A Family’s Enduring Gift Built on Sacrifice and Given in Love
“If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” God surrounds each of us with mentors, and for Juan Rodriguez, it was his parents and one of his Catholic school teachers. Their quiet sacrifices of love, time and finances kept him and his five sisters off the troubled streets of Los Angeles. Now, as a deputy sheriff, Juan has channeled his gratitude into action.
Through the loving support of his wife, Kala, and the faithful partnership of The Orange Catholic Foundation (OCF), the Rodriguez family has established a new scholarship and endowment fund to help children benefit from the same values-based education that helped shape Juan’s own journey.
With his teary-eyed parents and three of his five children watching from the pews, Juan and Kala, awarded nine students from St. Anne Catholic School in Santa Ana, part of Pax Christi Academies, with the newly established Rodriguez Student Merit Scholarship on May 23, 2025. Watch the video below to step into the joy of that morning and meet the very families whose lives have changed.
Before the scholarship ceremony, Juan reflected on the gift of his Catholic education from St. Agnes Catholic School, Los Angeles: “My mom and dad sacrificed a lot to send us to Catholic school.” By prioritizing faith and community over material things, Juan was in a safe learning environment, where one devoted teacher went above and beyond. “Those neighborhoods were tough. He would let us stay in his classroom after school while our parents were working. He gave us the confidence to strive.”
Out of appreciation, the couple from Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, La Habra first created a scholarship at St. Agnes. However, when the school closed in 2024 due to declining enrollment, the Rodriguez family shifted their plans.
At Mass one weekend, Kala, a newly initiated Catholic and attorney, heard an announcement that sparked her curiosity. With a desire to serve her parish, she attended a meeting that brought her into conversation with OCF.
Kala said, "A few weeks later is when we found out that St. Agnes was closing and felt it was important to give the money to a new school.” Not sure where else to turn, Kala called OCF and was introduced to the St. Anne community. There was an immediate connection, “These kids greeted us personally and escorted us to our seats. It was just so touching.” Juan added, “The amount of love that we got there, we were sold.”
Juan and Kala wanted the Rodriguez Student Merit Scholarship to be more than a moment in time. By creating an endowment fund with OCF, the scholarship will now flourish in perpetuity and allow their children to put philanthropy into action. “We want to be a good example for the kids so that when they are older, they understand they have an obligation to give back and to give to others,” Kala explained.
Endowments start with a gift that’s invested, and the interest it earns is used to support a cause that matters to the donor. For Juan and Kala, it’s Catholic education. For someone else, it might be seminarian formation or youth ministry. How about you? Learn more here or reach out to OCF at 714.282.3021 or info@OrangeCatholicFoundation.org to get in touch with a Catholic philanthropic advisor.