OC dads who work and volunteer with kids tell us why they do it and how they’re inspired.
Thomas Barsoe
City: San Juan Capistrano
Family: Wife, Anna; kids, Noah, 8, Jude, 6
How do you work with kids?
“I’m the owner of OC Hit, a record label, recording studio and artist development facility in Tustin.
“We work with incredibly talented, young singers and songwriters and develop and train them for a career in the music industry. You can compare OC Hit to a varsity soccer team or the Olympic gymnastic team, etc. We have become THE place for exceptionally talented, young artists to develop and create their own music.”
What drew you to working with kids in this way?
“After 15 years as a solo artist, selling over two million albums and touring the world, I settled down with my American wife (I’m Danish) in Orange County and I was ready for a change and ready to give back and decided to volunteer my time going to local high schools and speaking to students interested in music about the industry and share my experiences. That gave me the idea and inspiration to start OC Hit and provide the pop stars of tomorrow with the mentoring and safe, creative and inspiring environment I wish I’d had when I started out as an artist.”
What inspires you in your work with kids?
“Seeing the joy, pride and excitement in the eyes of these exceptional young artists, as they grow and achieve goals and results they never knew were possible is extremely rewarding. It has also reignited my own love and passion for music and is a constant reminder of why I fell in love with music as a teenager myself and I can honestly say, I have never enjoyed music more or felt more inspired than I am, now at 43 years old. So it truly is a dream ‘job’ that I still, after six years, never call ‘a job,’ but a passion and second family.”
What inspires you as a parent?
“Honestly, all the little things that no one ever talks about. The little ‘I love you dad’ or seeing them thrive in school or at sports and basically just being two small but much better versions of myself! It is so much harder than I ever dreamt it would be but also 10 times more rewarding and the only sad part is how quickly time passes by once you ‘measure it’ in ‘kids years’ … so my wife and I try our hardest every day, even on the tough days, to cherish and enjoy all the little moments with our boys.”
Jesse Chang
City: Fountain Valley
Family: Wife, Nicole; kids, Addison, 13, Ziva, 9, Mavis, 5
How do you work with kids?
“Currently, I volunteer as the treasurer and Finance Committee chair for Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire. I previously participated in the Make-A-Wish Speaker’s Bureau and the Wish Interview process.”
What drew you to working with kids in this way?
“My volunteer energies and my community involvement with Make-A-Wish gives me a rare and unique opportunity to give back to the children and their families. I am also blessed by paying goodwill forward to many children/families in the local area. The partnership, between non-profit volunteering and granting wishes to children, is the biggest win that drew me to support Make-A-Wish.
“My eldest daughter, Addison, was born with a congenital heart defect. She required five heart surgeries across her lifetime for her heart condition. Addison received her wish when she was 6 years old to meet the cast of Disney ‘Descendants.’”
What inspires you in your work with kids?
“I am inspired to work with children as I love to see their happy smiles and the amazed reaction of joyous family members.”
What inspires you as a parent?
“My mom inspires me every day as a parent. Her inspiration taught me to be stronger and to stay the course, especially in the tough times. Parenting gives me the opportunity to mentor my children and to watch them mature into responsible adults.”
Randy Lempert
City: Huntington Beach
Family: Wife, Eva; son, Finley, 9
How do you work with kids?
“I’m the proud principal of Whittier Elementary School in Costa Mesa.”
What drew you to working with kids in this way?
“Growing up, I was fortunate to have so many positive adult role models in my life. The experiences I had as a child with teachers, coaches and Jr. Lifeguard instructors were incredibly impactful on my life and my future. The relationships that I developed as a child motivated me to stay the course in education and choose a profession that makes a
difference with families and the community.”
What inspires you in your work with kids?
“Working at a school, the day is never the same. It can be a rollercoaster of an adventure when you work with kids and at a school. I enjoy the unpredictability of the job, the relationships and the opportunity to pave the way for a child to have a great day and a memorable school experience. It’s an honor to be a leader on a school site and support courageous and innovative teachers dedicated to being a positive influence on students.”
What inspires you as a parent?
“I want Finley to be proud of me for being a good husband, dad and community member. Most importantly, I want Fin to know how much I love him. I know as a father, that doesn’t mean that I give him everything he wants and let him eat ice cream for dinner. I’m motivated to provide him with life experiences that prepare him to have a fantastic future, and he is prepared to live his best life.”
Paul Ramírez
City: Santa Ana
Family: Wife, Marcela; kids, Liliana Grace, 7, John Paul, 6, Ava Marie, 4, Victoria Catherine, 3, Rita Carmen, 1, Bernadette Rose, 1 month
How do you work with kids?
“Sixth-grade teacher at Valencia Park Elementary in the Fullerton School District. … I teach all subjects in a self-contained classroom.”
What drew you to working with kids in this way?
“I was never really drawn to working with kids. I worked in customer service with several companies and always enjoyed building relationships and the rapport [that] developed over time with my co-workers and customers. At one point, after dealing with another company closing and another lay-off, God helped open the door for me to enter into the teacher credential program with almost no experience in working with children. I quickly realized this was my calling after having the privilege of being under the tutelage of some truly extraordinary educators, their passion for teaching made an impression on me and drove me to develop and refine my craft daily.”
What inspires you in your work with kids?
“What inspires me in my work with children is seeing their sincere joy when they are recognized for making growth and achieve their goals. I make an especially concerted effort to set high standards for my reluctant learners and children with a history of behavior problems. This is what helps me to get motivated for work every day. What am I going to do today to make learning engaging and rigorous for these students?”
What inspires you as a parent?
“Every night when the day comes to a close and I hear one of my children shout out, ‘Best day ever!’ — this is what makes all of the exhaustion worth while. There are those that think that having many children is hard work and they would be right, but it’s not impossible. With the birth of each child, a profound understanding of how much they are loved begins to develop in them due to the fact that their parents want to have more!”
Tyler Choi
City: Irvine
Family: Wife, Priscilla; kids, Peyton, 5, Reagan, 4
How do you work with kids?
“At Orangewood, I am able to indirectly support our youth and help them to achieve their own personal goals. Through being a fundraising professional, I am able to see the direct interactions that the youth have with their case managers. While I have indirect job duties, I enjoy my time supporting our youth through volunteering in the Resource Center and the kitchen at Orangewood. I also have the privilege of volunteering for another organization called For the Children, where I am able to interact with youth in the foster care system through a summer camp and mentoring program. I am able to help create positive memories for the youth in foster care at summer camp and through the positive influence of being a mentor throughout the school year.”
What drew you to working with kids in this way?
“I was drawn to working with youth and kids in this way through my mentors and influences. Growing up, I was taught to give back by volunteering for those that need the extra support. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to have jobs that allow me to do this work, as well as volunteer opportunities that create this support for youth that have been through traumatic events in their lives. Seeing the examples of my mentors and parents in giving back to their community inspired me to enter this field, and the stories and relationships that I have been able to build with the youth and kids over the years has kept me going.”
What inspires you in your work with kids?
“My inspiration comes directly from the youth that I am able to work with. Seeing their resolve and being able to support and be the cheerleader in their lives, inspires me every day. While we may not see huge strides or successes all the time, it’s the small stories like a youth passing their driver’s test, or assisting a youth in their schoolwork and watching their hard work pay off with an A in the class are inspiration that the work I engage in makes a difference. My favorite thing is being able to support our direct case managers and mentors, coaching and watching their relationships flourish. It may be from the sidelines, coaching and not directly on the field, but I know that the support and work that contribute makes a difference — and seeing these youth build a support network and achieve their goals is my greatest inspiration.”
What inspires you as a parent?
“As a parent, I know that my actions and works have a direct impact on my girls. Having great examples growing up from my parents and my mentors helps me to keep on the same path. Seeing how passionate my girls are about their favorite things and people inspires me. Even though there are hard days as a parent, I see how much they care for others — their compassion and concern for people and animals inspires me [to] continue leading and encouraging them. Peyton and Reagan have very different personalities and are growing in their own areas of passion and philanthropy. As a parent, seeing them begin to understand how to help others, is all the inspiration I need.”
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