During our annual Breakthrough Atlanta Fund-A-Scholar fundraising dinner and celebration, Mrs. Mareka Howard shared with the audience how Breakthrough Atlanta had a profound effect on the trajectory of her son’s life – and her own. Sah’Quarian (known as Que) Howard graduated from Paul Duke STEM High School in 2025 and is currently attending New York Institute of Technology.
Here, we bring you Mareka’s story in her own words:
Breakthrough Atlanta changed everything for my son.
When he first joined the program, he was a shy kid who struggled and lacked confidence. He was searching for himself and for a place to fit in. As a parent who grew up in a low-income neighborhood in downtown Atlanta, I understand the importance of finding the right resources and programs to help our children be more confident and successful in all areas of life. For my son—and for so many others—that place was Breakthrough.
I will never forget his first summer at Breakthrough. I can still see the welcoming entrance as he nervously walked into the building. I was praying—praying he would have a great experience. And my prayers were answered.
He never missed a day at Breakthrough that summer. At the end of the program, I watched this once-shy kid, now filled with confidence, walk across the stage and give a speech. Everything changed in that moment.
For the next four and a half years, my son never missed a day at Breakthrough. More importantly, he never wanted to miss a day at school. We credit this transformation to his Breakthrough family and experience.
My son’s confidence rose to levels I never imagined possible. He has not looked back since joining the program. And neither have I.
The entire Breakthrough experience helped me understand the importance of educating all students—so much so that I became a teacher myself.
I could talk for days about my family and our experience at Breakthrough. About how it changed our lives. About the positive effect it had on everyone in my family.
But I’ll leave you with this. Magic Johnson once said, “All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and a little direction, and somebody who believes in them.”
Now imagine giving them an entire program. A network of people like yourselves who believe in them. Who show up for them every single day. That’s what Breakthrough Atlanta does. That’s what your support makes possible.
Thank you for believing in our children. Thank you for being part of their Breakthrough.
* Photo by Kim Evans.