On paper, the odds Mario had stacked against him were insurmountable. He was referred to Lawrence Hall at 17 years old with so many red flags that others deemed him “too risky” to accept into their programs. We accepted him and his baby girl.
At Lawrence Hall, Mario had dedicated role models. Our staff took him under their wings, enrolled him in our Workforce Development and Creative Therapies programs, and provided him the outlets he needed to grow. When Mario needed someone to talk to in the middle of the night, he knew he’d be welcomed into the office of his beloved mentor, Mr. Washington.
It was our staff’s presence in Mario’s life — how they showed up for him and cheered him on — that helped him see his own potential. After succeeding in our programs, Mario counted the days until his 25th birthday so he could apply to work at Lawrence Hall.
Mario is now a Life Skills Educator in our Transitional and Independent Living program. In his growth and perseverance, he has become the person he needed when he was younger.
Thank you for giving to Lawrence Hall and helping us reach our goal — because when you donate, you’re giving young people the chance to build lives they’re proud of — just like Mario.
