“I believe with the right person saying the right things, children will follow the correct path and succeed in life.  With God on your side, anything is possible.  Motivation comes from within. A Role Model can only show you the way. You must do the work.”

Mindinho created "Capoeira Kids" as a way to give back to low-income & at-risk youth in our community. We focus our efforts on providing the next generation with the necessary skills to build self-confidence, integrity, and motivation, to be empowered with the determination they need to be strong individuals, points them down the path to true success.

Contra Mestre Mindinho began training Capoeira when he was eleven years old. While Capoeira has always been one of his main passions, he also studied several years at an intensive circus school in Brazil and completed a degree in Computer Science at USSA - Rio de Janeiro. After completing his studies, Mindinho decided that teaching Capoeira was his true calling. After seven years of teaching more than 1,000 students, Mindinho made the decision to bring Capoeira Brasil to San Diego and promote Capoeira in the United States.

Mindinho believes strongly in Capoeira because it is more than just a martial art. It is more than music, acrobatic movements and dance. Capoeira is a life tool that teaches children how to interact with the world. To play Capoeira you must read your partner carefully. You must be humble but at the same time demonstrate all of your strengths. You must learn to control your emotions. You must be patient as well as respectful. This respect is not only for your instructor but for your group, your mestre, and other students, regardless of their level.

Mindinho uses the art of Capoeira to offer children fundamental tools to help them build a successful future through their “Capoeira Kids” mentorship & scholarship program, an AFE program, serving local low-income and at-risk youth with their after-school programs.

  "Adversity has been a big part of my life. I have had many situations in my life which would have lead me to fail , but all of these things have made me stronger. We should never be afraid to fail because our failures in life can only make us stronger, and by surrounding ourselves with the right people, we will be able to endure anything that comes our way."

“Education is empowerment. It is our duty to provide youth with a myriad of learning opportunities. My most valuable life lessons were learned both in the classroom and on the playing field. The characteristics it takes to be a championship athlete can be applied to create success in the classroom.

Greg Camarillo graduated from Menlo-Atherton High School and attended Stanford University. He graduated in 2004 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering focused in Product Design. He is currently playing his 3rd season in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins as a Wide Receiver and Special Teams player.

In its 2nd year, “Charging Forward” an Athletes for Education program, aims to encourage and reward success in academics and athletics. Working together with his brother, Jeff Camarillo, a middle school teacher and coach in Compton, CA, they hope to assist students in developing the attributes necessary to achieve success in school and sports. Providing role models and incentives for success, “Charging Forward” teaches kids how to set goals and, more importantly, how to achieve their goals.

Coming from a family that stresses the importance of education, Greg Camarillo is using this program to recognize and reward students who have a passion to achieve. Every member of the Camarillo family is involved in education. His father, Al, is a professor at Stanford University. His mother, Susan, is a middle school counselor. As mentioned above, his brother, Jeff, is a middle school teacher and coach. His sister, Lauren, is entering her freshman year at UCLA. 

“Education is a value in my family. My parents have always encouraged me to work hard in school and sports. ‘Charging Forward’ is my chance to pass on this value to kids who may not have the same support at home.”

Luis Castillo has teamed up with Athletes for Education to reach out to kids in the Hispanic community & reward them for improved literacy & citizenship in the classrooms & community service in their local communities. Luis feels he has an incredible opportunity to touch the large local Hispanic community by spending time with children in both San Diego and Mexico. 

His Dominican background enables him to relate to many of the children in these underprivileged communities as he grew up very similarly to them - he speaks Spanish, was raised by a single mother and was very poor as a child himself.  He thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to be a positive role model to youth and just talking with them.

 Castillo’s Cargadores hosts an annual Activity Based Life Skills & Team Building camp for middle school students on Saturday & a football camp for High School students in Tijuana on Sunday that Luis personally hosts, attends and invites his teammates to share in the experience.  “These kids already play and understand football, but getting the opportunity to spend time and talk with them.  That’s really special.  I feel privileged to be able to do this.”  Because Luis sees all the positive rewards reaped from his camp in Mexico, he also sponsors camps in his hometown in New Jersey and his native Dominican Republic. 

Marcus graduated High School from Cedar Grove High School in Ellenwood, GA and went on to play at Auburn University.  His grand achievements there lead him to be the second-round draft pick for the San Diego Chargers for the 2006 season.  Marcus proved to be a great choice by the Chargers as his successes on the offensive line allowed him to be selected for the 2007 & 2008 Pro Bowl's and was also front runner for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

But Marcus does not only use his 6’7 and 330 pound stature for the football field, he is man full of compassion for the community around him. Having already spent many years assisting in youth football camps, Marcus created his mentorship program “Mack’s Miracles”, an AFE program, as a way to organize his efforts of giving back to hi community. Currently Marcus’ program serves low-income & at-risk youth in both San Diego & Ellenwood, GA communities!!!

When he’s not on the field practicing, Marcus spends time listening to music including Rap, R&B and even Classical.

 “Spending time with kids gives me the opportunity of handing back the blueprint that was handed to me. My hope is that I can give kids an edge that they may not have because of their circumstances. I feel like I can help kids get to the door and show them how to open it…but they need to open it and walk through to achieve success.”

Dolphins,

Chargers,

Raiders

Akbar Gbaja-Biamila grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from Crenshaw High School in 1998. He started playing football his senior year, earning all-league and all-conference honors as well as defensive lineman of the year. His talent earned him a full scholarship to San Diego State University. While at SDSU, Akbar started volunteering with AFE and has been an important part of our team ever since, volunteering his time with many of AFE’s programs & special events.

In 2002 Akbar graduated from SDSU & walked on with the Oakland raiders. He also started his mentorship program, "Akbar's Village", an AFE mentorship program as a way of serving low-income & at-risk youth in San Diego.

One of seven children, Akbar credits his success to his parents, immigrants from Nigeria who exemplified hard work and perseverance. When he’s not playing football or spending time with his family, Akbar enjoys reading, listening to music and volunteering with AFE.  Above all material success, his greatest life goal is that he never stops learning and growing.

"My involvement in the community is so I may give more of an opportunity to children not only in school but in life as well.  I want to give every child a sense of hope so that they may succeed in their goals and dreams.”

In his first year in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers, Brandon started B. J’s Kids mentorship program, an AFE program: serving low-income & at-risk youth in San Diego & Dayton, Ohio. His pursuit of community work stemmed from services he provided while at Michigan State University.  One such program was the College Day program called King Chavez Park (KCP) where he assisted in a camp that allowed kids to get the college experience. Brandon hopes to administer many programs with Athletes for Education here in San Diego.

When he’s not playing football, Brandon enjoys spending as much time with his family as possible, including his older brother Tim who lives in the area.

 "I really enjoy doing youth mentorship because I know that being an athlete there are so many kids that look up to me.  Kids around the community know who I am because I play football and I have a real soft spot in my heart for them.  Kids do not get to choose their environment and income and how they are brought up, so I really want to be a positive role model for them to help them make good choices in life and achieve their dreams."

Marques graduated from Grand Junction High School in Grand Junction, CO and went on to start his collegiate career in Boulder at the University of Colorado and graduated from Southern Utah State University.  It is while in college that he began his dedication and service to youth in the communities around him.  Remarkably, he started his own foundation while in college called Harris’ Kids, Inc. which reaches out to 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th graders in a mentorship program. 

Marques moved to San Diego in 2005 when he was picked up as a Free Agent with the Chargers. Luckily for San Diego, he brought his heart for philanthropy with him.  Whether it is on visits to local schools, to awarding special kids with a holiday dinner with he and his teammates, Marques has teamed up with Athletes For Education to reach out and inspire as many people in San Diego as possible.

" I truly believe that our youth is our future.  We as athletes have a great opportunity to have a positive impact on kids.  Today athletes receive a lot of negative attention, it's important that kids see first hand through interaction that doing things the right way and treating people well is the path to success.  Things don't always come easy in sports or in life.  If kids see that I had to overcome the odds, hopefully they can learn from that and it will help them believe they can to."

Defensive

Back

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Oakland

Raiders

Leon White graduated from Helix High School in San Diego and attended Brigham Young University, and played for eight years in the NFL. He has been involved with Athletes for Education Foundation since the organization started in 1993, and joined the board of directors in 1994.
 

Along with Leon's Board member duties, he host an annual Activity Based Life Skills & Team Building training camp; designed to reward 7th & 8th graders for achieving academic and citizenship objectives set by their teachers and principals. This year is Leon's 9th year for hosting the camp at Hoover HS.

In addition to volunteering in the community, Leon is the director of Keiller Leadership Academy's after school program.
 

When he’s not spending time with his family, he enjoys playing backgammon and racquetball and listening to jazz music. He is most proud of his family and would like to be remembered as a person who was kind, honest and hard working.
 

On June 24, 2001, Leon was inducted into the Holiday Bowl Hall Of Fame. He was recognized for his accolades in the 1982-1984 Holiday Bowl games while playing for BYU.