In the Black community, the problem of Black boys not having men in their lives creates severe problems as they become adults. Statistics for positive outcomes within this demographic plague the community as a whole. Bivian “Sonny” Lee III turned the problem into a solution when he started the Son of a Saint program.
Established in 2011 by Lee, the organization’s inception is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Rooted in a deep commitment to changing lives, Son of a Saint has become a driving force in providing mentorship and opportunities to young boys who have lost their fathers.
Since the organization’s inception in early 2011, Lee has grown Son of a Saint to now serve over 700 boys with an annual budget of more than $6 million. Over its fourteen years of existence, Son of a Saint has raised more than $50 million to support its mission and its young men.
“We wanted to create something that would last forever,” Lee said. “The impact we’re having on these young men has led to a generational change for them, and their future families and kids.”
Lee learned what it takes to be a man from his father. Bivian Lee, Jr., was an NFL defensive back for the New Orleans Saints from 1971 to 1975. Tragically, in 1984, Bivian died at the young age of 36 after suffering a heart attack. He left behind a wife, a five-year-old daughter, Tamica, and a three-year-old son, Bivian “Sonny” Lee, III.
In turn, Lee, then twenty-nine, founded Son of a Saint on January 1, 2011, in honor of his late father and single mother. Inspired by this journey, Lee decided to create a support system for young boys in New Orleans who had lost their fathers due to various circumstances.
The program has gained national recognition for the work it’s doing to positively impact young men. With donations pouring in from all around the country, Lee was able to open a 16,000 square foot facility that offers all the convenience of a home and community center. “The kids told us what they wanted to see in the building, so we made sure to have everything a kid would need so they could stay off the street and out of trouble,” Lee explained.
Lee also wanted to make sure that the facility was a soft place to fall. That means that if anyone needs a place to rest, be sick, vulnerable, or scared, Son of Saint is the place where they can do it. In essence, it has become a second home to many of the kids who attend the program.
The key to the success of the program is all the volunteer mentors. It’s just as important for them as it is to the boys to get support. The mentors are vetted to make sure they can provide consistent guidance to the young men they mentor. Everyone involved understands the mission of what they’re trying to accomplish.
“We often work with two mentors with one mentee to make sure there’s sufficient coverage for the goals of the young men who come here,” Lee explained. “If one mentor can’t make a game, the other one can. If one mentor can’t attend the play, the other can. That way, the mentee is always getting the kind of support they need to feel whole and supported.”
Beyond mentors, the organization also has ambassadors. These are people who support the organization in various ways, whether that’s mental, physical, or financial support. The list of ambassadors reads like a who’s who in the community and around the country.
“We have been so blessed to have the kind of support we have,” Lee said. “I think people see the difference we’re making for the young men who attend the program, and they want to be part of the amazing transition that these men accomplish.”
The program has graduated so many young men who have gone on to do incredible things; there are too many to name. Lee is particularly proud of one of his most recent graduates, who is attending West Point.
The program will often have field trips for the boys so they can get a chance to travel and see other places. Those experiences create the kind of culture that all young men need in order to see for themselves what can happen if they try.
February is typically called Black History Month. With the impact that Bivian “Sonny” Lee III is having on so many young men, it could be called Black Future Month, too. ●
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