Glenn Leibowitz first volunteered at KidWorks in late 2005. “KidWorks has never wavered from their focus on Christ, academics, leadership, well-being and meaningful careers for their students over the nearly 18 years since I first walked through the door at the Dan Donahue Center,” Glenn says. A professional writer for over 50 years, he’s been honored to work on hundreds of stories and communications projects since then.
Name: Glenn Leibowitz
City: Lakewood
Role at KidWorks: Volunteer writer, after school tutor and receiver of wisdom and jokes from clever second graders in the classroom.
How did you first become involved with KidWorks?
My dear friend, Sandra Wood, had just returned from an oversees mission trip and had extra elementary school workbooks and school supplies she wanted to donate to KidWorks. She invited me to join her. I had no idea that it was the opening of the Dan Donahue Center. Former KidWorks’ President and Chief Executive Officer, Ava Steaffens, made a presentation to a room of about 50 people inviting them to connect. I began as a volunteer assigned to checking books in and out of the KidWorks library. That evolved into a multi-year journey that opened my eyes to the underserved central Santa Ana community.
Share the most meaningful experiences you’ve had at KidWorks? What made them impactful to you?
There are so many. Here are a few. Edgar Morales, a KidWorks first grader, who 18 years later in 2023 has begun his first professional job as a civil engineer in Northern California.
Yosely Ocampo, who I tutored when she was in second grade; she’s now at a university and this summer told me how she’s on her way to a career in law enforcement.
There are heartbreaking moments, too. The second grader who in late 2022 asked me to help write a letter to her mother who was serving time in prison. KidWorks is surrounding that little girl with love and support.
And the not infrequent instance of a child who wants to take a portion of his or her KidWorks-provided after school snack home because the family may lack a full pantry.
Can you talk about some of the biggest obstacles KidWorks' programming overcame when you were involved?
It’s so easy for any organization, whether they are a business or a non-profit, to become static or cease to be relevant, especially after decades of existence. But that’s not KidWorks. In fact, it’s the opposite. KidWorks is always adapting and trying new approaches—all while staying true to its underlying mission and vision.
What does KidWorks mean to you?
It would be impossible for a person to spend any time at KidWorks and not see the visible evidence of God at work in wonderfully magnificent ways while also having one’s heart changed and softened.
What are your dreams for KidWorks over the next 10, 20, or 30 years?
Please keep dreaming, KidWorks! No one could have imagined that what began as a small, summer Bible study class for students 30 years ago would grow into the KidWorks of today. I believe we’ll marvel at the KidWorks of the future in the same way we are amazed at the first 30-year milestone.
Anything else you would like to share about KidWorks?
As a faith-based organization, I always see KidWorks living the Bible verse that quotes Jesus as saying, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”