Varsity Team Inc.

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History

VTI HISTORY

Varsity Team Inc. was created in 2004 through the hard work and dedication of Lance Hickman and Doug Furnas. Lance and Doug sought to provide an environment for these boys that would give them opportunities and that they often weren't getting in the foster care system. After two very successful years Varsity Team was asked to open a second home and did so in the Otay Ranch area in 2006. Through the hard work of VTI Directors and Staff, we have been able to help dozens of San Diego youth achieve things they didn't think were possible.

(Please read at the bottom the amazing personal sacrifices many have made to keep VTI a success!)

CLIENT HISTORY

All of our residents come from some sort of chaotic familial upbringing. Many of our residents have been sexually or physically abused, neglected, abondoned, or their parents are incarcerated. Some of our residents have been forced into gangs, drugs, or other illegal activitiy at a very early age. There are times when we have residents who simply have no family to care for them. Whatever the reason is that a young man arrives at VTI, they usually come with the feeling that their life has already been laid out for them.

We have known residents who have been in the system since infancy until they aged out of the system at eighteen. And because of many years of being institutionalized they either wind up homeless or in jail. They are unable to succeed in a normal society. They spent most of their lives being told what to do and when to do it that the ability to free think has escaped them. As you can imagine the outcome for these individuals is pre-destined, a sort of self fulfilling prophecy - a set up for failure.

These kids have every excuse they could ever need as to why their lives didn't turn out well. At VTI, we won't let these excuses stand in the way of a positive future. Too many kids have aged out of the system and had no idea what to do with their lives. We have helped our boys cope with their past, learn from it, and then given them new opportunities for growth. A large percentage of our boys have graduated high school and gone on to college, military service, or full-time employment.

VTI STORIES OF SACRIFICE

Doug and his wife Martha moved to allow VTI to rent it's home in a very nice neighborhood in Pacific Beach, loaned VTI a large portion of it's start up money, and have allowed VTI to rent their home for less than market value for over 4 years. They have continued to lend financial support to VTI in times of great need.

Lance sold his own home to help cover the tremendous expenses this business incurs. He along with his wife Rochelle and three children were forced to live with his in-laws for 3 years and he willingly took a pay cut to cover extra costs that weren't funded by the state and county. When our former accountant Charles Waters embezzled thousands from the company and left the country, Lance personally reimbursed the expenses to the company and covered the penalties and fees that were left behind since Mr. Waters destroyed almost two years of VTI's financial records. If anyone knows of his whereabouts please alert San Diego Police immediately.

Ruth Prado is an accountant who inherited and fixed the mess that was left when Mr. Waters left. She has worked hundreds of hours and pulled literally dozens of all nighters to piece together our financial paperwork for our audits. Ruth has done most of this work while receiving little to no pay in return. Ruth also has a full-time job besides VTI and with her husband raises four children.

Though there are many other employees, friends, and family, who have helped us along the way one thing is for sure. VTI could never thank these three enough. Hopefully with your help their sacrifices will not be in vain.