Success Stories-Children

With laughter and a contagious smile, Johnny Marquez was popular among the Lunch Bunch volunteers and the campers.

He came to Fun in the Sun in 2004. It was then he met Jeremy, a Fun in the Sun staff member. Through Jeremy’s mentoring, Johnny was encouraged to follow his dreams. After hours, “when everyone is gone for the day, Jeremy taught me how to play the piano. I told him I wanted to be an actor and he believed I could do it,” Johnny remembered.  Johnny lived up to Jeremy’s expectation when he performed in two Grease productions at Fun in the Sun Goleta’s Family Fun Night.

In 2005 as a new CIT, Johnny exemplified the six pillars of Character Counts (trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, caring, fairness, and citizenship) and was one of the more positive and enthusiastic participants. Tracy Cortichiato, a counselor at Hollister, said, “Johnny is the ideal CIT and a great example for the younger boys and girls.”

“Summer was cool because of Fun in the Sun and I loved being a CIT,” Johnny said. “I made friends, visited places I’ve never been and tackled jobs I didn’t think I could do. There is no other place I’d rather be spending my summer,” Johnny said. “I want to come here, learn and become a counselor, all the way, like Jeremy.”