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LeMo: Creating a Dream-Come-True World (Continued from page 9)
because he went through many of the same things
they are going though when he was their age. He
opens up and shares his own story to the youth,
who then in turn can relate to him, and they cry
together.
Using resources, connections to
make dreams come true
The youth tell Taufoou what their dreams are,
and Taufoou, who had a successful football career,
uses his extensive resources and connections to
help make those dreams come true. “We help
them be who they want to be and always thought
they could be,” Taufoou explained. “What we
really do is build these kids from the inside out.”
One large family
For the Taufoous, who do not have biological
children, the youth they work with every day
are their kids. And many of the teens consider
the Taufoous family as well. Some even call
Ali Taufoou “Mama Bear.” “That’s kind of my
nickname now,” she said. “I love it.”
A full-time job and then some
Running LeMo is a full-time job for David
Taufoou, who has a variety of responsibilities,
including working on emails and putting the
program together. “We’re literally seven days
a week,” he said. “Our kids are calling us on
Sunday. It’s intense.”
Ali Taufoou works for LeMo in addition to
holding another job as office manager/marketing
coordinator for the Riekes Center for Human
Enhancement in Menlo Park. “My husband and
I eat, breathe and sleep this,” she said. “We just
want to see them succeed.”
The rock and compass for youth
Throughout the Pacific Islands, the word
“liahona” means rock and the word “motu” means
compass. Similarly, the goal of LeMo is to be a
rock and a compass for youth in need and help
guide them to success. The “l” in LeMo stands
for leadership, the “e” for ecosystem, the “m” for
motivation and the “o” for ownership, all of which
are important components of success.
Twins turn their lives around
Twin sisters Lupe and Mele Kaususi, who live
in East Palo Alto and are being raised by their
single mother, came to LeMo in 2009 with lessthan-2-point
GPAs. But now, thanks to LeMo,
the 17-year-olds are excelling academically. In
fact, during their time with the organization they
have gotten their GPAs as high as 3.6 and 3.8,
according to David Taufoou.
When Lupe Kaususi first came to LeMo, she
wasn’t interested in school and was skipping
classes. But now she enjoys school and is looking
forward to going to college.
“LeMo helped me with studying skills,” she
said. “It has encouraged me to go to school, to
have a goal, to have a picture in life after school,
a place to go and talk. LeMo has really turned
my life around. I was thinking of going to Cal
[the University of California at Berkeley]. I like the
Bears. Or possibly out of state. I would recommend
LeMo to everybody. LeMo is like a family.”
Lupe Kaususi, who enjoys volleyball, also has
been able to do that with LeMo. “He [David]
never lets us stop [chasing] our dreams,” she said.
“He always makes us go further. Ali, she’s really
big in my life, too. She’s like an older sister to me.
She’s always on my case. She always makes sure I
do my homework. She always makes sure I go to
my workouts. I love them to death. I don’t know
what I’d do without them.”
Mele Kaususi, who loves to dance, participated
in her first professional competition this year,
something she wouldn’t have done without
encouragement from LeMo. “If it wasn’t for them
to give that little push, I wouldn’t have done it,”
she stressed. Her next competition is in February.
“I can’t wait for that one,” she said.
Concluded Mele Kaususi: “I just love them so
much. Without them, I wouldn’t have that drive to
success. I wouldn’t have goals. I’d probably be so
lazy that I’d want to live with my mom for the rest
of my life. They’re giving us a taste of life and
pushing us to do something. I think everybody
should know about LeMo. It’s the best program
I’ve ever been in. It’s like we’re a big old family.”
Starting the school year off right
When Leo Koloamatangi, 17, who lives in East
Palo Alto and attends Sacred Heart Prep in
Atherton, first came to LeMo this past June, he
had a 2.9 GPA and was fine with that. But now,
after a summer with LeMo, he realizes how much
he can improve and is ready to do a better job this
school year. “I have never felt better starting off
the semester,” he said.
Koloamatangi wants to play Division I football
and is confident that he can do that thanks to
LeMo. Koloamatangi, who was raised by his
grandfather, said the Taufoous are like parents
he’s never had. “We have a relationship that
close,” he said.
A lot of sacrifices
The Taufoous made a lot of sacrifices to make
LeMo happen. They invested more than $100,000
of their own money, according to David Taufoou.
They sold both of their cars and also left their
one-bedroom apartment and moved in with David
Taufoou’s best friend, Scott Probst, who is on
LeMo’s board of directors. It’s all been worth it,
though, the couple stressed, because they have
been able to help teens in need succeed.
First fundraiser a success
In August, LeMo held its first fundraiser, a poker
tournament at Paul’s Diner in San Mateo. The
event raised $4,000 for the organization. The
Taufoous were able to do back-to-school shopping
for the teens and get them things they need to be
successful this school year.
The Taufoous also are trying to find private
donors to contribute to LeMo. Additionally, they
plan to hold a golf tournament next summer that
will generate more money for the nonprofit, David
Taufoou said.
A dream-come-true world for
those who have never tasted it
Thanks to LeMo, economically and socially
challenged high school students in the Bay
Area have positive role models who can take a
meaningful role in their lives and put them on
the right path. LeMo provides youth in need with
hope, stability, self-esteem and inspiration. It
also helps them realize their true potential, make
positive changes in their lives and follow their
dreams. LeMo teaches youth in need how to win
in the classroom, how to win on the field and,
most importantly, how to win in the game of life.
“We try to create a dream-come-true world for the
kids that have never gotten a chance to taste it,”
David Taufoou said.
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