This Month’s Impact Maker

Jeffrey M. Magada is the founder and Executive Director of Flying HIGH Inc., a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. Flying HIGH Inc. had its unofficial beginning in the fall of 1988. While working as Supervisor of the Austintown Police Department’s Juvenile Diversion Program, Mr. Magada coordinated a team of eight young men to participate in a touch football league sponsored by the Mahoning County Juvenile Court. Named for the overcoming spirit of the eagle described in Isaiah 40:31, the Austintown Eagles had tremendous success. Word got around and the Austintown Eagles were regularly entering multiple teams in the league. When the court league could no longer accommodate them, Mr. Magada formed the League of Champions. It was officially incorporated in 1993 and received its 501(c)(3) tax exempt status in 1994.

From 1994 to 2004, the League of Champions Sports programs provided structured, organized sports activities to over 2,800 at-risk youth, ages 12-18, throughout northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania with its annual 4 on 4 flag football and basketball tournaments. The League’s sole purpose was to use the platform of sports to engage at-risk youth and teach life skills by involving them with volunteer mentors and emphasizing character building. The League of Champions changed its name to Flying HIGH Inc. and expanded its services to help more vulnerable people.

Flying HIGH Inc. stayed true to its mission to help all people develop their potential and discover their destiny. Through the years, it has evolved its services to more effectively accomplish this mission. By way of experience, Flying HIGH has learned a very important key – to help others fulfill their potential, we must provide them with opportunities to develop their talents so that they can advance economically. In 1996 Flying HIGH started focusing on providing educational and economic opportunities for those most in need.

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Flying High Creates Second Chances

Nonprofit provides job training, addiction recovery services By Jeremy Lydic Ask Rontrell White why he enrolled in Flying High Inc.’s welding program and he’ll tell you in one word – “Change.” The 29-year-old has been in and out of prison for selling drugs. His incarceration resulted from growing up in Youngstown, White says. Rontrell White says the birth of his daughter inspired him to pursue a welding career. “Everybody in the ’hood used to always say, ‘Oh well, you’re black....

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