakery. After college Breanna has continued to volunteer in her community. Her most recent project was organizing and mailing over 20 care packages and 100 greeting cards to the troops serving in Iraq during the holidays. During this project, she collaborated with The Goodworx Foundation to include the students who made their own greeting cards to mail, as well as help pack the care packages. She then joined the Goodworx staff as a mentor in May 2009. Breanna has a true passion for working with the students and will now be moving into an Assistant Program Director Position at Samsel Upper Elementary school. Breanna is looking forward to working with the students as the years pass. Her goal is to be a positive role model for every student she meets and to help each student reach for and achieve their biggest dream. [...] READ MORE >>

Cynthia Gray
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Cynthia Gray

Program Leader

Cynthia Gray is a graduate of Sayreville War Memorial High School.

During her high school career, she was an active member in Sayreville's step squad, Platinum Sounds, where the ideals of strong teamwork, commitment, discipline, and passion created a solid foundation for achieving success. She held the position of captain her senior year. Cynthia has always been driven by a passion for "paying it forward," which is demonstrated through her involvement in countless community service events since middle school. Furthermore, she has participated in the "Amya My Sister" big sister organization where she mentored young females. Cynthia, currently enrolled in Sanford Brown Institute for Medical Assisting, aspires to achieve her certification as a cardiovascular technician. She is thankful for joining Team Goodworx and looks forward to being the best mentor that she can be. [...] READ MORE >>

Christine Gittens
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Christine Gittens

Mentor

Christine Gittens has volunteered for The Goodworx Foundation since we began after-school programming in 2007. During her high school years, her passion for mentoring and helping others emerged due to her involvement in a organization known as "The Pathfinder Club." This worldwide organization provided her some of the best experiences of her youth, which helped her overcome her own struggles while also nurturing her capacity for mentoring. After being a participant in this leadership youth group for three years, Christine went on to become a counselor within The Pathfinder Club until 2007 when she joined Team GoodWorx. We grew to know and love Christine as a valuable member of our team first as an event volunteer and then as a mentor in our programs. We are now proud to announce her as a dedicated Program Leader. While serving the youth of Sayreville, Christine is also pursuing her degree in Psychology, which she hopes will improve her ability to help young people overcome the obstacles they encounter and strive to fulfill their dreams. [...] READ MORE >>

Alex Mirabel
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Alex Mirabel

Mentor

Alex Mirabel is a graduate from New Jersey City University with a Bachelor in History and a Physical Fitness Certification. His dream is to be a pro basketball player, and to become a teacher. He is currently an assistant coach for the men's basketball team at NJCU for which he was a 4 year starter and a two year captain. In addition, he led his team to a conference championship in 2003 and ECAC championship in 2006. Coach Brown, a member of the goodworx Foundation board, was his coach at the NJCU and he considers him of of the most prominent mentors in his life. He taught him how to be responsible and become the man that he is today. Alex has worked for the department of recreation in Jersey City for three years as a camp counselor for the summer fun program that the city provides. Also during the fall and winter, he serves as the assistant coordinator of the recreation activities at PS#15. based on his love for kids and service, Alex has volunteered with the Roberto Clements Little League Baseball program for six years. Working with kids is a true passion for Alex. He enjoys being a positive role model for them. Alex has the rare distinction of being in the first class of the NJCU goodworx Life-Skills Program as a student in 2007. Upon graduation, he was offered employment with goodworx because of his outstanding character and positive influence on others. [...] READ MORE >>

Michael Jacobs
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Michael Jacobs

Former Program Leader and Current Consultant

The past success of The MTC Program has lead to the creation of additional programs designed to fit the needs of its expanding community. The Goodworx MTC "Onward and Upward" Program, previously lead by Michael John Jacobs, has focused on students making the transition from middle school to high school. This program has serviced 8th and 9th grade students and focuses on issues that adolescent students often face while making this transition. Since Michael has been serving our country for the past two years, his original program has expanded to provide these vital services to 5th and 6th graders.

Michael Jacobs spent the 2008-2009 school years assisting with the 6th and 7th grade students and will be a perfect fit for this exciting project. Mr. Jacobs grew up in the culturally diverse community of Lakewood, NJ. After completing his Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Monmouth University; he began to pursue a career in law enforcement. However, life would take him down a different path. His passion in nutrition led him to work for a number of nutrition companies, traveling throughout the country and working in various capacities. He temporarily left the industry to work for Verizon Telecommunications as a business consultant; ultimately, however, his passion for nutrition led him away from Verizon after only two years. His desire to make a difference on a larger scale resulted in his enlistment in the United States Navy Reserves as an Intelligence Specialist in January 2006. He is currently in the process of creating a non-profit nutritional information web-site and also volunteers with Big Brother, Big Sister of Ocean County. His intense passion, creativity, and dedication are all extraordinary qualities that contribute to the Goodworx team. [...] READ MORE >>

Keith Rhodes
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Keith Rhodes

Programming Consultant

Programming for The Goodworx Foundation was developed over a period of two years. The team of Jordan, Ramirez, and Mr. Keith Rhodes, spent 18 month's researching effective programs, thoroughly analyzing the beliefs that the foundation was built upon, and traveling across the country to visit other facilities. Mr. Rhodes was instrumental in planning and developing aspects of The MTC Program. Utilizing Mr. Rhodes past experience was key to the formation of the Goodworx infrastructure.

Born in Syracuse, NY, Keith Rhodes acknowledges that sports, basketball in particular, have opened many doors for him throughout his life. Because of this, he has always tried to give back to those less fortunate as a small way of saying "Thank you" for his blessings. In the early 1980's, after returning from the University of Wyoming, Mr. Rhodes volunteered at the YMCA. He helped to revitalize the Youth Basketball League (YBL) by sharing basketball knowledge, as well as, life experience with young men. It blossomed into having a profound impact in the lives of many successful adults. By the early 1990's, Mr. Rhodes was a founding member of the Capital Region Youth Tennis Foundation (CRYTF) or "15 Love" Program. He was fortunate to be able to work with the great Arthur Ashe. Arthur's strength and humility are forever emblazoned in the mind of Mr. Rhodes. CRYTF is in its 15th year and continues to reach thousands of youth in the capital region of Albany, NY.

Keith was a founding member of the New York City Inner-City Games Foundation (NYCICG), which is the New York chapter of the Inner-City Games Foundation, originally founded by the now Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Daniel Hernandez. As Executive Director, Mr. Rhodes was able to raise more than 4 million dollars in a four-year period. That translated in tens of thousands of New York City youth benefiting from worthwhile programming. Mr. Rhodes looks forward to working with everyone connected with The Goodworx Foundation and encourages youth to take ownership in their role in the world. [...] READ MORE >>

Loretta Agyemang
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Loretta Agyemang

Mentor-in-Training

Loretta Agyemang is a recent member of the Goodworx family. She joined the team over this summer after she personally witnessed the strong, positive impact it made on her younger brother. Loretta is currently a senior at Sayreville War Memorial High School and is involved in many after school programs including TIGS, Poetry Club, and Spanish Honor Society. Through these organizations, she has taken part in numerous volunteer projects but all fail in comparison to the MTC Program. Although she has just recently become involved with Goodworx, she has already learned so much and is hoping to progress even further. It is her goal to make a difference in the lives of the children she meets and to serve as a positive role model. [...] READ MORE >>

Adelaide Agyemang
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Adelaide Agyemang

Senior Mentor-in-Training

Adelaide Agyemang - a Sayreville War Memorial High School senior - was drawn to The Goodworx MTC After-School Program after attending the Talent Showcase produced by the SUES students in spring of '09. Adelaide perceived the vast impact the Goodworx culture made in her personal life prior to joining. Watching her younger brother mature under the program's nurturing influence convinced her of the irrefutable importance of the Goodworx and inspired her to get involved and give back to other children. Adelaide was introduced to community service in middle school when she volunteered at a Special Olympics event held at a local college. She painted murals at Old Bridge Public Library with her sisters during the summer as well, where she discovered her love of painting. Although Adelaide was expecting her final year of high school to be one of endings and sad goodbyes, Goodworx's emphasis on dreams and the ceaseless possibilities of the future encouraged her dreams to soar. After graduation, Adelaide would love to pursue a 4 year degree majoring in the Arts. She is ecstatic and proud to be a Goodworks mentor and is determined to work hard to deserve the honor. [...] READ MORE >>

Quincy Herring / Owen Maldonado
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Quincy Herring

Junior Mentor-in-Training

The Goodworx Foundation MTC Program is proud to have Quincy Herring as a Mentors-in-Training. Quincy, a Junior, attends Sayreville War Memorial High School and a former students in the MTC After-School Program at the Middle School. Quincy provided wisdom and leadership at the Middle School Program he once attended 4 years ago.

one for one model

PhilanthroWorx eCommerce Model matches after-school product purchases by sending same items to partner schools abroad.
save the future campaign

Help a future leader by donating to the goodworx Foundation MTC After-School Program.
mentor in training video

Hear from our past students and current mentors-in-training.
leadership panel discussion

TEAM goodworx discusses the MTC After-School Program philosophy and approach.
goodworx merchandise

Support our programming by purchasing a Brand goodworx After-School or apparel item.
giving back

Community Service learning initiative promotes paying it forward.