BOSS

Our mission is to inspire, equip and empower under-resourced and/or economically disadvantaged boys to be transformed, through mastery of foundational pillars, Good to Great principles and the excellence we showcase, moving them from passenger to driver in their life's journey.

BOSS (Business of Student Success) was born from lived experience and structural insight. Growing up navigating under-resourced schools and limited exposure, our founder recognized a recurring pattern: talent was everywhere, but developmental infrastructure was not. What began as a beta-tested concept through Taste of the Game events at Super Bowls XLIII–50 evolved through intensive summer camps in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, proving that structured mentorship, academic rigor, and exposure could shift outcomes. In 2017, BOSS transitioned to California State University, Long Beach, relaunching from the College of Business as a university-anchored, systems-driven model.

Today, BOSS is a fully integrated workforce development engine. Scholars engage in year-round academic coaching, STEM and AI learning, leadership development, financial literacy, career immersion, and mentorship sequenced through six foundational pillars: Economic, Emotional, Mental, Physical, Social, and Spiritual growth. Sports remain the engagement gateway, but the model now layers technology, data-informed intervention, and structured progression from middle school through college matriculation and workforce pathways. What once depended on chance is now delivered by design — positioning scholars for sustained academic success, workforce readiness, and long-term economic mobility.

BOSS (Business of Student Success) is a structured workforce development engine serving 175 under-resourced boys in grades 5–11 across Los Angeles County, 94% of whom identify as Black or Latino. Our scholars significantly outperform district averages, with 52% on or above grade level in math and 60% in reading—63% higher math proficiency and 20% higher reading proficiency than LBUSD averages.

In just seven months, 48% of scholars gained at least one full grade level in math, 26% gained 1.5 grade levels, and 14% gained two grade levels. Sixty percent gained at least one grade level in reading, with 40% gaining two. Students who meet weekly usage targets achieve nearly double the academic growth of peers.

Through year-round academic coaching, leadership development, STEM exposure, financial literacy, and mentorship aligned to six foundational pillars, BOSS converts exposure into preparation and preparation into performance—strengthening LA’s future talent pipeline and advancing inclusive economic mobility.

Our topmost pressing needs include:

Raising $500,000 to continue implementation of recommendations contained in our recently completed strategic plan to continue the development of the organization as an effective nonprofit: mission focused, impact driven, well balanced, highly efficient and sustainable. Recommendations include strengthening current staffing and programming; scaling our impact to change the life trajectories of so many more of OUR boys; and finalizing our policies and procedures manual to enable us to begin executing our strategy of expanding BOSS nationwide.

Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties

I grew up surrounded by talent — but not surrounded by opportunity. In Cleveland, I watched bright young men navigate systems that weren’t designed to cultivate their potential. I was fortunate. Enrichment programs, sports discipline, mentors, and professional networks changed my trajectory. I realized those supports should not depend on luck.

BOSS (Business of Student Success) was created to institutionalize what too often happens by chance. We build structured pathways that integrate academic coaching, leadership development, financial literacy, STEM exposure, and mentorship through our six foundational pillars. What began as a concept tested through national youth events has evolved into a year-round workforce development engine serving under-resourced boys across Los Angeles County.

Our scholars are outperforming district averages and accelerating toward college and career readiness. When infrastructure meets talent, outcomes change.

Your support fuels that infrastructure. Together, we are turning overlooked potential into long-term performance — and helping young men move from passengers to confident drivers of their own futures.

Ryan Delaney is Chairman of the Board of BOSS, Inc.

Students from minority or low income backgrounds face barriers to success every day, often facing unequal treatment or injustice. BOSS addresses these issues that are in the national and global headlines by providing these boys, starting in middle school and continuing to and through college, with the resources and guidance to put them on a college and career success track.

In 5 years, BOSS has grown from a few students in South Central to well over 100 boys from schools throughout LA and Orange counties. At the request of the LBUSD Board, we were invited to work with LBUSD students. We have done so with great acclaim: and the first group of boys who have aged up to complete high school are now matriculating into college. We consider our work thus far to be a resounding success and strive for me.

From a governance perspective, we are almost at the point where we can make the transition from the current "all volunteers" effort to a true, full, nonprofit organization with a small but critical number of full-time staff. On a positive note, we fell well-partnered to deliver a robust, expanding curriculum of STEAM academics, financial literacy, life and networking skills, and mentorship. Where we most need help is with incremental funding. It can be accurately said that "we are dong well; but we need your help."

Rather than spend to budget, we have built a reserve fund to bring on the first two paid staff members. When we hit the hiring threshold amount, we will be able to make that transition.

When I was a child, poverty and skin color meant I had "failure" stamped on my forehead. But teachers saw potential, pulled me aside and guided me to success. They did it for me. I have to do this. It's my turn; it drives us every day