At 16, Ajay Tolia balances a rigorous schedule as a sophomore at Delbarton School in Morris County with a four‑year commitment to the Oasis after‑school program in Paterson, where he tutors children and coaches them in baseball.
The program is just one front in a broader mission launched when he was 12: the nonprofit Youth Get Next, originally created to teach financial literacy to inner‑city middle‑schoolers, has evolved into a platform that offers free baseball clinics and organizes scrimmages at the newly renovated Hinchliffe Stadium.
A Mentor on the Field
The third annual scrimmage, backed by Youth Get Next, Wladyka Baseball, Oasis and the city of Paterson, drew a crowd that included Mayor Andre Sayegh, who threw out the first pitch, underscoring the event’s growing civic support.
Among the participants, 10‑year‑old Miguel Baez stands out as a mentee whose life has been reshaped by Ajay’s dual focus on academics and sport; Miguel says the mentorship has been a turning point, providing both tutoring and a steady presence on the diamond.
Their mentor‑mentee bond illustrates how consistent guidance can bridge gaps in opportunity, with Miguel describing Ajay as “a man of his word” after the coach kept his promise to teach him baseball.
Beyond the field, the initiative reflects a broader narrative of youth empowerment in New Jersey, linking affluent suburbs like Millburn with underserved communities in Paterson and Rutherford, and highlighting the role of schools, nonprofits and local government in nurturing talent.