The Art of Fatherhood (cont'd)
Even before he was blessed with the new house on Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Victor was already giving to others through Single Fathers of Camden. The organization, which is donation-based, was created for single fathers who shared Victor’s struggles and his plight of raising kids with very limited resources. Single Fathers of Camden is a community based, experiential, relational program that offers non-judgmental support and guidance for single fathers with an emphasis on community responsibility and service. Originally, meetings began in Victor’s home in Camden a year and a half ago. Thanks to Urban Promise, he now has an official meeting place/office to run his program. The organization strives to facilitate single fathers in being active in the lives of their children. “My main goal is to have the fathers be with the kids and spend real time one on one with their kids.”
Philanthropic to the core, Victor Marrero
has shaped his kids with the same genuine
altruistic values and strength. “He’s the
anchor that held the ship down when the
waters got rough,” Billy Joe, now 20 years
old, describes his father, “Very wise, strong,
spiritual…he’s a brave person. A lot of guys
would have walked out altogether or would
have submitted to selling drugs, taking
drugs…There’s actually a lot of fathers in
Camden that have their sons selling drugs
with them.” Wise beyond his years, the eldest
of the five brothers, Billy Joe aspires
to find success in the music business and
ultimately make his father proud. “He gave
everything to the point that he ended up in
the hospital. He made sure he had what we
needed, so the least we can do is get our
diplomas or give him something to remind
him his efforts weren’t in vain.” The apple
doesn’t fall far from the tree in this family and
not only does Billy Joe exemplify that, but
so do his four younger brothers: Jonas (15),
Steven (16), Ethan (17), and Josh (18). All
five boys are positive and strong reflections
of Victor’s efforts and his constant involvement
in their lives. Steven reflects on what
his father’s dedication has taught him. “I’ve
learned to never give up, to always go for what you want and to always live by the word
of God and to take care of each other no matter
the trials or tribulations.” Steven dreams to
go to Duke University and play professional
basketball one day. The youngest, Jonas, has
plans to attend college for criminal justice,
Ethan is in his last year of high school preparing
to graduate, and Josh hopes to become
a computer technician. All five boys are also
involved in Victor’s Single Fathers of Camden
organization as well.
After receiving a gift of a lifetime with their
brand new house, Victor
Marrero feels liberated
from financial burdens that weighed so heavy.“It gave me a lot of freedom…Now I’m free of
the worries about not having enough money
for this, for that. Now I have the freedom to
help others even more.” Months after moving
into the house, Victor says that it’s still an adjustment;
it’s still becoming “home” to him and
he is still accepting this dream as a reality. His
advice for single parents who are struggling as
he once did mainly focuses on remembering
to be loyal to your kids, “Don’t ever give up!
We bring these kids into this world and it is our
responsibility to do something!” Victor Marrero
is never done parenting. If he’s not continually
molding his own children, he is guiding other
men towards better fathering. The warmth and
generous nature that Victor radiates is contagious
and the rewards accumulating after
years of affliction only serves to prove that
sacrifice, love, and selflessness are always rewarded
ten-fold.
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ULM Podcast