Mesa Sertoma Club Scholarship
Oct 15, 2008

Omar was among the first children who attended the CARE Partnership after school program 14 years ago – before the community center was built and when classes were held in a backyard under carob trees. Omar faithfully attended the program regardless of the weather, including Arizona’s grueling summer temperatures, and he always brightened everyone’s day with his smile and eagerness to learn something new.

Omar’s inquisitive nature led him to explore life options, and his character kept him on the right path as he overcame the obstacles of growing up in a community that is known for poverty, gangs, rampant crime and other challenging risk factors. Omar remained undaunted as he forged ahead by staying dedicated to getting top grades and seeking out the support systems that would help him achieve the goals that he had established for himself.

During Omar’s senior high school year, his efforts paid off when he was selected among his peers for the Salt River Project work study program. And later when he was accepted for enrollment at Arizona State University.

It is much to Omar’s credit that he continued to volunteer even though he was active in work and school related activities. Omar’s commitment for making a difference in the lives of other young people prompted him to save money from his job at MacDonald’s restaurant during his junior school year so he could dedicate the summer as a full-time volunteer for the CARE Partnership with Youth program.

Omar is an inspirational role model for the young people he has worked with, his peers and for all of us that work with youth. Omar truly represents our greatest hope for young people. We are sincerely grateful for the Mesa Sertoma Club’s investment in this young man’s education in electrical engineering – You have made a difference for him and for the future of our community.

Related Programs & Services

CARE Partnership with Youth
A truce was negotiated between rival gangs in 1996 as a result of conversations between the local neighborhood leader and a gang leader who disclosed that he wanted more in life than living with the fear of death or incarceration.

View all CARE News Articles