• "You are well organized and professional and provide a high level of accountability in the use of public funds. The return on the public investment for your services is outstanding."
  -Director, Dept. of Alcohol and Drug Services
• "It's one of my favorite programs, and I'd like to make it available to all first-time non violent felony offenders."
  -Judge Raymond Davilla, Jr.
• "...the benefit to our youth is they can become better judges of their own behavioral choices to make better life decisions."
  -FLY Parent
• "These are mostly kids without fathers, whose mothers work... the probation officer can change, the judges can change, but the one person who doesn't change is the FLY mentor."
  -Judge Eugene M. Hyman
• "[Students] have told me that they have learned more in their fourteen weeks in the FLY Program than in an entire year at regular school."
  -High School Principal

Sylvia was born in a woman's prison then sent to live with relatives. When arrested at age 15, she was selling drugs for her older sister, the only role model she had at home growing up. Sylvia admitted she was addicted to crystal methamphetamine and asked for help to clean up her life and stay in school. In court, her judge considered sentencing her to three months at the Juvenile Ranch or one year of formal probation, where she would be one of 40 to 60 kids on her probation officer's caseload. Another option was to order one year of juvenile drug treatment with a FLY mentor who would meet with Sylvia every week and help her with recovery and counseling.

Luckily, the judge chose FLY. With the help of her mentor, Sylvia got clean and sober and successfully completed probation. In 2004, she was the first in her family to graduate from high school. Her older sisters were so inspired that they both went back to school and got their diplomas too. Sylvia attended a community college and now has a full-time job. She also volunteers in one FLY's leadership programs to share her story with middle school students around the Bay Area, inspiring them to lead drug and alcohol-free lives.

Juan, at age 16, was found guilty of stealing $75 worth of clothes. His first offense, Juan didn't realize this crime was so serious. The judge had choices regarding sentencing: Make him pay restitution and do 40 hours of community service, picking up trash along freeways. Place him under 60 days of house arrest so he could not leave his house except to go to school. Or make him pay restitution and spend 40 hours with FLY, learning about the law, the consequences of crime, and how to resist peer pressure. The judge chose the FLY option.

Juan enjoyed the FLY Law Program so much that he got a petition signed by more than 200 students to start a the program at his high school. He then helped design FLY's Peer Leadership Program and became the first FLY peer leader. After the program, Juan was the first person from his family to graduate from high school. He now works full-time.