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LeMo: Creating a Dream-Come-True World
By Julie McCoy, contributing writer
David Taufoou didn’t exactly have an
easy childhood. When he was 8 years
old, his parents got divorced and his
dad, who he considered to be his
superhero, was suddenly out of his
life. At age 10, not only did he have
to contend with his father starting
another family, but he witnessed
someone shooting his cousin. With all
of these things happening, it wasn’t
long before Taufoou — who ended up
being raised by his mom, Betty, and
his sister Trina — began to go down
the wrong path. He got involved with
gangs, drugs and alcohol.
Taufoou believes that if he had had someone in
his life who provided him with help and guidance
when he was younger, he wouldn’t have gone in
the wrong direction. So, in 2005 the Redwood
City resident and his wife, Ali, launched the
Liahona Motu Foundation (LeMo), a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization, to provide youth in need
with the mentoring and guidance he never had
growing up. “If there is any way I can make
someone smile and not feel that kind of pain [that
I did], I want to make that happen,” he said.
LeMo members at a recent fundraising event. It was the organization’s first fundraiser and generated $4,000.
Empowering socially and
economically challenged youth
LeMo empowers socially and economically
challenged high school students between the ages
of 14 and 18 by providing them with mentoring,
academic/career assistance and a variety of
athletic, performing arts and fitness opportunities.
The organization does not have a physical
location. The teens study and practice sports at a
variety of places, including Chipotle, Starbucks,
the College of San Mateo and the sand dunes at
Baker Beach in San Francisco.
Ensuring academic success
On the academic side, Ali Taufoou helps the
teens with their homework. She also makes them
turn in a progress report that shows if they have
missed class or are tardy. Additionally, she emails
their teachers to make sure their behavior and
grades are on par. “All they need is structure,” she said.
Ali Taufoou grew up in a very supportive
family that provided her with the strength she
needed to pursue her dreams, helped her realize
that no challenge was too big to tackle, and gave
her the courage to never quit. And now she wants
to provide the youth in LeMo with that same support.
“Growing up, my family was amazing,” she
said. “In any situation, I never had any fears. I
knew that if I ever were to fail, everything would
be OK. I want to be that backbone for them. I
want to provide that backbone, love and support
and that family. It is amazing to see what kids can
accomplish when they feel loved.”
Life skills program helps youth
see the big picture
In addition to providing the youth with academic
assistance and athletic opportunities, LeMo offers
a life skills program through which the youth get
to participate in a variety of activities, including
camping trips, barbecues and surfing. The life
skills program helps them define their focus and
understand why things are the way they are, and
is the purpose of everything LeMo does, David
Taufoou explained. “It helps the kids see life and
the big picture,” he said.
Everyone can relate to one another
Currently 15 youth, including one from Redwood
City, are enrolled in LeMo. Some are from singleparent
homes, like the one in which David Taufoou,
who was born and raised in Redwood City, grew
up. Others have been involved with the law, or
have been homeless, in and out of jail, or they’ve
been involved with drugs and alcohol, like
Taufoou was when he was younger. Taufoou
said he can relate to the teens he’s working with
(continues on page 33)
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