An ‘American Dream’ bears fruit

Deepa Bharath

Isidore Myers was born eight years after his parents immigrated from

Poland to the United States.

Myers’ parents spoke Yiddish at home, and that was the language

Myers learned to speak as a child.

English was a second language he struggled with. He also yearned

to fit in, to get a little respect. He got a bloody nose more than

once to earn that respect.

Myers sees a lot of his young self in the children of mostly

Mexican immigrants who live in the city’s Westside.

On Friday, Myers, now 87, announced a $10,000 contribution from

his philanthropic foundation to Save Our Youth, a local nonprofit

that tries to prevent young people from resorting to gangs and

violence.

The $10,000 scholarship, which students will begin receiving in

2007, is renewable and will be awarded each year to a high school

graduate of Newport-Mesa Unified School District who is an immigrant

or a child of first-generation immigrants, said Jean Forbath, a SOY

board member.

“They [the foundation] have chosen Save Our Youth to receive these

funds in perpetuity, which is just wonderful,” Forbath said. “It’s a

great opportunity for some of these kids who work so hard, but can’t

go to college because of increasing tuition fees.”

The scholarship is open to immigrants of all nationalities, and

will be awarded on the basis of a student’s need for financial aid,

Forbath said.

“This is primarily for low-income families,” she said.

Myers, a Newport Beach resident, said he lived the American Dream.

“I was a child of the Depression and most people were happy to be

able to earn a living,” he said. “I just happened to be at the right

time at the right place and made the right decisions.”

Through the award, Myers said, he hopes to motivate and encourage

students.

“I wanted to give something to the kids so when they get to be my

age, they are in a position to give back to the community,” he said.

More than 100 students are already part of SOY’s Academic

Scholarship program. Students get paid every two weeks depending on

the grades they get at school, said center director Trevor Murphy.

He said when students graduate from high school, the center

matches the money they have earned over the four years which they can

then use for college. Funds for that program come from an anonymous

donor, Murphy said.

Alberto Najera, a junior at Estancia High School and a participant

in the scholarship program, said he was thrilled to hear about Myers’

donation.

“It would make all the kids want to work harder,” he said. “If

they get Bs and Cs, maybe now they’ll want to get A’s so they can win

this scholarship and go to college.”