A husband and wife team, Cory and Jessica Merritt, founded Special Liberty Project (SLP) in 2016 as a nonprofit organization based in San Diego. We work with ill and injured veterans and families of our nation’s fallen heroes, referred to as Gold Star Families, to provide no cost educational outdoor experiences to build relationships, enjoy companionship, and create camaraderie. We create custom outdoor experiences in order to help people heal. Cory is an active duty U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer who grew up an avid outdoorsman with a passion for bow hunting. He experienced firsthand, and has been inspired by, the benefits of nature, specifically hunting and fishing, for camaraderie, relaxation and revitalization. Jessica has a deep love for her fellow military families and is committed to living a homemade lifestyle at their homestead. These strong devotions, along with her compassion for veterans, have made her an integral part of our organization and the heart of our programs. 

One of our main programs, Gold Star Corps (GSC), has a mission to foster positive relationships between Gold Star children and veteran mentors. Gold Star children are kids who have lost a parent in service to our country, otherwise referred to as children of fallen heroes. These children are guided through fun and educational outdoor activities where they learn to complete tasks, achieve goals and build relationships. While working with our mentors, they build a mutual bond positively impacting both individuals. Our GSC also strives to give back to the entire family of fallen heroes including the surviving spouses and parents. During the mentoring events, we create special activities planned for the adults so they can relax while their children are off enjoying time with their mentors. Our organization is unique in that we use outdoor engagement as a way to promote friendship and camaraderie as well as to help facilitate healing.

J-Squared General Contractors Inc. in collaboration with Turner Construction Company and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles teamed up to build The Herrera-Perez Family residence in 2019. J-Squared and its team of skilled carpenters framed, sheeted, and roofed the 1400 SF 2 story house in 1.5 days. The framing costs were covered by J-Squared General Contractors Inc and we have already signed up to help Turner Construction Company again in 2021.  This was such a beneficial project for everyone here at J2 and having Turner as our lead and partner was a fantastic experience. It is pretty clear why Turner is a leader in our industry. We look forward to the next home build in 2021. STAY TUNED!! We would like to thank the entire Team at Turner Construction Company for having the trust in us to get this done, it was a GREAT experience.

The mission of the Golden Years of Orange County is to brighten the lives of underprivileged Orange County seniors by providing gifts of experiences, outings, or basic necessities to those who might not otherwise have the means to afford such life-enriching joys.