Mario West with students at a recent foundation event
The Mario West Foundation Inc. empowers underserved youth and families by expanding access to education, scholarships, financial literacy, mentorship, and community resources. Rooted in faith, service, and leadership, we are committed to creating pathways to opportunity, strengthening communities, and equipping the next generation to achieve lasting success.
Everything we do falls under four core pillars: a simple, repeatable framework for measuring and telling our impact story.
01 · EDUCATE
Hands-on financial-literacy workshops and educational programming that build real-world money skills for students and families.
02 · INVEST
The Defend the Dream Scholarship and educator grants that directly fund tuition, supplies, and classroom resources.
03 · DEVELOP
Structured mentorship, goal-setting, and leadership development that prepares young people for what's next.
04 · EMPOWER
Community events, family resources, and corporate & local partnerships that strengthen the whole neighborhood.
We track every mentor hour, scholarship dollar, and community event so our impact is easy to see and easy to support.
Every scholarship, mentorship session, and community event ties back to founder Mario West’s message: that every young person deserves the resources and belief needed to defend their dream. Each year, we spotlight one “Dream Defended” story: a student, teacher, or family who took a real next step toward their goal.
From the classroom to the community, our programming meets students, teachers, and families where they are.
Workshops that teach budgeting, saving, and money management to students and families.
The Defend the Dream Scholarship supports students pursuing their next educational goal.
One-on-one and group mentorship focused on goal-setting and leadership skills.
Back-to-school days, giveback events, and family resource fairs across the community.
Yoga and meditation practices that build emotional wellness and resilience.
Sponsors and local partners who help fund and staff every initiative above.
Camille Scott, Stevenson Vallere, Destiny Hawkins, and Elliott Agyekum (the 2026 Defend the Dream Scholarship class, administered with the Douglas County Education Foundation) will each start Fall 2026 with tuition and fees covered.
With thanks to the NBPA Foundation, Donna & James Boldt, and Ashley McMaster.
Two annual events anchor our community programming and give sponsors and volunteers a real way to show up.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL
A back-to-school kickoff featuring Mario’s Defend the Dream message, a school-supply giveaway, financial-literacy sessions, college & career conversations, and scholarship recognition, potentially hosted at Stewart Middle School or Douglas County High School.
COMMUNITY GIVEBACK
A larger annual community giveback that rotates between a back-to-school initiative, Christmas giveback, community meal & resource distribution, or a volunteer day, bringing together sponsors, churches, schools, and neighbors.
Corporate and community partnerships starting at $1,000 directly fund scholarships, mentorship, and community programs, with recognition on our website, in our Annual Impact Report, and at our events.
