As a young child David recalls his early years as happy, but he also understood what it was like to live without the things we all take for granted: electricity, new clothing, money, and even cold milk. Most of David’s toys and clothing came from the thrift store, and David remembers how the model kits he loved so much were often incomplete forcing him to learn how to use alternate parts to build his structures. Perhaps this was the beginning of his love for design – creating something new with what you have. But David also remembers the inescapable realities of his world. Drugs and gang violence surrounded him in his East Los Angeles home. Yet somehow David knew better, and he did not allow these external influences to become his life. David’s happy-go-lucky attitude was short-lived as he found out his mother was dying of cancer when he was just nine years old. He was witness to the pain and suffering she endured, as she would scream at the top of her lungs in pain. So loud in fact that the neighbors would come rushing over to check on her. The overwhelming sound of her pain and seeing her suffer was just too much for David. He felt afraid; not completely understanding what was happening and not wanting to go to school because he did not want to leave his mom alone. Knowing that she could not take care of her son, David’s mom enlisted a family friend to help find David a new home. The plan was to visit three familie each for a weekend, and then David would decide which family he liked best. Then one day, on the way to the hospital to see his mom, he had to make what would become a life altering decision. His mom’s friend asked David to decide, right then and there on the way to the hospital, which family he wanted to live with. What a huge burden for a child of ten. Could it get any worse? David made the decision, and a good one in retrospect, to live with his guardian family in Long Beach’s Park Estates, a nice suburban area far different from the East L.A. neighborhood he had grown to know. David’s mother passed away when he was just 11. David had always wanted to be with his mom, but on the night she passed away he was at baseball practice, the activity that David’s guardian family enrolled him in to keep him busy. In spite of the hardships, David’s self-motivation helped him to make the All Star team. But not being with his mom the night she died filled David with self anger. He was angry that he had prioritized baseball practice over seeing his mom on what was to be her last night. He was angry that he didn’t have anyone who could understand all that he had endured. He soon became a handful for his guardian family, getting into fights and being disrespectful to the family who had taken him in. He also did poorly in school. His guardian family had two choices: place David in foster care, which is what his mother had worked so hard to avoid in her last days, or find a youth home where David could benefit from counseling and other services. The Long Beach Youth Home was their last resort.

When David arrived at the Long Beach Youth Home, he could think of nothing but leaving. But, gradually, David realized that the Youth Home

was really a good place, and that not only wasthis a good place for a child with nowhere to go, but that the staff truly LOVED the boys, unconditionally dedicating themselves to fight for the boys to have their second chance.

David’s story doesn’t end here. He successfully graduated from Zinsmeyer Academy, an alumnus of the first graduating class of the non-public school established by ChildNet for the Youth Home boys. David did so well he was awarded a scholarship to continue his education. At the time of graduation, David was also employed in retail where he made many friends, older than him. These older “friends” introduced David to the club-hopping night life and to drinking. David partied nearly every night, called in sick to work one too many times and, consequently, was fired. Now with no money, he had no way to pay his rent, and almost became homeless but for the help of a friend. David once again managed to secure employment but, without enough money to buy a car, he was forced to walk home from his night shift. One night, he stole a bike from the employee lot and was on his way home when he was approached by a gang who robbed him at gunpoint. Angered, he told them he would get them back. They took off, laughing at him. But David was serious. He phoned a friend and demanded access to a gun. The friend, with gun, picked David up the next night. As they were driving, they were stopped for a traffic violation. Two police officers approached the car. One asked David if the boys were in possession of any drugs or weapons. When David tells his story today, he will tell you that a Guardian Angel made him say “yes.” He was taken to jail for 90 days on a felony charge. Being in jail provided David with much time for reflection and, as David became angrier at his situation, he finally asked himself, “What am I doing in here? Do I want to live this way?” It was that moment of self-realization which allowed David to focus on a positive future, not one that would be filled with crime and violence. David was released from jail and went to a homeless shelter to start over. His next step in starting over was to call ChildNet and request the scholarship he had earned so that he could enroll in a community college. David finished a three-year Architectural program at Pasadena City College. Today, he is a Senior Designer in the marketing department for a division of an international financial institution, responsible for web, email and fax advertising. He credits his success to his time at the Long Beach Youth Home where he worked to understand who he really is and what he could really do. He may have veered off the path but it was the solid foundation he had built during his ChildNet days that helped him straighten out and become the successful man he is today. Today, we all agree that David is a special person, one who persevered because of his dogged determination and courageous spirit.

The ChildNet commitment to providing a second chance for troubled youth is what our Mission is all about. Just ask David.