Similar Stories to Mark Magdalena, Giving More Than Thanks on Bing News

By William Crum Staff Writer wcrum@oklahoman.comMark Magdalena tutors schoolchildren at a moment he says is central to their future. He only wishes there were enough adults to mentor all the children who want to be Whiz Kids. Magdalena, 62, is a plans examiner in the Building Department for the city of Oklahoma City, where he has worked for 22 years. Wednesday afternoons, he is at his church, First Southern Baptist, 6400 S Sooner Road, helping with Whiz Kids, a faith-based project of City Care. Whiz Kids partners with churches, focusing on first- through sixth-graders in sections of the city with the highest dropout rates and poorest socioeconomic conditions. Magdalena said 25 to 30 children ride the church bus each week from Bodine Elementary School, at SE 53 Street and Bryant Avenue, to First Southern. Volunteers lead a values-oriented lesson based on the Bible and spend about an hour reading with the children.Read more on NewsOK.com