About Operation New Hope
Our Organization
Operation New Hope is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping at-risk youth in the Inland Empire area. We offer a wide range of services, including career assistance such as clothes, resume building, career skills, paid training, paid work experience, workshops on financial literacy, anger management, and probation help. Our team is committed to making a difference in the lives of young people and providing them with the support they need to succeed. Through our website, we aim to showcase success stories of the youth, upcoming workshops, and events to engage the community and spread awareness about our mission and work.
Our Team
At Operation New Hope, our staff of 19 is small but mighty; each one deeply committed to our mission of empowering at-risk youth to build brighter futures. Rooted in the heart of San Bernardino, our team brings together diverse skills, lived experience, and unwavering passion to create positive change. Whether working directly with young people or behind the scenes, every team member plays a vital role in delivering programs that build confidence, teach essential life and career skills, and foster resilience. Together, we are more than just staff; we are mentors, advocates, and champions for youth success.
Our CEO
Russell Degnan
Russell Degnan is a passionate change maker who has followed in the footsteps of his father (Bill Degnan), the founder of Operation New Hope.
1996 he began his career journey as a group counselor assigned to ONH’s contract with Riverside County’s Diversion and Los Angeles County Juvenile Parole. Assuming the Executive Director role in 2009 his goal was to elevate ONH from a successful “mom and pop” non-profit into a thriving key-stakeholder in the communities they served.
2009 he set out a vision to establish a Youth Opportunity Center for the disadvantaged youth ONH served. The goal was to increase the success rate of those classified as “dropouts” throughout San Bernardino County by providing our Evidence Based Practice of case management, educational opportunities, leadership development, and career pathway programs. With these supportive services, he was confident that ONH would assist San Bernardino County in achieving more success with the TAY youth (Foster Youth, Teen Parents, Homeless, Mental Health, and those experiencing the Judicial System).
2010, He would lead the formation of a successful collaboration to create two Youth Opportunity Centers to provide meaningful life skill resources for disadvantaged youth. As a result, ONH has been able to stimulate, sustain and engage “dropout” youth into comprehensive services in San Bernardino County.
Since the opening of the Youth Opportunity Centers; 3135 students have successfully completed ONH’s Career Pathway Program, 411 have graduated with an accredited high school diploma, with 83% entering in to employment, and or enrolled in to higher education or a technical schools.
Ultimately Russell’s passion is to provide underserved youth who have been expected to be the failures in society a place where they experience genuine love, hope, and opportunities to succeed in life. Weekly you will find him in the community encouraging youth to handle their business, actively engaging community leaders, and or developing community partnerships to help empower his beloved students he has devoted his entire life to serve. Mr. Degnan is one of the most loyal and sincere voices for our under-served youth.
Our Community Partners
You cannot share our story without sharing our valuable Community Partners.
