Mark and Joanne Perra

By Eric Steckel | July 1, 2022

“Randy Roth took a personal interest in us and helped us find new ways to use our gifts to the greatest effect among Oakland’s children. The orientations and introductions that Children Rising provided were invaluable.

Randy Roth deeply understood the biblical characteristics for effectively helping children flourish. He demonstrated and taught us to extend God’s love with cultural humility and by showing up for the kids, taking a personal interest in their success, not limiting their potential, and by believing in them. Randy viewed Oakland kids not through the lens of “at risk,” but through the lens of “at-promise” and taught us to “hold a crown over the kids’ heads” for them to rise up to wear.

It is because of this wonderful alignment with our personal mission — and because we have personally observed Children Rising’s effective, scalable and enduring impact on the children of Oakland — that we have joined the Children Rising Legacy Circle by making a planned gift.”