Help Isaiah Mendez Get To Japan

My name is Crystal! I met Isaiah Mendez in the fall of 2022 when he started dating my daughter. Upon first meeting him, I was impressed immediately by his kindness, his graceful conversation, his sense of humor, and his hard work ethic. It was almost immediately that he told me about his obsession with Taekwondo (he's a part-time instructor) as he has been active in it for 12 years. I also learned quickly that he was also equally passionate about learning Japanese and fascinated by Japanese culture.

I have known him now for almost 2 years and nothing has changed about his passions except with the addition of my daughter.

Isaiah has lived in Gresham his entire life. However, his Spanish-speaking home (his parents are so sweet) has primed him to learn another language.

He is a senior at Gresham High School and is the current Vice President of DECA. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. He has a current GPA of 3.27. He does all of this while having 2 jobs!! When he's not working as a Taekwondo instructor, he can be found at Black Bear Diner busing tables and making friends. He has plans to go to Mt. Hood Community College and then to Portland State University to major in International Studies.

Isaiah is 1 of 3 Japanese 4th-year students at Gresham High School and was recently chosen for the Gresham-Ebetsu Sister City Association's High School Exchange Program. He will be going to Ebetsu, Japan for an ENTIRE MONTH THIS SUMMER!

Will you help me raise funds to make this wonderful human being's dream come true? Isaiah has sacrificed so much of his time working hard to get ahead. He has manifested going to Japan since he was a little boy. These funds will go directly to him and will be used for airfare, and spending money while he is there. This is important to me because he has added so much joy not just for my daughter, but also for my entire family.

Any funds over $3,000 or funds not used on the trip will go directly into his college savings fund.

Please give what you can as every single dollar helps!!

Deadline to Fund: June 15th, 2024!

His manager at Black Bear Diner once told me, "This kid is always smiling. It's hard to be in a bad mood when you see that giant smile glaring at you."