July 30, 1999
By Daniel H. Muñoz
Making a difference!
Making a difference with young Hispanic students is what the
Thomas and Pearl Martinez Foundation is all about.
The Martinez Foundation was created over ten years ago by Tom and Pearl Martinez and is based on one simple philosophy, "Keep A Child In School."
For Martinez it is a matter of motivation.
According to Tom Martinez it is reported that the future of a child's education is determined in the early years of education. "If the children are not prepared and motivated early on, later they will be lost, they will drop out, they will not go on to a higher education."
The goal of the foundation is to motivate young students in the sixth and fifth grades with incentive awards. Tom Martinez has often stated: "These children are told to work hard at getting good grades and with a good education they will be rewarded with a good job. Well, with the incentive awards, it rewards them for their hard work and at the same time motivates them to continue, hopefully, on to college."
With the assistance of Linda and Tim Sexton of San Diego, two caring and interested people who not only contributed monetarily to the foundation but also took on the role of award presenters for the first time this year, the Martinez's recently went on the annual trek to 16 schools presenting their awards.
Linda Sexton presented awards to Adrian Marquez, Adolfo Mendoza, and Karina Rodriguez at Martin Luther King Elementary. At Perkins Elementary, Maarai Medina, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Ruben Aguilera, and Norma Her-nandez were presented awards. Tim Sexton presented awards to Viridiana De La Rosa, Virginia Rodriguez, and Haram Are-llano at McDowell Elementary School.
Mr. and Mrs. Martinez presented awards to Asaf Salazar, Abel Zatarain, and Erik Cardenas at Cesar Chavez Elementary. And to, Yolanda Acosta, Irma Rojas, and Miguel Martinez at Logan Elementary. Five awards were presented to fifth-graders at Sherman Elementary School and to three sixth-graders at Emerson Elementary. In addition, the Martinez Foundation presented awards to two sixth graders in each of the nine schools in the National District, National City.
A special award of $400 was presented to Alma Adela Ayala to enable her to continue her medical studies at Xochicalco University in Tijuana.
The incentive awards are a cash award of $50 and, are presented at the schools, during special school assemblies where the students are recognized before their classmates. The cash awards are given to the students to spend as they wish. The idea is to instill the idea that hard work and good grades are rewarded not only today, but tomorrow, and into the future.
Mr. and Mrs. Martinez have been making these awards for over ten years, but due to health problems, cannot be present at all the schools. They are hoping to have additional volunteers next June and July to make award presentations for this worthwile program which encourages young Latino students to continue their edcuation and possibly go to college. If you wish more information about the Martinez Foundation, call 619-691-1707.
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