It’s a demanding time of year for high school seniors. Most are filling out college applications, taking mind-numbing standardized tests and waiting to hear back from their first-choice universities. It’s this stress-filled process that James Castro has spent years helping students navigate. When he’s not juggling a 60-hour-a-week workload, the executive vice president of Access Integrated Healthcare – a medical technology firm in Glendale – is empowering youth in the community to pursue their dreams of a higher education. As he has for the past 15 years, Castro helps high school upperclassmen at his AIH offices as they work through college applications – including SAT preparation, school selection and personal statement assistance, not to mention leveraging his contacts at universities to increase students’ exposure. “Students are like sponges, they want to absorb knowledge, they just need direction. I’ve become fascinated with how far just a little bit of guidance can take an individual,” Castro, 39, said. It all started in the early 2000s, when Castro assisted his three cousins with their applications, which resulted in all of them being accepted at prestigious universities. Now he devotes much of his spare time to helping students pursue an education at the top universities in the country. Most students are referred to him via word of mouth. Castro designates five to 20 hours to each student and to date has worked with youth in Texas and Missouri, though the majority of his mentees are from California. His selection process is fairly intense. Out of the 40 to 50 requests he receives a year, Castro only selects 10 to 15 applicants – and according to him, most if not all get accepted to a top school. “It’s a huge investment, which is why I have to be really selective. I like to work with students who have the best chance of getting into a top 20 school, and most of the students wouldn’t consider themselves to be in that arena. But (together we) get their confidence level up. I help them put their best foot forward on the application.” Taking it a step further, Castro launched an internship program in 2014 at AIH for high school upperclassmen and college students looking to gain experience in business and finance. Last year, Chase Matthews spent the summer interning with AIH. The high school graduate worked with Castro earlier this year to apply to several universities including Stanford University, USC and New York University, and is now waiting to hear back from his top choices. “He developed a roadmap and a step-by-step plan for me and he’d check in twice a week to make sure I was meeting the marks,” Matthews said. “The biggest thing that helped me through this difficult transition in my life was his positivity and support. I wasn’t too confident in my ability to get into these top universities.” Castro is working now to develop a nonprofit called Illuminant Minds, which will enable him to rally the support of more volunteers so he can help more students. He plans to apply for 501(c)(3) status this year. “I have to turn a bunch away every year – at least 30 I have to respectfully decline – which is why I want to formalize something so I can get some help,” he said. Sandwich Anyone? Jersey Mike’s Subs celebrated its Month of Giving fundraiser by donating100 percent of its March 30 proceeds to nonprofit organizations nationwide. Of the 104 participating franchises, donations from California locations in Los Angeles, Fresno and Santa Barbara will be allocated to two nonprofit organizations – Chatsworth-based Operation Gratitude, which provides care packages for U.S. military personnel and first responders, and to date has sent more than 1.4 million packages; and the City of Hope cancer treatment center in Duarte. Jersey Mike’s has yet to announce the results, but hopes to raise $3.5 million this year that will go toward 180 charities nationwide. Pancake Day International House of Pancakes’ annual National Pancake Day was deemed a success this year by parent company DineEquity Inc., a Glendale restaurateur that also owns Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill. The 11-year tradition took effect March 8 and donations totaled $3.9 million. On National Pancake Day, IHOP customers receive a free short stack of pancakes and are asked to donate to select causes. The money this year was donated to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in Salt Lake City; Shriners Hospitals for Children in Tampa, Fla.; and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in White Plains, N.Y. Staff Reporter Champaign Williams can be reached at (818) 316-3121 or [email protected].