Our Founder
Manuel Carrizalez
Founder/ Executive Director
Stay Focused, Inc. and Reach 4 Greatness, Inc.
Manuel has provided hope and inspiration to many hurting people through the power of the gospel. Despite becoming deeply involved with gangs, drugs, and the turmoil of that destructive lifestyle, he managed to turn away from it to pursue a new and positive direction through God’s grace and godly mentors. He began working to inspire and change people’s lives full-time in 1991 and was ordained as a minister and established Stay Focused Ministries, becoming incorporated in 1997 as a non-profit organization. Today he continues as a minister and motivational speaker, inspiring people through hosting large community outreach events, inner-city neighborhood rallies, school assemblies, and a nationally televised program named “Stay Focused” on TV Networks. This outreach emphasizes inspiring youth and providing parental support to “Reach 4 Greatness” by recognizing their value and resisting negative life choices. Outreach efforts have inspired thousands of people over the years to make course corrections and change their futures and their families by accepting Jesus into their lives.
He is also the founder and director of the Reach For Greatness Mentoring Program. Another facet of Stay Focused providing school-based and community-based mentoring relationships to at-risk and high-risk students, which focuses on character development, making the right choices, and hope for the future. He has provided a successful mentoring outreach program since 2005.
Manuel recognizes and has witnessed what God did in his life he will do in others. He is committed to reaching youth and parents through multi-faceted outreach efforts, offering alternative solutions to those imprisoned by their environment and circumstances. Through ministry, mentoring, coaching, and encouragement, Manuel, his staff, and his team of volunteers are changing the lives of people one person at a time.