A Community That Cares in Action

When Esteban Carranza came to Wilmington he was 11 years old, and it was a completely new experience for him. His hometown in Mexico, Michoacán, has about 100 houses; Wilmington has more than 50,000 people. • But Esteban has made California his home. After struggling through eighth grade and graduating from Banning High School in Wilmington, he is starting a math degree this semester at UCSD. • “My school back in Mexico was only two rooms and the college I am going to is bigger than my hometown in Mexico,” he said. But he hasn’t made it without setbacks. • On Sept. 5, when Esteban was packing for college, his laptop was stolen from his house when he left for just a few hours. The college-bound student was discouraged, but he was also about the see a community of care in action. • “I bought my laptop on Monday and by Friday it was gone,” Esteban said. “I always close all the windows from our house because they had stolen from our house before. I didn’t close the bathroom window, and that is where they got in. There were footsteps all over our tub.” • In less than a week, word about Esteban and his computer got out to the L.A. City Attorney’s Office and action was taken. • A day later ShareFest, members of the Cruces Wilmington community and organizations like The Wilmington Community Organization, Watson Land Company, Fast Lane Transportation, Seed of Life, L.A. City Attorney’s Office and the L.A. Mayor’s Office pulled together the money to send Esteban off to college with a new laptop, digital camera, TI 89 calculator and LoJack computer software. • “ShareFest provided me with a new laptop and with all the equipment I would need for it plus a new way to look at life,” Esteban said. “I don’t know what I would have done without a laptop.” • Joe Mendoza was Esteban’s coach from Students Run L.A., a citywide program that encourages high school students to achieve goals and prepares them for the L.A. Marathon. Mendoza has seen the drive and outlook on life that has served Esteban this far. • “He was an extremely hardworking kid; he was very kind and just a great guy,” Mendoza said. “He was a very good runner but he was an even better student.” • Every season Mendoza saw Esteban set running goals for himself and achieve them time and again. Now Esteban has gotten a boost toward his goal of graduating from UCSD after the discouragement of having his laptop stolen. • “I heard he was pretty down when it happened,” Mendoza said and that Esteban even thought about giving up, but things changed quickly. “I think this was a huge boost for him and a life-changer.” • Now, Esteban’s goals include shaving 25 seconds off of his mile time to make it under four minutes and of course to continue being that better student. • He doesn’t know exactly what he’s hoping to do after college, but he knows it will include his love of math. • “For some reason I’ve been good in mathematics all my life. I remember back in México I will go first to recess because I finish my math the fastest. The teacher always put math problems right before recess and whoever finish first and get them all right would go to recess first,” Esteban said. • He’s a long way from that two-room schoolhouse and still has four more years of school ahead of him, but he also has the support of a caring community behind him. • “I will never forget what ShareFest and the community of Wilmington did for me,” Esteban said.

Personal Impact

On Nov. 7 ShareFest's supporters will get a glimpse into the lives of the people ShareFest's work has touched and get a chance to support that work. • ShareFest’s Fifth Annual “Evening of Community” Fundraiser at the Torrance Marriott will have the theme “The Faces of ShareFest,” focusing on personal stories of ShareFest’s mission. • There will be a sit-down dinner, silent auction and live auction, but, most importantly, attendees will see face-to-face some of the young community leaders ShareFest has developed and hear their personal stories. • “This past year has been one of tremendous growth for us, and we want guests and supporters to see the results of that growth” Bryan Doleshel, Managing Director, said. • “Guests at this year’s event will have the opportunity to hear directly from young community leaders that participated in our Youth Development Academy, a Wilmington principal who received a face-lift on her campus during ShareFest’s annual workday, and a Cruces or “Ghost Town” community resident who has now become a community leader after getting involved with ShareFest.” • During the night, people will have the chance to support ShareFest by bidding on items like a six-person, weeklong stay on a private beach in Bali or a six-day luxury trip to Cancun. • There is still time to get tickets for $100 each to hear about how the South Bay and surround Harbor Areas are being healed and place a bid in one of the auctions to help fund that progress. • Guests who buy a table of 10 or sponsor a table — which includes 10 tickets, program recognition and table signage — will have the opportunity to host a community leader at their table. • Don’t miss the opportunity to see first-hand the work ShareFest is doing, meet the people who have been affected by it and participate in it. • Visit www.sharefestinc.org/fundraiser to buy tickets and get more information.