2025 Beach Day: Honoring 11 Years of Nick’s Legacy

On Monday, July 28th, the Thrive in Joy community gathered at Driftwood Beach for the 11th Annual Celebration of Nick’s Life, Love, and Legacy. As the sun set over the ocean, Nick’s light was evident in the hearts of everyone present. His spirit came through in stories, reflections, and the deep sense of community that continues to grow in his name.

Honoring Nick Through Stories of Growth and Connection

This year’s celebration was filled with moving testimonies from those whose lives have been shaped by Thrive in Joy’s mission. Cindy and Josue Najera, a couple who reconnected through Thrive in Joy and were married this past January, shared their reflections. Cindy spoke about her journey as Thrive in Joy’s very first high school C11 advisor, while Josue reflected on his dual role as a Board Member and Director of Thrive in Joy’s Dominican Republic Programs.

USC rising senior, Board Member, and C11 Program Coordinator, Amy Godinez, spoke about how the C11 program has guided her personal, academic, and professional journey. Advisors Anthony Sanchez, Giselle Orozco, Nadia Valle-Luna, and Isaiah Moreno added their voices, sharing how being part of Thrive in Joy has shaped their own growth and sense of purpose.

The celebration also highlighted the next generation of leaders. Eddy Ju, a 2024-2025 Thrive in Joy student leader who will attend University of Pennsylvania this fall, shared how his involvement with Thrive in Joy transformed his senior year and laid the foundation for his future.

Impact Across Borders

Two Notre Dame High School students, Charlotte R. and Charlotte F., reflected on their recent service trip to the Dominican Republic in June 2025. Both spoke of the life-changing impact the experience had on them. Charlotte R., in a heartfelt letter addressed to Nick, captured the spirit of the day with words that touched every heart:

“I didn’t know you, Nick, but by the end of the week I felt like I’d seen your spirit a hundred times over. I hadn’t just heard stories about you, I had lived inside them. In the hugs, the laughter, the sun-drenched mornings, they were all painted by the love you left behind. Your legacy is not something that faded with time, it still breathes. It lives in every person your name reaches, and now, in me too.”

A Legacy That Lives On

As the evening came to a close, the community gathered to form the annual Heart on the Beach photo at sunset. This simple act symbolized Nick’s enduring legacy and the love that continues to ripple outward through Thrive in Joy.

Once again, this annual celebration reminded us all that Nick’s legacy lives not only in memory, but also in action, in love, and in every life touched through Thrive in Joy’s mission.