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how it all began
A Friendship that Started a Movement
Millie, Patricia & the Children Who Sparked It All
In 1998, Patricia Scelza-Jones met Millie in an operating room where they were both working—Millie, an elderly powerhouse with grit and grace, and Patricia, a rising force in medical device sales. The two women quickly formed a bond—but nothing could prepare them for what came next.
Millie suddenly found herself raising her five great-grandchildren alone after both her daughter and granddaughter were incarcerated. To keep the children out of foster care, she quit her job without hesitation.
No fanfare. Just the kind of fierce love that saves a family.
Patricia couldn’t just stand by. She answered the quiet call. She watched the kids on weekends so Millie could rest, helped with rent and groceries, and slowly built something beautiful: trust, joy, and hope.
The kids lit up her world. And she realized—this wasn’t just one family’s story. It was the story of so many caregivers and children silently slipping through the cracks, longing to feel seen, safe, and supported.
So, she rallied her friends. And with heart and purpose, a village formed.
That spark of generosity turned into a movement. And from that movement, the P.S. I Love You Foundation was born—with one mission: to teach emotional resilience, self-worth, and connection to the kids who need it most.
Because when love leads, everything changes. ❤️
When An Act of Love Became a Mission
What started as a simple act of love—teaching a few students how to recognize their worth—has grown into a movement impacting over 1,000 youth every year across Southern California. Today, P.S. I Love You Foundation equips kids with the tools they need to rise: emotional resilience, empathy, communication, leadership, and self-worth.
We meet students right where they are—often in vulnerable communities where adversity is a daily reality. Through our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs, we teach what textbooks can’t: how to bounce back. How to believe in yourself. How to become the kind of leader this world needs.
Because when kids understand their value, everything changes.
Meet The Team
Patricia Jones
Founder
P.S. I Love You Foundation
SEL Visionary & Educator | Author Love4Life Patricia Jones has dedicated over 25 years to designing and implementing transformative Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs and Corporate Employee Resilience Workshops throughout Southern California. As the founder of P.S. I Love You Foundation, Patricia has led a passionate team of board members and volunteers in educating the hearts and minds of more than 20,000 youth—equipping them with vital life skills to navigate the stress, challenges, choices, and emotions of adolescence and beyond. Under Patricia’s leadership, the foundation continues to grow in programs, volunteers, corporate partnerships, and community outreach—positively impacting over 1,000 underserved youth annually. She is the author of the Love4Life SEL series, a curriculum that teaches what textbooks can’t: emotional intelligence, resilience, and human connection. Love4Life is currently taught in juvenile halls and middle school classrooms, and used by university students earning pre-counseling credits through hands-on instruction. As CEO of EmpowerHealth, Patricia helps bring America’s most disruptive healthcare products to market while supporting mental health initiatives that fund medical care for vulnerable youth. Patricia holds a Health Fitness degree from Springfield College in Massachusetts, where she wrote and implemented one of General Electric’s first Corporate Employee Fitness and Smoking Cessation Programs. She is a Los Angeles County Office of Education–approved SEL Instructor at Central Juvenile Hall, an Educational Rights Holder, and a member of both the Foster Care Legal Network and the Human Trafficking Legal Network. Her credentials include a Professional Diversity Certification, Trauma-Informed Training, and a CBEST License supporting instruction in K–12 schools. Above all, Patricia’s most valued roles are wife, mother, educator, and philanthropist—devoted to empowering youth with empathy, emotional courage, and love for self, others, and the world around them.
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Angie Bortolotti
Strategic Advisor
& 20+ Year Volunteer
Connector. Creator. Changemaker. As a natural-born connector with a passion for innovation, I’ve spent the last 25+ years building bridges—between people, industries, and ideas—with one goal in mind: meaningful impact. From producing television, working on films and promos to formulating beauty and wellness products, from spearheading partner marketing campaigns to launching groundbreaking health initiatives, I specialize in unlocking opportunities through strategy, creativity, and collaboration. I’m the founder of Inspired WellCare, LLC, where I’m focused on reimagining healthcare and longevity through programs and products that address America’s growing wellness crisis. This includes developing and launching platforms and products that optimize wellness. My work is fueled by the belief that everything great happens through real relationships and intentional connection. Over the years, I’ve partnered with world-class business leaders, celebrities, scientists, and startups—always with a human-first approach rooted in emotional intelligence, resilience, and results. My ability to think differently—and execute effectively—comes from a dynamic background in video production, product innovation, regenerative medicine, and brand development. I’ve proudly volunteered for 20+ years with the P.S. I Love You Foundation, helping bring emotional resilience programs to over 1,200 vulnerable children each year. Giving back is in my DNA. 🧬 2025 Highlight: Co-Producer of my first feature documentary on regenerative medicine with Global Science Productions—a bold step in connecting science with the stories that need to be told. Based in the South Bay of Los Angeles, I’m a WSU alum, a horse-obsessed North Idaho farm girl at heart, wife to a “from Italy” Italian, and proud mom of two - and our furry and feathered kids. Let’s create something powerful together for the children who need it most!
Briana Ahn
Program Director
Yoga123
A dedicated yoga teacher, mother of two, Briana is the Yoga Director at the P.S. I Love You Foundation, where she passionately teaches yoga to children through the foundation’s Yoga123 program. With over 10 years of experience in yoga, Briana holds a 500-hr RYT certificate from The Soul of Yoga in Encinitas, CA. At the foundation, Briana combines her love for yoga with social-emotional learning, helping children develop resilience, self-awareness, and emotional regulation through the practice. Known for creating a warm and supportive environment, Briana inspires her students to deepen their understanding of yoga while fostering personal growth. Her commitment to sharing the transformative power of yoga has made a lasting impact on the lives of countless young individuals.
youth advisors & instructors
Grace "Gracie" Jones
Youth Mental Health Advocate Love4Life Youth Wellness Instructor NAMI Club Co-Founder
Junior | Mira Costa High School
Gracie Jones has been a leading part of P.S. I Love You Foundation, her family’s nonprofit, since she could walk. Growing up surrounded by a mission rooted in love, compassion, and emotional wellness inspired her passion for helping young people feel seen, supported, and valued. At Mira Costa High School, Gracie co-founded the NAMI Club (National Alliance on Mental Illness) with two friends, creating a student-led space where teens can talk openly about mental health, reduce stigma, and support one another. She also serves on the P.S. I Love You Foundation Youth Advisory Board and is a Love4Life Youth Leader and Wellness Instructor, helping bring social-emotional learning and resilience tools to younger students through the foundation’s programs. She has completed her 30 hour certification and is also a Train-The-Trainer Teen Instructor. Gracie is a member of Mira Costa’s Varsity and Competitive Cheer teams and has cometeed and practiced on national levels> Gracie has also spent six years of Girl Scouts and seven years in the National Charity League demonstrating a long commitment to service and giving back to the community. She hopes to narrow down her interests for college study to psychology/sociology or physical therapy/nursing in college and still continue empowering young people to build confidence, resilience, and emotional strength.
Brooke Jadon
Youth Mental Health Advocate
Love4Life Youth Wellness Instructor
NAMI Club Co-Founder
Junior | Mira Costa High School
Brooke Jadon is a junior at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach and is an active advocate for youth mental health and wellness in her school and community. In addition to co- founding the NAMI Club at Mira Costa, Brooke serves on the South Bay Families Connected Youth Advisory Board and is a psychology peer counselor at school. She is also a certified instructor for the Love 4 Life social-emotional learning curriculum, which she teaches to underserved middle school students. Brooke has been a member of Sandpiper Juniors for six years, serving her community through volunteer work. At Mira Costa, Brooke has been elected class president for three consecutive years and is a member of the varsity indoor volleyball team. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, cooking, and spending time with friends.
Blake Gurney
Youth Mental Health Advocate Love4Life Youth Wellness Instructor NAMI Club Co-Founder
Sophomore | Mira Costa High School
Blake Gurney is a sophomore at Mira Costa High School and serves as co-founder and co- president of the school’s NAMI club. She has long been passionate about advocating for mental health education among teens. After losing a close friend and another classmate in separate drunk-driving incidents, Blake decided to turn her passion into action by helping establish a NAMI chapter at her school. While her initial goals focused on grief support and drunk-driving awareness, she quickly grew to appreciate NAMI’s broader mission of promoting education, advocacy, and support across all areas of mental health.
What's in a name? Everything
Growing up, Patricia’s mother would write “P.S. I Love You” on the lunch bags of her three daughters—a simple, tender reminder that they were loved, no matter what the day brought. It was a small gesture that carried big meaning.
On the hardest days, it was hope. On the good ones, it was joy.
That quiet tradition became the heartbeat of something bigger.
Today, the P.S. I Love You Foundation carries that message forward—spreading love, resilience, and connection to children who need it most. Named in loving memory of Patricia’s mother, it stands as her lasting love letter to the world—one that continues to grow, one child at a time.
Because sometimes, the smallest Gestures leave the biggest impact. 💌
