June 8, 2009

First Charles Martin “Touch A Life” Scholarship Awarded

On May 18, 2009, Washington High School senior Bryanna J. Bocardo became the first recipient of the Charles Martin “Touch a Life” Scholarship, a new $2500 annual renewable scholarship offered through the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County in honor of a truly remarkable man.

Charles E. Martin, Sr., Executive Director of the YMCA Urban Youth Services Program for more than 20 years, knew how to challenge young people to think about the future. His personal motto was Touch a life every day—and he did. Because of him, literally hundreds of young African-American students from South Bend went to college. And his support didn’t end when those students left town: Charles wrote hundreds of letters to his “kids,” filled with inspiration, advice, and high expectations.

Former students, friends, and colleagues of Charles, as well as other members of the community, partnered with the Community Foundation’s African American Community Fund to make this scholarship happen. Their work represents a collaboration among many people who were passionate about honoring Charles’ memory and building his legacy: Long-time community organizer Gladys Muhammad got the project’s wheels in motion, working with Rose Meissner, president of the Community Foundation. South Bend Heritage Foundation Director Phil Byrd reached out to Charles’ fraternity brothers, involving them in the project. Community leaders Richmond and Virginia Calvin led the fundraising efforts, and Warren Outlaw, a former colleague of Charles, chaired the Scholarship Committee, working with a group of Charles’ “kids”—now successful professionals in our community—that included Curtis Bethel, Carla Crittendon, Rahman Johnson, Arnez Lee, Jacquelyn Rucker, and many others.

This dedicated group of people got the word out about the scholarship, and, this spring, reviewed applications from a talented pool of local African American young people. The committee chose Bryanna J. Bocardo, an outstanding student from South Bend’s Washington High School, as the first recipient of the Charles Martin “Touch a Life” Scholarship. She will study the sciences at the University of Notre Dame this fall.

This scholarship mirrors Charles’s spirit in a way that goes beyond financial support: Bryanna Bocardo—and every student who receives a Charles Martin “Touch a Life” Scholarship in the future—will be connected with a network of Charles’ former students. These former “kids” of Charles’ will keep in touch with the young scholar throughout his or her educational journey, offering encouragement, inspiration, and advice—just as Charles did.

To help build the Charles Martin “Touch a Life” Scholarship endowment, visit www.cfsjc.org/touchalife. You can donate online, mail your gift to the Community Foundation, or contact Rose Meissner, President, directly at (574) 232-0041.