Helping Kimo: Teacher Jaime Escalante is Battling Cancer and You Can Help Today [VIDEO]

Photo via Ahetems

Jaime Escalante is not just an exemplary teacher, he is a hero, a community leader, a role model, an inspiring man who became famous when as a mathematics teacher, he helped many young troubled Latino Native students to change their lives through education. Escalante is currently fighting cancer, and he needs all our help.

An Indigenous Aymara man born in Bolivia, Jaime Escalante moved to the United States in the early 1970's and he became widely recognized when his students excelled in a national calculus test. In 1998, he retired from the school system and in 2001 he returned to Bolivia where he currently lives with his wife. Sadly, Escalante is fighting cancer and he needs our help.

Edward James Olmos a great actor and leader of Mexican Indigenous heritage, who played as Escalante in the film "Stand and Deliver", is asking everyone to help by making a donation through his website:

An Appeal to the Friends of Jaime Escalante

Anyone who has seen “Stand and Deliver” knows how much Jaime Escalante (Kimo) has done for this country. The love and dedication he gave to his inner city students, and his unfailing conviction that every one of them was “gifted,” brought out talent that had been untapped – and unseen - by other teachers.

The genius that he awakened in the “unteachable”

commanded the attention of the entire world. It caused countless educators to reconsider what their students might really be capable of if, like Kimo, they could awaken the “ganas” (desire) in them.

Jaime didn’t just teach math. Like all great teachers, he changed lives. Gang members became aerospace engineers. Kids who had spent their youth convinced their lives didn’t matter discovered they were leaders.

Now, Kimo needs our help. He is seriously ill, and the treatment he needs has depleted all the funds his family can raise. They did not want to ask for help, but we took it upon ourselves to get the word out to all the country and around the world, to make his final days as comfortable as possible - and maybe even give him a chance to beat the cancer that has afflicted him.

I have been moved to tears to hear of the circumstances of this great man and am calling for a last National Understanding of his selfless contributions to “making a difference in this world.”
Together, we have a chance to make a real difference in his life. I could not bear to think that we would do any less for one who has given so much for so long.

You have my deepest appreciation for any and all prayers and help that you can give.

Edward James Olmos

Watch a video of Jaime Escalante speaking on being a teacher, and watch this news reports of CBS KCAL Los Angeles, on the current efforts to help Mr. Escalante:

Please remember to donate here!


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