Many of us long to make a difference in our communities, but we’re frozen by inaction because we don’t know where to start.
“The most valuable thing you can offer someone is your time,” says Marcel Woodruff.
Over 12 years ago, Marcel felt a call to invest in the young people of West Fresno. He says he “didn’t have much to offer,” but he knew he could volunteer for one hour once a month on a Saturday morning. On one of those Saturday mornings, Marcel met a boy who would impact his life forever.
The most valuable thing you can offer someone is your time.
Marcel Woodruff
It All Began at Saturday Sports…
“Marcel used to do this thing where he’d come up to schools on the West side [of Fresno] and he’d bring basketballs, footballs, snacks…and he’d call the kids to the neighborhood and we’d play sports,” says former West Fresno student, Anthony Fisher.
That “thing” Anthony mentioned is Saturday Sports, a weekly program engaging volunteers like Marcel with students like Anthony to do something positive and fun in their neighborhoods.
Every Saturday, Marcel unloaded the basketballs and footballs from his car, unlocked the school, and set out snacks. For two months, one kid attended Saturday Sports. Marcel played basketball with the student, they ate snacks together, Marcel locked up the school, the student went home, Marcel loaded up his car…and then he did it all again the next week.
After a couple months, more kids in the neighborhood heard about what Marcel was doing every Saturday and showed up to participate. As more kids began attending Saturday Sports, Marcel branched out to other schools and connected with other students.
One of those students was Anthony Fisher.
From Basketball Games to a 12-Year Friendship
Anthony was about 11 years old when his aunt started driving him and his little brother to their local elementary school to play basketball with Marcel. From the moment Anthony met Marcel, he knew he was a good guy.
“When you play basketball with someone, you [quickly learn] what their vibes are like,” says Anthony. “I knew from a young age Marcel meant no harm toward me. He just wanted to see me succeed. He saw someone who had potential to be something more.”
What began as a programmatic, once-a-week hangout grew into a meaningful relationship. Marcel took Anthony to Fresno State basketball games. Sometimes, they went to the movies. Other times, Marcel would venture to Anthony’s house when he needed help with homework or he was in trouble at school.
When you play basketball with someone, you quickly learn what their vibes are like. I knew from a young age… Marcel wanted to see me succeed. He saw someone who had potential to be something more.
Anthony Fisher
“Marcel always found a way to stay in contact with us,” says Anthony. “Even when he didn’t have our phone number, he’d ask people around town ‘Do you know these two boys?’ and he’d find out how we were doing.”
Throughout our lives through different ages, 13, 15, 17…he stayed connected. Whenever I would go through traumatic events in my life, this dude would always find a way to contact me and link up. We’d meet up at a Wendy’s or something and just talk about a lot of stuff.”
Music & Tragedy: Anthony’s Older Years
As Anthony and his brother grew older, they asked Marcel, “You know, kickball and baseball are fun, but what else do you have??” Marcel asked, “Well, what do you want to do?”
“Music,” they said.
Marcel knew someone who could donate equipment for a music studio, but he needed a place to set it up. So in 2010, Marcel spoke with Ed Kaczmarek, the director of Youth for Christ at the time, and asked if he had any available space. Ed walked Marcel to an 8 foot by 10 foot closet and said, “If you can do something with this, it’s yours.”
Word about the new space began to spread as Marcel’s Saturday Sports students started hearing about the studio.
During that first year, the little closet studio served about 500 young people.
Kids recorded songs, experimented with equipment, and built relationships with positive adults. Marcel began developing a more robust music program which led to the creation of five new studios around Fresno.
Those early days in the tiny closet studio helped to grow Anthony’s love for music. Today, Anthony is focused on building a career out of his passion. “It’s something that’s always been in my heart. Me and my little brother would always be making beats, banging on tables,” says Anthony.
When his little brother passed away in 2020, Anthony’s passion for music grew like never before.
Anthony funneled his emotions into writing and producing. “I just started writing stuff down and putting it to a beat,” says Anthony.
Marcel was the first person to introduce Anthony to rapping, making beats, producing, and working on a laptop. Today, at 24 years old, Anthony continues to collaborate with Marcel and others to write and record music on a regular basis.
“I have a story to tell,” says Anthony.
What Does it Take to be a Mentor?
When two young men expressed an interest in music, Marcel heard their excitement. Then, he helped bring their dreams to life. “That’s what mentorship is”, says Marcel. “It’s about listening, meeting people where they are, and building with them.”
Mentorship is working with people even when they mess up. It’s giving them a first, second, and fifteenth chance to help them discover their value and purpose in life. Then, you do what you can to help them live into it.
Mentorship is about listening, meeting people where they are, and building with them.
Marcel Woodruff
Currently, Marcel develops programs around workforce development, violence reduction, and youth mentoring. He is driven by the desire to help young people pursue their talents, build healthy relationships, and establish a pathway for the future they imagine for themselves.
Several years ago, Marcel began by showing up to play basketball with kids for one hour, on one Saturday, once a month. “I didn’t have much,” says Marcel. “It started as a little window- one hour.”
Don’t underestimate the impact of showing up for one hour, with your whole heart, week after week.
For Anthony, that one hour of playing basketball with Marcel led to a 12-year friendship and a deep-rooted belief that he always had someone in his corner.
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