Meet Local Hero Nominee: Mari Morales Rodriguez
Title: Founder/President
Organization/Business: One For All (OFA)
Website: https://inglewoodforward.com/news/mari-morales-profile/
“Since I have been working with the Inglewood Chamber of Commerce I have met many extraordinary people that go the extra mile for others. Mari Morales-Rodriguez has a very unique approach to teaching our youth by using real life experience and rewarding hard work. As you read her biography, I’m sure you will understand why I nominated her as a Local Hero for 2019.” - Robert Gaskill, Nominator
About the nominee:
Mari Morales Rodriguez has lived in Inglewood ever since she migrated from El Salvador in 1975. Although a working mother with a full-time job, Rodriguez felt it important to give back to her community. In 2001, she founded the non-profit One For All (OFA), a foundation whose mission is to empower youth by getting them involved in community-based programs throughout the year that instill a sense of personal pride, academic achievement and distinct accomplishment. OFA’s yearly kickoff is their “Back to School Summer Event” every August. Elementary school students bring their most recent report card in order to earn “OFA bucks” which can be exchanged for school supplies, backpacks and uniforms. High school students are also included - at the most recent event 29 graduating students were each given $500 scholarships to help them with the cost of transitioning to college.
More on Mari Morales Rodriguez:
https://www.facebook.com/InglewoodForward/videos/535543123853423?sfns=mo
https://inglewoodforward.com/news/mari-morales-profile/
About the nominee:
Mari Morales Rodriguez has lived in Inglewood ever since she migrated from El Salvador in 1975. Although a working mother with a full-time job, Rodriguez felt it important to give back to her community. In 2001, she founded the non-profit One For All (OFA), a foundation whose mission is to empower youth by getting them involved in community-based programs throughout the year that instill a sense of personal pride, academic achievement and distinct accomplishment. OFA’s yearly kickoff is their “Back to School Summer Event” every August. Elementary school students bring their most recent report card in order to earn “OFA bucks” which can be exchanged for school supplies, backpacks and uniforms. High school students are also included - at the most recent event 29 graduating students were each given $500 scholarships to help them with the cost of transitioning to college.
More on Mari Morales Rodriguez:
https://www.facebook.com/InglewoodForward/videos/535543123853423?sfns=mo
