Meet the Founder
Mari Morales Rodriguez is a neighborhood activist who is actively trying to improve the quality of life for those around her. She is a neighborhood watch captain who has received several awards for her work. Mari’s involvement with the community is quite extensive and has been acknowledged by some politicians, who have given her several awards for her volunteer work. She has received the Woman of Distinction Award, The Shero Award, and THE WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD in 2015 by Assemblywoman Autumn R. Burke.
Mari is the founder of a non-profit organization called One For All – OFAkids. Since 2001, she has been motivating students to do well in school and continue with their education.
In 2007, Mari received her 501c3 status and continues working with the students by helping them stay in school, achieve good grades, and graduate high school to continue to college.
One For All – OFAkids rewards the students for achieving good grades. Twice per year, One For All – OFAKIDS has two big events; in the August Scholarship event, there were more than 80 students who received a scholarship based on their GPA (3.0+ or 4.0+) Some students received $1,000 and other students received $500 after applying and being accepted for the OFAkids Scholarship. Before the start of the school year, OFAkids held a Back-to-School Summer event, where they gave away back packs and school supplies. Lastly, the winter event, where One For All – OFAkids gives away toys to the kids in the community.
One For All – OFAkids has been giving scholarships every year since 2007 to High School seniors who are continuing to either College or University. Assisting them with the high cost of school supplies and uniforms. Mari has been working with the elementary schools in Inglewood to choose the neediest students. During the year, she collaborates with different Teachers to motivate the students to do various projects and be rewarded. Improving her neighborhood is something that she has grown up with. In El Salvador, her father was Politician who was very well known for helping the poor in his country.
Mari is one of the reasons the city of Inglewood is a great place to live. She is one of the hundreds of people who give off their time and themselves to make this city a better place.