LYNN — JAS Nutri-Fit LLC Foundation has officially launched, creating a nonprofit training facility dedicated to helping young athletes from low-income families train, grow, and compete without financial barriers.
Created by JAS Nutri-Fit Gym Founder Jhonattan Santelises, the foundation is deeply personal. For Santelises, this isn’t just about sports; it’s about giving back to the community that shaped him.
“That inspiration is (that) kids in Lynn don’t have the money to pay for athletic training like this. I was that kid years ago, and I wish I had that opportunity, so I could relate to the community. And I thought about, why not do it now? That I could help (and) give back to my community,” Santelises said.
Santelises knows firsthand what it means to pursue athletics without the resources many others take for granted. A 2008 graduate of Lynn English High School, he played baseball through middle school, high school, and college. That journey fuels his mission today.
“Years ago, I wish there was another one of us doing something like this,” Santelises said. “One, we didn’t have a sports facility for it. Now we do have a solid one. And I think it’s a great cause because I played baseball through middle school, high school, (and) college as well.”
The foundation aims to address a pressing challenge in Lynn: Access. Many young athletes simply can’t afford private or sport-specific training. Some balance school, sports, and even part-time jobs.
“In Lynn, they don’t have the money to pay for private training or specific sport-related training. Some young kids have to have a side job plus school plus being an athlete,” Santelises said.
Santelises believes sports can open doors, particularly to higher education.
“The good thing about playing sports: If you’re good, or if you become good, it’s like a free route or at least a way to get to college,” he said.
But talent alone isn’t enough. Training, exposure, and guidance are critical.
“We need to get our athletes to become better… so they can get more exposure and hopefully, again, look for colleges open,” Santelises said.
Currently, the foundation is in its earliest stages. There is no outside funding yet — just commitment and action.
“No funding. I mean, we just started right now. There’s no funding or nothing… We haven’t even had a link to donate or things like that. But I wanted to just jump-start and get something rolling. And whatever comes out, comes out at some point,” Santelises said.
The training programs will focus on sports-specific development, more specifically, baseball. Santelises has previously trained athletes at Lynn English High School and saw the same recurring issue: limited financial resources.
“We want to offer… sports-related training because we faced the same adversity: They don’t have the funds to pay. So we need people to collaborate and support the cause,” he said.
The long-term vision includes scholarships for training and deeper community outreach. While application processes are still being developed, the mission is clear: prioritize public school students who lack access to elite-level preparation.
“I see in a year with us training baseball, football, and basketball. Not only high school, but middle schools because it starts when we’re little. And we’re creating a place for kids to have a place to go right after school,” Santelises said.
Beyond athletic performance, the foundation aims to create a safe, purposeful environment, and a space where young people can channel their energy into something positive.
“Think about kids going after school to a sports facility training… It’s something positive,” Santelises said.
But for Santelises, success will never be measured by trophies alone.
“It’s not about winning or competition. This is more like, ‘What if I can provide a kid’s training so that he becomes so good, and now he’s going to college?’” Santelises said.
His vision extends beyond the gym floor and into the future of each athlete he trains.
“If we get kids to go to college, if we get kids to help write a future, at least that opportunity, where (we can show) you can be good. We can make this happen. But you have to put in the work,” Santelises said.
He sees too many talented athletes without a clear plan after graduation.
“When I asked a kid nowadays, ‘What are you doing after high school?’ Most of them don’t know,” Santelises said.
Through mentorship, training, and eventually partnerships with colleges, the foundation hopes to change that narrative one athlete at a time.
JAS Nutri-Fit LLC Foundation stands as a powerful reminder that when communities invest in their youth, the return reaches far beyond the scoreboard. Based in Lynn, the organization is ready to make a difference and invites the community to follow, share, support, and help young athletes chase their full potential.
Photo: Spenser Hasak
Photo: Spenser Hasak
Photo: Spenser Hasak
Photo: Spenser Hasak
Photo: Spenser Hasak
Photo: Spenser Hasak
Photo: Spenser Hasak
Photo: Spenser Hasak
Photo: Spenser Hasak
Photo: Spenser Hasak
Photo: Spenser Hasak
Photo: Spenser Hasak
