History

Operation Progress was founded in 1999 by LAPD Officer John Coughlin.  John’s work as a gang officer in the projects of the Watts community has given him a unique understanding of the challenges facing kids who have ambitions beyond the projects.  John’s love and commitment to these kids is evident in his tireless efforts and his fatherly mentoring of countless students over the years.  See this LA Times article about John’s early efforts organizing Operation Progress. 

In 2013, Rick Caruso and his family made a significant investment in Operation Progress and teamed up with John to provide hundreds of scholarships and mentorship to the children of Watts.  Strive is honored to receive the baton from John and Rick and grow the student-scholarship legacy they built.  More important than the scholarship legacy is the foundation of success they have provided to hundreds of hard-working and deserving low-income students.

The best part about John and Rick’s involvement is that it will continue.  We at Strive thank John for his heart, his soul and his humor and Rick for his leadership of and investment in Operation Progress and the city of Los Angeles. We also thank them for entrusting Strive to manage the next chapter of the Operation Progress scholarships they created. Hundreds of current and future students also thank you.

As Strive transitions into the effective and efficient management of the Operation Progress Scholars and their academic careers, we invite all previous OP donors as well as current and prospective donors to reach out to us with any questions you might have. 

Thank you all for investing in our beautiful kids.

Founders

We thank the following and all Operation Progress Donors

Strive’s Impact Report

Scholarship Schools

Elementary Schools

Mother of Sorrows
San Miguel
St. Lawrence of Brindisi

Colleges/Universities

Donate to the Operation Progress Scholarship Fund

 Run Club

The Pueblo Del Rio Run Club was founded by CSPB LAPD Officer Liz Ugarte in 2022 as a way to teach children living in the Pueblo De Rio housing development the importance of discipline and commitment. In 2023 Officer Ugarte teamed up with Officer Erick Ortiz to form a Students Run Los Angeles (SRLA) team that consisted of runners from the Watts housing developments and the Pueblo Del Rio Housing Developments. A total of 10 student runners (9 of whom were brand new to running) along with 4 LAPD officers completed the 2024 Marathon.

In the summer of 2024 Officers Ugarte and Ortiz officially began the Operation Progress Run Club. 38 student runners from four different Housing Developments ran two times a week during the summer with a group of LAPD officers at different locations around Los Angeles County. Once a month they participated in a race that they selected as a group. The runners ran in San Dimas, Palos Verdes, Pacific Palisades, Long Beach, Pasadena, Griffith Park and many other locations. The students were exposed to different locations throughout LA County and really enjoyed eating at different locations around LA County.

26 student runners along with 7 police officers and 2 parents are currently training for the 2025 LA Marathon. They train 3 times a week: Tuesday and Thursdays at the police academy and on Sundays a long run followed by a meal at various locations around LA County. The runners and officers will run approximately 600 miles together to prepare for the marathon forming deep mentorship relationships in the process.