Founding Four.
Meet the team.
Brendan Dwyer (pictured right)
Brendan Dwyer is the President and Founder of the Fresh Start Initiative. His instincts to serve the community were instilled in him at a young age by his family and years of Catholic schooling. Brendan teaches CCD at the grammar school he attended for St. Catharines Church. Brendan is the President of his class at St. Rose High School and is a member of the swim and varsity lacrosse team. Brendan is also captain of the St. Rose Surf team and works with the Beach Buddies program during the summer to help children with special needs enjoy their time at the beach. He is a caddie at Spring Lake Golf club and enjoys biking, skiing and spending time with his friends.
Jacob Capone (pictured left)
Jacob has had a passion for helping others since he was a little kid. From sharing his lunches in grade school with kids who didn’t have money to pay for hot lunch to volunteering at Camp Jinka, a summer camp that helps kids that have been impacted by brain cancer and Best Day Foundation, a volunteer organization that helps children and young adults ages 4 -24+ with special needs build confidence and self-esteem through safe, fun, adventure activities. Jake was born with a big personality and an even bigger heart. He was excited to join his grammar school friend Brendan Dwyer in this mission. He is the captain of the St. Rose Golf team and a member of the varsity soccer team. He is a caddie at Spring Lake Golf club and assists the caddie master in the training of new recruits in the spring season. He enjoys competing in golf tournaments, watching sitcoms and movies with his brother, going to Summer Stage concerts in Asbury Park, spending time at the beach, hanging out with friends, reading, following market trends in business, and working on his screenplay.
Cate Comer (pictured right)
Cate Comer is a seventeen-year-old from Manasquan, New Jersey. She currently attends Manasquan High School, where she is a part of the girls’ volleyball team, an active participant in the Italian Club, and a member of the Academy of Health Careers. With the Academy of Health Careers, she recently competed in the STEAM Tank Challenge, that encourages public school students in New Jersey to invent a product in the field of science, technology, engineering, and math, in which her group ranked amongst the semi-finalist in the state. In addition, Cate also volunteers at Manasquan Elementary School during the production of their winter and spring musicals where she assists in the role of backstage manager. When she is not working her two retail jobs, she can often be found with her camera, on the beach, or spending time with friends.
Grace Larned (pictured left)
Grace Larned is a 16 year old from Sea Girt, New Jersey. She currently attends Manasquan High School where she is on the cheerleading team as well as a Pop Warner cheerleading coach. She’s in the Academy of Health Careers and aspires to be a physician assistant in the future. Grace is also an active board member of the Kennedy E. Kowalski Charitable Foundation of 4 years. The organization’s mission is to provide compassionate assistance to local families, individuals, and organizations in need. In the summer, Grace can be found working at GeeGees Arcade in Manasquan and spending time with friends and family.