For Rick Garza, serving as a mentor in Pasadena ISD’s HOSTS program isn’t just beneficial for the students he tutors—it’s beneficial for him and his employees, too.

HOSTS (Helping One Student to Succeed) is a highly-structured one-on-one mentoring program designed to help students improve reading, writing and problem-solving skills.  Garza, a 1998 South Houston High School graduate and owner of the McDonald’s on Richey, is a mentor in the program at South Houston Elementary and recruited five of his employees to participate as well.

“This program has helped me understand the foundation our teachers are trying to lay for our students to succeed,” he said. “It helps me know what is going on in the schools, and it allows me to better help my children at home with their school work. It has helped my employees see how important and valuable it is to read to a child even if it’s just for one hour.”

The five employees participating in HOSTS are John Maldonado, Carl Smith, Olga Cuevas, Maria Silva and Odilia Foseca.

“We want to show the community we’re not just here to make money but to help invest in the local communities with our children as well,” Garza said. “We want to build a bridge between the community and our schools.”

Not only do Garza and his employees mentor in the HOSTS program, but they also provided breakfast for mentors and students every Wednesday throughout the year and happy meals for students once they reached their reading goals.

“We want the kids we mentor to understand that working for McDonald’s is not just about selling hamburgers and fries,” Garza said. “We can do so much more as long as everyone is willing to help with every opportunity that becomes available.”

Garza has also provided appreciation coupons for teachers’ birthdays and bag stuffers for school carnivals and events.

“Since our participation in this program, we have seen more of the South Houston locals visiting some of our events at the store,” he said. “It’s been great.”

Garza and his employees also help with the Head Start program, DECA, the cosmetology program at Pasadena High School, the Mini Grand Prix, Strawberry Festival, Taste of Town and the Space Race.