The Founders
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Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Aundré Wright founded Ascend Phoenix and was the executive director for 5 years. Ascend Phoenix was a non-profit dedicated to solving the housing needs of young adults who age out of the foster care system, providing tools and resources necessary to thrive in challenging environments and providing a pathway to a sustainable future. Mr. Wright directed staff through strategic planning, budgeting, fundraising, and defining organizational vision and mission statements. He developed the first semi-supervised housing model in the State of Arizona during his time at Ascend Phoenix and has helped other organizations birth their semi-supervised models. Aundré also worked at the Youth Development Institute where he served as a direct care provider for juveniles with sexually maladaptive behaviors, emotional handicaps, and extreme behavior disorders. This presented an opportunity for exposure to working with LGBTQ+ young adults, high risk criminal offenders and young adults who need a sober living environment.
Aundré graduated with a Youth Ministry degree from Grand Canyon University and has specialized training in Therapeutic & Trauma Crisis Intervention. He has worked extensively with individuals who have been through traumatic events, and is adept at helping them learn to regulate their emotions and find constructive ways to cope. He is a skilled listener who can provide support and guidance during times of crisis.
Aundré also has extensive real estate development and management experience. He oversaw 300+ rental units in low-income areas and supervised the completion of 7 single family and 9 multi-family renovation projects.
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Founder
Oye Waddell is the Founder and CEO of Hustle Phoenix, a non-profit organization that exists to equip and catalyze under-served entrepreneurs annually with the intellectual, social and financial capital they need to create sustainable business ventures for the common good. Fueled by his visionary style of leadership and the belief that all people have dignity, Oye knows that some of the most innovative entrepreneurs in the United States are in underserved, urban communities. Oye’s long track record in urban education and entrepreneurship created a passion for him to see urban communities in North America transformed through business. In addition to Hustle PHX, Oye also serves as a partner of the Hustle Real Estate Investment Fund, which is designed to serve as a pathway to homeownership for low income individuals. More info on Hustle Phx can be found by clicking here: Hustle Phoenix
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Founder
Brandon Hampton is a graduate of the prestigious Cal Berkeley, where he majored in psychology and spent time learning about adolescent development. He has since become an exceptional executive in the real estate industry. Brandon has also volunteered extensively with community development programs in the inner cities of Los Angeles and Phoenix. He has served on the board for various non-profits in Arizona. In this capacity, he was particularly instrumental in helping develop Ascend Phoenix's groundbreaking program that helps adolescents aging out of the foster care system transition into independence. Brandon currently serves as the Founder and CEO of Gameday Real Estate. Game Day is a value add, impact focused real estate investment company. We strive to bring value to our residents by supporting them to invest in their futures, and to our investment partners by effectively executing on our projects. More info can be found clicking here: Gameday Real Estate
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Jad Johnson's impressive credentials and expertise as the Chief Operating Officer of Game Day MH Fund puts him in a unique position to be able to provide affordable housing solutions to those who need it most. His knowledge of the real estate industry, having worked as a Senior Commercial Escrow Officer for over 20 years, gives him the ability to identify potential opportunities that can help provide long-term living options for foster youth, homeless young adults and other vulnerable populations. Jad founded Adonai out of his commitment and passion to bring these affordable homes into fruition.
The Founder’s Vision
Our experience and understanding of the unique needs of young adults in foster care is informed by our work with this population over many years. We believe in serving others and living out our faith. Our shared Christian faith motivates us to love God and neighbor. Our faith also compels us to do justice, and to stand up for the voiceless and vulnerable. We are motivated by our faith to be a force for good in the world. We know that foster care is often a traumatizing experience for young people, and that they may have experienced multiple moves, changes in caregivers, and feelings of insecurity and instability. Young adults are also over-represented among LGBTQ statistics, and they often face additional challenges related to their sexual orientation or gender identity. In our work with aged-out young adults, we have a proven program to provide stability and support, and to create a safe environment where young adults can heal from their past experiences and develop into healthy and successful adults.
Here are some stats:
● 46% of young adults will not earn a High School Diploma.
● 1 in 5 young adults will be homeless within one year from leaving the foster care systems.
● 40% of young adult foster care young adults identify as LGBTQ+
● 70% of women will be pregnant by age 21.
● 1 in 4 young adults will be incarcerated within two years of leaving foster care.
● 97% of young adults will NOT earn a bachelor's degree.
● 1 in 2 will be unemployed by the age of 24.
We know that the state of Arizona averages 1,000 young adults aging out every year. We’ve pioneered a model for success with 93% of our participants successfully completing their program and securing sustainable housing within three years or less. Our experience has shown that young adults need long term relationships to support their needs during the early stages of adulthood. Relationships provide young adults with a sense of belonging, purpose, and identity. Young adults who lack close relationships are more likely to experience isolation, anxiety, and depression. For these reasons, it has been essential for our program to be youth-driven and relationship-focused.