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Los Angeles, CA
Contractor, Realtor and Special Education Advocate.
Raja B. Marhaba is the Founder and President of The Jonathan Foundation for Children with Learning Disabilities, Inc. The motivation for establishing The Jonathan Foundation was driven by her personal struggles with having two children with disabilities and the multiple battles she endured to obtain appropriate special education and related services from their school district over a period of eight years. The result: eight due process complaint filings, including a hearing; an appeal to the Federal Ninth Circuit District Court; as well as periods of extreme financial hardship from the cost of paying for private assessments, specialized interventions, and placements, retaining legal representation, and witness fees. Thus, Raja envisioned The Jonathan Foundation to be the vehicle she would use to assist families, like her own, in dealing with a "broken" special education system, "one child at a time".
Since its inception in 2001, The Jonathan Foundation has provided families of children and adolescents with various types of disabilities with information, resources, referrals, and direct advocacy services by Raja in both special education and regional center matters. Moreover, Raja has developed a strong relationship with Children of the Night, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing children from prostitution and continues to volunteer her professional advocacy services to children and teens served by the organization's programs. Driven by her personal experience and the outcomes of some of the cases in which she had been involved, Raja decided to launch the "Assessment Scholarship Program" in 2014 to lessen the financial burden families are faced with when obtaining private evaluations.
She has earned an associate degree from Borough of Manhattan Community College in business administration, was scouted by General Electric to work under the supervision of Jack Welch in their financial department.
Is a Realtor Lic. No. 01073996. Member of Valley Political Action Committee (Val * Pac). She won a Scholarship to The Anderson School of Business at UCLA - Business Development Entrepreneur Program in February 2004. She graduated the Birthing of Giants Fellowship Program, June 2018 hosted by Inc. 500.
She was selected and successfully completed the first cohort of the federally funded Special Education Advocate Training (SEAT) Program in 2006. After her completion of the SEAT Program, she was selected to be a member of the Education Panel & Committee for the Juvenile Division of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, which is comprised of special education attorneys and advocates, who are court-appointed to represent the educational needs of children involved in the foster care and probation systems.
She holds a certificate in Paralegal Studies with a Concentration in Litigation and Corporations from the University of California, Los Angles, an American Bar Association Certificate Program (2009), she was recognized in The San Fernando Valley Business Journal in 2004 for “Learning the Hard Way” in business . Ms. Marhaba has established a nonprofit organization in 2001 (The Jonathan Foundation for Children With Learning Disabilities, Inc. – www.thejonathanfoundation.org)
Honors & Awards
The San Fernando Valley Business Journal has recognized Raja Marhaba one of 200 most influential leaders in her community.
Jul 2021 honor issuer The San Fernando Valley Business Journal
Raja Marhaba was included in, The San Fernando Valley Business Journal sixth annual Valley 200, a special standalone book featuring short profiles of the most influential leaders in the Valley area. Given her stature, and involvement in the valley from Martec Construction to The Jonathan Foundation, and her involvement with Val*Pac (San Fernando Valley Business Political Action Committee) she was honored amongst the elite in her community.
The Diane Lipton Award
Feb 2021 honor issuer https://www.copaa.org/page/DianeLipton
COPAA Board Announces the 2021 Diane Lipton Award for Outstanding Advocacy Recipients
Raja B. Marhaba, California, for her work to help students and families who strive for guidance and support in navigating the right path for their children. The Jonathan Foundation does just that and more. Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to disseminating information to families in such desperate need. Parents are the biggest advocates for their children. Through her foundation, Ms. Marhaba, through her own personal journey with her sons, gained an incredible amount of knowledge, courage and drive to carry out this level of support by extending it to other families. Raja has touched so many families through her work and has had a profound impact in altering the course of many of these young people’s lives--many of whom, who were at risk for giving up on their hopes and dreams because they were not receiving the support and services they needed. For many years Raja has provided pro bono services to America's sex trafficking victims through Children of the Night. She is fearless in her advocacy and commands respect and action from members of the educational community who have routinely denied services to this vulnerable population.
Raja Bishara Marhaba has been Inducted into the Prestigious Marquis Who's Who Biographical Registry
Nov 2020 honor issuer Prestigious Marquis Who's Who Biographical Registry
Prestigious Marquis Who's Who Biographical Registry issued a Press Release on Raja Marhaba's 2020 Induction
https://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/476997/raja-bishara-marhaba-has-been-inducted-into-the-prestigious-marquis-whos-who-biographical-registry
The Daily Point of Light Award
May 2020 honor issuer Points of Light
Daily Point of Light Award is presented by @PointsofLight each day, celebrating the power of individuals to spark change and improve the world. Daily Point of Light recognized Raja for the work she does with The Jonathan Foundation for Children With Learning Disabilities.
https://www.pointsoflight.org/our-mission/
2020 Lady in Red Diamond Rose Honoree
Feb 2020 honor issuer 11th Multicultural International Motion Picture Association
11th Multicultural International Motion Picture Association as a 2020 Lady in Red Diamond Rose Honoree for her work with The Jonathan Foundation.
2019 L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth Award
Dec 2019 honor issuer L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth
2019 L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth Honoree for her work with The Jonathan Foundation
Martec Construction, Inc. made the Inc. 5000 List
In July 2017 Martec Construction, Inc. made the Inc. 5000 list for being one of the fastest private growing companies.
2016 Enterprising Women of the Year Award
Feb 2016 honor issuer Enterprising Women
Enterprising Women Magazine Announces 2016 Enterprising Women of the Year Award Winners
Prestigious Awards Program Recognizes World’s Top Women Entrepreneurs
https://enterprisingwomen.com/miscellaneous?start=30
Ms. Marhaba has been recognized in the Daily News, The San Fernando Valley Business Journal, EIN News desk, and L'Oreal Paris for her work with The Jonathan Foundation for Children with Learning Disabilities.
https://www.dailynews.com/2019/12/02/granada-hills-womans-efforts-to-fight-for-special-needs-kids-honored/?fbclid=IwAR1PHZKSixpkQabWq16JA-R0gXYu8QxmQJvzBzVXH7rhyw2dSC09qOfq-Xo
http://www.sfvbj.com/news/2019/dec/09/nonprofits-10000-grant-loreal/
Resilience and perseverance in any situation definitely pays off!!