Mission
Son of a Saint’s mission is to transform the lives of fatherless boys through consistent mentorship, holistic care, and a community that believes in their potential.
15 Years of Service
Real transformation doesn’t happen by chance. Mentorship takes intention, structure, and a clear path forward. This approach ensures our efforts create meaningful, lasting outcomes for our families.
Explore Son of a Saint’s history.
Bivian ‘Sonny’ Lee, III
Founder + CEO
As the Founder and CEO of Son of a Saint, Bivian “Sonny” Lee III has turned a deeply personal calling into a movement for New Orleans’ boys. Since 2011, he has grown the organization from a small group into a program serving more than 700 young men, raising over $50 million to support their growth and futures.
Watch and learn more about Sonny’s story.
2011
Son of a Saint is founded by Bivian "Sonny" Lee, Ill with $100 in the bank and 5 mentees
Entire communities of young men are growing up without a father figure. The result: 85% of youth in prison and 70% of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes.
Son of a Saint was founded as a direct response to this stark reality. Sonny's mission was straightforward: to provide fatherless boys with the support that his mother had given to him, coupled with positive male role models in the form of
2014
Establishes the first Clubhouse on Palmyra Street
Son of a Saint establishes its first home, a modest duplex in Mid-City that becomes the heart of the organization’s early work. This first home serves as a gathering place for mentees and mentors.
Sonny hosts dinners, activities, and mentorship sessions that ground the organization’s mission, laying the foundation for the program’s growth in the years to come.
2015
Officially enrolls 50 mentees
Enrollment grows to 50 boys, marking a pivotal moment in Son of a Saint’s evolution. This early milestone signals the organization’s ability to scale its model of preventive, relationship-driven care—extending mentorship, academic support, and life-skills programming to more young men across the Greater New Orleans community.
2019
Formalizes programming and staff expansion
Son of a Saint formalizes distinct program areas and expands staff capacity to support its multidimensional services.
Son of a Saint hired a full-time licensed therapist, case manager, and education coordinator to provide more consistent, in-house support for mentees. The organization also added core elements to its program, including Nutrition Education, Career Development, STEM Education, and ACT Prep.
2020
Launches campaign to build Son of a Saint HQ
Son of a Saint launches a Capital Campaign to build A Home for Our Boys and supports mentees' families during COVID-19.
Despite all odds, Son of a Saint and its Capital Campaign Chair Carol Asher raised 60% of the Capital Campaign fundraising goal during the pandemic, while also establishing a partnership with Ochsner Health to significantly grow program staff capacity.
2021
Milestone enrollment reaches 200 mentees
Son of a Saint enrolled the largest cohort to date, doubling the number of boys it served to 200.
Finally, the organization embarked on a comprehensive renovation of its new building, with generous support from individuals, foundations, and companies. The building opened as a center for programming and a hub for growth in the years to come.
2022
Son of a Saint HQ opens its doors
Son of a Saint opens its permanent headquarters on Saint Philip Street, ushering in a new era of growth and capacity-building. With a team of 30+ full-time staff and a dedicated home base designed to support its expanding work, the organization is now able to serve more than 200 mentees—strengthening programs, deepening services, and extending its long-term commitment to young men across Greater New Orleans
2023
Transformative support from donors
At Son of a Saint’s 2023 Annual Gala, Pete November, CEO of Ochsner Health, and the late Robert Merrick, Chairman of Latter & Blum, made once-in-a-lifetime gifts that marked a defining moment in the organization’s history. Their extraordinary generosity strengthened Son of a Saint’s long-term impact and stands as a testament to the deep commitment of its longtime supporters.
2026
Cheers to 15 years!
Fifteen years ago, Son of a Saint began with a simple but powerful belief: that consistent care, mentorship, and community can change the trajectory of a young person’s life. This homegrown effort has grown into a trusted network of mentors, families, and partners committed to supporting boys across New Orleans—year after year.