Program Testimonials

Juan Hernandez-Campos, ASAS-LA alumni and Harvard University graduate:

“I owe my success to After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles; the foundation I was involved with when I was younger. When I entered middle school, I was really shy and didn't participate in anything. I joined ASAS-LA in the second semester of 6th grade, and by the time I graduated middle school…I was a different person altogether. I felt confident and eager to become involved in school and in my community. I want to thank everyone that works at After-School All-Stars, because they are all doing a great service to the students in the program.”

Kobe Bryant, ASAS-LA Program Ambassador & NBA Superstar:

“I did not have a comprehensive after-school program growing up, though I was committed to basketball practice each day after school. If it was not for basketball…I may have not had the direction to continue to excel in an activity I was passionate about. I have been involved with After-School All-Stars for over three years now. It offers comprehensive after-school programs to thousands of students in deserving inner-city communities. It's so important to give back to the community and help kids find opportunities through their own passion, be it sports, dance, education, the arts, community service, etc.”

Reshanda Gray, ASAS-LA alumni and sophomore at UC Berkeley, on a full sports scholarship with the Cal Bears:

“My life changed course because of After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles. If it weren’t for them, I would probably be dead or in jail. Because of ASAS-LA, I would play basketball after school, which kept me away from the violence around me. I discovered I actually had talent for the sport. After-School All-Stars gave me a future.”

Edgar Orozco, ASAS-LA Alumni and sophomore at Harvard University:

“After-School All-Stars was the first to introduce me to extracurricular activities…which led to a huge extracurricular career in high school: I was on the student body counsel, class president, captain of the cross country team, a member of my school’s math and engineering clubs, and involved with community service programs—there was a list of 13 involvements by the time I applied to Harvard. These activities helped with my admission to the university, and I credit the introduction of different activities in my life to ASAS-LA.”

Sabrina Kay, Freemont College Founder & CEO, ASAS-LA Board Member:

“After-School All-Stars is not just another community program; for many of our students, it is a lone pathway where they find the belief, encouragement, and mentoring that they desperately need during the most critical, life-changing hours of their lives."

Paul Wachter, Founder & CEO of Main Street Advisors, ASAS-LA Board Member:

“Anyone who visits one of our schools will see with their own eyes the result of After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles programs, which are nothing short of inspiring. I have never met a group of more upbeat and enthusiastic kids who are smiling, having lots of fun, making friends and also learning all sorts of new things on a daily basis.”