Getting Involved : ‘Too Many Latinos Never Look Back’

As money gets tougher to come by, positive publicity for worthwhile organizations is becoming increasingly more important. In my case, I believe education for inner-city youths is one of the most important issues that I can lend my name to.

Unfortunately, Latinos have the dubious distinction of having one of the highest school dropout rates in the nation. Whether it be high school or college, most Latinos are having trouble staying in school. In most cases, money is a key issue. Today, with all the budget cuts, there just isn’t enough money for the schools and teachers. When there is not enough money, it’s usually the kids from the inner schools that suffer the most.

I happen to be a comedian. Though my profession is to make people laugh, I feel I’m able to apply my craft to raising money. I hope to raise $50,000 at a celebrity golf classic at Mountain Gate Country Club for the National Hispanic Scholastic Fund. Last April, we raised $200,000 during a comedy concert for the fund.

In addition to the money, when children see me, they see that a Latino can become successful. That they can be doctors and lawyers. But I also stress that they should never turn their back on where they came from. Too many Latinos, after leaving the barrio, don’t want to give to the community. They move away and never look back.