He and his parents lived in a one-room ground-floor shelter with no heat or plumbing.

At age 23, Mark suffered a stroke that paralyzed his left side. With little access to medical care, he struggled to survive while his disabled parents supported the family by making matchboxes.

Each day, Mark’s mother brought him water and cold rice. Though he was in pain and often hungry, he studied English from his high school textbook, determined to learn and build a better life.

Through extraordinary perseverance,

Mark survived. He later moved to Japan, worked for Toyota, and eventually came to the United States. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Cal State East Bay and is now working toward becoming a CPA.

Grateful to live in the U.S., Mark wants to give back and encourages others to get involved during these challenging times.