Omar Awaida clung to life in an intensive care unit for five days in March before succumbing to the injuries he suffered from a fall in Sequoia National Park. In the months since the Long Beach student’s death on March 26, his family has not only had to grapple with losing the 13-year-old, but also with the costly medical bills they accrued during his hospitalization, as Omar was uninsured.
To help the Awaida family pay for some of the medical expenses related to Omar’s fatal accident, members of the Long Beach community have organized a benefit for them called “It Takes a Village,” which will take place Friday at the Expo Arts Center in Bixby Knolls.
Families from Marshall Academy of the Arts, where Omar was a seventh-grader, and Hughes Middle School, where many of his friends from elementary school attend, have mobilized to put on the event. The benefit will feature an auction with items such as a basketball signed by Kobe Bryant; musical performances from local students, including the Cabrillo High School Steel Drum Band; a raffle; and food from a variety of restaurants, such as Johnny Rebs, Georgie’s Place, Baja Sonora and Baba Ghanouj. The event will also include a craft table, where those who knew Omar can help create a memory book.
Joseph Awaida, Omar’s adult brother, said that he’s touched at the outpouring of support for his family.
“Seeing the work and the effort they’ve put in really shows their investment,” Awaida said. “We’ve been blessed to be a part of this community. Our family’s really grateful and appreciate all of the work that they’ve done.”
Awaida said there’s no particular fundraising goal, as his parents are in the midst of negotiating with the hospital where Omar was placed on the amount of expenses they should have to pay.
“The bills kind of keep changing,” Awaida said, but his family would be grateful for any donations sent their way.
Mary Jo Rockenbach and Heather Morrison are among the community members who have taken part in planning the event. Both have children who befriended Omar.
“He was one of those kids everyone liked,” Morrison said. “He was sweet to everyone, young and old. He was funny. He was compassionate towards others. He was just one of those really kind souls.”
Morrison noted that the Awaida family is “universally liked” by the community as well, and many residents are familiar with their auto repair shop on Long Beach Boulevard.
Rockenbach said that she hopes the benefit lets the Awaidas know how valued they are. She said community members have rallied during the past month to organize the benefit because they realize that Omar’s accident could have happened to any of their children as well.
“We want to let the family know they’re not alone in this grief, in this tragedy,” Rockenbach said. “They don’t have to suffer anymore than they’re already suffering.”
The “It Takes a Village” event will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Expo Arts Center, 4321 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach. Admission is $25 for adults and $10 for children. Donations may also be sent directly to the Omar Awaida Memorial Fund at Farmers & Merchants Bank, P.O. Box 3151, Lakewood, CA 90711-3151.
To RSVP or for more information, contact Mary Jo Rockenbach at maryjorock@gmail.com or 562-355-4028.
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