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 500 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.

The day-to-day programming of The GoodWorx Foundation’s MTC Program is directed by Frances Ramirez. Frances Ramirez, a graduate of Sayreville War Memorial High School, is currently enrolled in Kean University working on her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. 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. She was actively involved in several programs during her high school career, some of which include Student Council, holding officer positions of Treasurer and Vice President, Spanish Honor Society President, a member of the National Honor Society, Peer Leadership, and the Talented & Gifted Program. In the summer of 2004, she attended New Jersey Girl’s State at Rider University in New Jersey, a Leadership Training Conference camp through the NJASC (New Jersey Association of Student Councils) and attended a CSLC Leadership Conference for Crime Scene Investigation with LeadAmerica at Bentley College in Boston. Her experience, dedication, and tremendous love for helping others succeed make her an invaluable asset to The GoodWorx Foundation.

The GoodWorx Foundation, specifically The MTC Program, has grown to include several elementary schools in Middlesex County, NJ. In the fall of 2007, Rachel DiGiacomo will head The GWx MTC/UES After-School Program at The 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.

The 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, lead by Michael John Jacobs, will focus on students making the transition from middle school to high school. This program will service 8th and 9th grade students and focus on issues that adolescent students often face while making this transition.

Michael Jacobs spent the previous year 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.

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.

Samantha Figueroa graduated from Edison High School in 2008. Throughout her high school years, she was part of a Peer Mediating program provided to help students overcome their struggles and fears. She also aided new students to become more comfortable with their new environment while volunteering in the guidance office of her high school. Samantha has always yearned to help others and has been a strong and positive roll model for those around her. Samantha currently attends Middlesex County College and plans to progress to The School of Communication at Rutgers University in the fall of 2010. Samantha is excited to embark on her new path as she joins The GoodWorx Foundation at the Samsel Upper Elementary School as an Assistant Program Director. We are honored to have her as part of our family and look forward to seeing her grow with each year she spends with the foundation.

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.

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.

Jessica McKenna is currently a senior at St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel. She will graduate this year in the top percentile of her class and will move on to college in the fall. She plans on attending Rowan University to pursue a career in graphic design. During her years at St. John Vianney, she has accomplished a lot academically. This year she was inducted into the National Honor Society based on outstanding academics and service. A member of her school’s track team for two years, she found the time to get involved with the Pax Christi Club (a club that raises money for soldiers in Iraq) and volunteered to help at several school functions. Alongside all of these achievements, she has made time to volunteer outside of school as well. For the past three summers, she helped as a counselor at the Sayreville Brain Injured Children’s Camp. In addition to working with the organization throughout the summer, she currently volunteers Saturdays for their indoor winter program. Jessica plans on remaining a part of the organization until she leaves for school this September.

While very proud of all her accomplishments, she is most proud and dedicated to the GoodWorx Foundation’s MTC program at the Sayreville Upper Elementary School. Introduced to the organization through its founder, Jeffrey Jordan, Jessica finds much enjoyment in the program and all that they do. She has found the program, as a whole, to be both very productive and extremely rewarding. As a mentor, she gets to work with many local children to help make a positive impact on their lives. Through GoodWorx she has been able to gain knowledge and friendships that she will take with her for years to come.

In June, Jessica was awarded a partial scholarship for college due to her 1 complete year of volunteer service in the GoodWorx MTC Program. We wish her well in her college studies and will forever consider her part of the TEAM GoodWorx family.