Jennifer Friend, CEO

Project Hope Alliance, Costa Mesa

When Jennifer Friend began as the CEO of Project Hope Alliance, PHA supported just one school and 65 kids providing transportation services to students experiencing homelessness. Under her leadership, the organization has grown dramatically to now serving 2,587 children & youth attending 43 schools throughout Orange County having built a nationally recognized program model in ending youth homelessness with a high school graduation rate >20% above the national average. In a volunteer quantitative study conducted by Edwards Lifesciences, it was determined that the work of PHA in getting homeless students to high school graduation will save OC $14.3 million by 2030, with each high school graduate contributing $75,000 back into the economy annually. Her tenacious and determined efforts are not only changing the lives and course trajectory of the children & youth served by PHA but also elevating the health, strength and wellbeing of the entire county.