For 13 years, Oziel Garcia has quietly been one of the most steadfast supporters of Give Me 5, IDEA’s internal fundraising campaign that provides vital financial support to IDEA scholars. As the highest and longest-giving staff donor, Oziel’s contributions have left an indelible mark, not just in dollars, but also in the opportunities he’s helped create for students facing the same challenges he once faced.
“I am a third-generation migrant worker and a first-generation college graduate,” Oziel shares, reflecting on his journey. “Any financial help, no matter how small, goes a long way.” It’s not just words for Oziel, it’s a deeply lived experience. He remembers the weight of needing financial support to complete his education, the burden of loans, and the desire to simply focus on learning. And that’s why he gives. “I feel that if I can help, I should.”
This simple, yet profound belief in lifting others is at the core of why Oziel has continued his support for over a decade. Living and teaching in the same community, Oziel sees firsthand the fruits of his generosity. “It’s rewarding,” he says with quiet pride, “to see former students working toward their goals, knowing that in some small way, I’ve helped them get there.” His commitment is more than financial, it’s deeply personal.
There was one moment in particular that stands out for Oziel. Watching a senior he taught as a sixth grader receive a Give Me 5 scholarship felt like everything had come full circle. “It was an amazing feeling,” he recalls, “to be part of that moment, knowing that I had played a small role in their success.”
For Oziel, giving isn’t just about what you see today, it’s about what you’re planting for tomorrow. “Giving is like investing in the future,” he says. “Sometimes you see the change immediately, but most of the time you don’t. But for the person receiving that help, it can be life changing.” And that’s the hope he carries for Give Me 5, that it will continue to help more students move forward without financial stress, allowing them to focus on what matters most: their education and their dreams.
Oziel’s message to his fellow colleagues is heartfelt and clear: “If you can give, you should. Invest in someone’s future.”
His vision is one where every staff member who can join the cause does so, together transforming the lives of students in ways both big and small. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about the amount, it’s about the collective power of a community coming together to lift up its future leaders.
As Oziel’s story reminds us, the impact of Give Me 5 goes far beyond the immediate. It’s about building a legacy that changes lives, one scholar at a time.
