SOAR Mentoring Services was founded in 2020 by Chanda Mayes, who is a native of Gainesville, Florida.  Chanda was raised on the Eastside of Gainesville by her parents, Patrick  (a Vietnam Veteran who is now deceased) and Eldora Mayes.  Chanda was raised with her two brothers Earl Foster (Deceased) and Adrian Mayes.  Chanda attended Duval Elementary School (now known as Duval Early Learning Academy), Howard Bishop Middle School and graduated from Gainesville High School.  Chanda is also a graduate of Saint Leo University, graduating with a Masters of Business Administration with a concentration on Health Care Management.  Chanda is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated.  Chanda is also an Advocate that helps families understand the IEP and 504 process.
Chanda is a single parent of 3 boys (Kishon, Kidron and Arneeke) and has been very instrumental in volunteering with the Alachua County School System, at schools that her boys attended and within the community.  Raising 3 boys as a single parent, Chanda knows the heartaches, pains and struggles as a single parent raising three black males, which played an instrumental role in the reason she decided to start SOAR Mentoring Services in order to help the youth in and around our community and to give back.