At Starfish Initiative, we believe one caring adult can change a young person’s future.
Founded in 2003, our mission is simple and powerful: to inspire, encourage, and prepare motivated high school students from underrepresented communities for college, career, and life success.
Our vision is to close the college-access gap and open doors to opportunity; one student, one mentor, one success story at a time.
We do this through the Starfish Experience, a proven, four-year mentoring journey that pairs each Scholar with a dedicated, college-educated volunteer mentor. This community-based model provides the consistency and encouragement young people need to thrive.
Together, they build confidence, set goals, and navigate the path to a brighter future.
Why Starfish?
Early one morning, a young man was walking along a quiet beach when he noticed an elderly man ahead of him. The man was gently picking up starfish stranded in the sand and tossing them back into the sea.
As the young man approached, he called out, “Why are you doing this? There are miles of beach and thousands of starfish. You can’t possibly make a difference.”
The old man paused, held up a single starfish, and replied, “I made a difference to this one.”
At Starfish Initiative, we live by that same belief.
We know we can’t change everything at once, but we can change everything for one student at a time. And one by one, we create ripples of hope, impact, and opportunity that reach far beyond the shoreline.
.png)
A Model That Works
With the support of a dedicated mentor and the Starfish 3C Model—College Readiness, Career Exploration, and Character Development—these young people are not only reaching their goals, but redefining what’s possible for the next generation.
Why Mentoring Works
The numbers speak for themselves:
-
93% of Starfish Scholars graduate on time
-
More than 90% go on to college or other postsecondary education
-
Young people with mentors are 55% more likely to enroll in college
-
And 78% are more likely to volunteer and give back to their communities
Who We Serve
Our Scholars are bright, driven students facing real challenges:
-
100% come from low-income households
-
92% are first-generation to attend college
-
50% live in single-parent homes
-
83% identify as students of color
Meet the Starfish Team
_sfi%20-%20logo%20mark%20-%20color.png)
President & CEO
Crystal Givens
Volunteer Engagement Specialist
Julia Hopkins
Match Specialist
Wendy Catalan Ruano
Director of Programs
Latrice Watson
Development Coordinator
Jackie Cisneros
Recruitment Specialist
Isaiah Echols
Lead Match Specialist
Masha Nelson
Match Specialist
Marnie Caeturely
Office Manager
Jola Rush
Starfish Initiative Board
_sfi%20-%20logo%20mark%20-%20color.png)
_sfi%20-%20logo%20mark%20-%20color.png)
Board Chair
UI Fairbanks School of Public Health
Amanda Briggs
Governance Committee Chair
Former Starfish Scholar, Indiana University
Josie Pipkin
Lacy Diversified
Kyle Krieger
Storie Co., LLC
Nathan Nichols
Fifth Third Bank
Royce Turner
Vice Chair
Indiana University Health
Tate Trujillo
Development Committee Chair
Cathedral High School
Nicole Beasley
Eli Lilly & Company
Shaneca Lee
MISO Energy
Michael Parran
Finance Committee Chair
Herff Jones
Zachery Baird
Chase Business Banking
Brian Heichelbech
Morales Group
Luke Morales
The Mind Trust
Lauren Peterson
A Career That Gives Back
At Starfish, we value purpose-driven work, inclusive leadership, collaboration, and results that matter. We're a small but dedicated team of professionals committed to doing more than a job—we’re building futures.
We’re always looking for talented individuals who are ready to lead with heart and help us grow. Check out our open positions and join us in shaping what’s possible.
