Growing up as a child of immigrants, Adrian knew there would be barriers he would have to face to achieve his dreams.
Throughout his life, education was one of the most important things for Adrian – along with his family. Born and raised in Phoenix, in the community of Maryvale, he often didn’t know where to seek guidance on attending college or determining a career path to pursue.
“No one in my family went to college,” Adrian said. “Education has always been a huge part of my identity. But I knew I would have to navigate a path for myself. Nobody gave me a blueprint of what to do and it was a big difficulty.”
Additionally, Adrian’s household had to battle sickness. His mother, who had lupus his entire life, would spend time in and out of the hospital as he was growing up – having 13 surgeries which added further barriers to a clear path for Adrian’s future. The hardest point in Adrian’s life was during high school, one of the most pivotal points for youth and their educational journey, when his mother suffered from a brain hemorrhage putting her in the hospital for an extended period of time.
“My family is my ‘Why’ to keep going,” Adrian shared. “My mom supported me always, even though she could never be outside. Having her be sick was difficult to deal with as a kid. It seemed like my dream was a far reality.”
Adrian spent countless days and nights in the hospital with her – tending to her needs and being there for his siblings during a point where their mother was nearly dying.
“I lost sight of my ‘Why’ – my family,” Adrian said. “I lost focus and balance in my life. I was struggling a lot, both in school and my mental health.”
That’s where Camp Catanese came in.
Funded in part by Valley of the Sun United Way and our donors, Camp Catanese was started by a former middle school teacher, Jason Catanese.
Camp Catanese offers year-round college preparation programs on Arizona State University Campuses for youth affected by financial instability. Its programs allow students to learn hands-on from experts in various fields, through experiences such as STEAM workshops and financial literacy courses.
Additionally, Camp Catanese prioritizes supporting students through building a sense of family, providing 1-1 mentorship between staff and students, allowing every young person to feel support that they might not have otherwise.
“One of our main goals at Valley of the Sun United Way is to create opportunities for youth aged 16-24,” said Dawn Gerundo, Community Development & Engagement Director of Education at United Way. “That is why we partner with Camp Catanese. They provide services that not only connect students with resources they need for sustained success, but they also build a true relationship that leads to students saying, ‘I want to have a career pathway.’ Through our work together, we can help dreams come in reach.”
Adrian began attending the program every summer during high school.
“Camp Catanese changed my life,” Adrian said. “I was finally able to envision myself achieving my goals. I was able to meet people in different fields. They help you figure out which career you want to pursue and what skills you need to get there. I was finally able to feel a sense of direction. It all just clicked”
Adrian was also able to make life-long friendships with his mentors, who helped him navigate his personal life – something he holds dear to his heart.
“I would be at the hospital, and they would just call and check on me,” Adrian said. “Mr. Cat (Jason) is an amazing person. He made a huge impact on my life. I’m excited to see what Camp Catanese and Valley of the Sun United Way continue to do together.”
With his mentors’ support and guidance, Adrian applied for college- something he’d longed for his entire life.
“Being here, you feel a sense of empowerment,” Adrian said. “I knew I was going to college. There was no doubt about it. I want to break barriers. You wouldn’t expect someone like me to go to college, but I want to show that anybody can do it despite hardships.”
Adrian is now attending ASU’s Barrett Honors College, majoring in electrical engineering. He thanks not only his family and his Camp Catanese community, but also the support of Valley of the Sun United Way – which helped him persevere through extremely difficult times.
“Thanks to United Way, and the partnership with Camp Catanese, this place can happen,” Adrian shared.
Because of the support he received during his journey, Adrian made it a goal to give back to the community in the same way.
“During college, I will be joining a club so I can be a mentor for students just like me,” Adrian shared. “It’s a great cause to make education accessible to everyone. When you give, it’s not just an investment to a camp, or a single person – it’s an investment to a community.”
