LOS ANGELES, Oct. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — When life collapsed around Anita, she refused to let her story end there. Once an orphan, she was married off at 17 to a man twice her age. For years she tried to build a stable life, raising three young children while caring for her husband’s daughter as her own. But when she discovered that her husband had another family—and no intention of caring for the four children they had together—Anita was left to start over completely alone.

In early 2024, Anita stumbled upon Kaimore at the LA Trade Tech Youth Expo. That was the moment everything began to change.

Something about their mission—to help people find purpose, career stability, and opportunity through entrepreneurship—resonated deeply. “It felt like a door opening,” she recalled. “For the first time, I could see a path forward that was mine.”

Anita applied for Kaimore’s Market Ready Program and joined the Farmers Market Internship, where she learned the fundamentals of running a business—budgeting, customer service, communication, and teamwork. Each weekend, she sold shaved ice under the hot California sun, not just learning how to operate a booth but learning how to believe in herself again.

“The first day I set up the stand, I was terrified,” Anita said. “But every smile from a customer, every sale—it reminded me that I was capable of creating something from nothing.”

By the end of the program, Anita had the blueprint to turn her experience into a thriving family business- a business she would later pitch at Kaimore’s Pitch Day Competition. Her four children became her team—helping mix flavors, serve customers, and keep the booth running smoothly. Together, they weren’t just selling shaved ice; they were building a future.

“It’s eye-opening to see how a young single mother in her 20’s, who has gone through so much hardship, caring for 4 kids, commits herself to building a better future,” said Joyce Lam, Executive Director of Kaimore. “Anita’s resilience is inspiring- not only did she not give up, but she flourished. She completed our whole program and hit all milestones- finding a full time job, completing her pitch, and launching a profitable business. This feat, undoubtedly fueled by the love she has for her family, is absolutely incredible.”

Anita went on to place First at Pitch Day. The prize money she earned went toward new equipment and branding for her shaved ice business. Today, she also works as a teacher’s aide at a child development center, mentoring others while modeling resilience for her own children.

“Kaimore gave me more than business skills—they gave me a family,” Anita said. “They made me feel seen, heard, and capable. I finally have stability, and my kids get to see what’s possible when you don’t give up.”

Esther Ho, Kaimore’s Program Coordinator, says Anita’s story captures the heart of the organization’s mission. “Anita represents everything we believe in—hope, strength, and transformation,” Esther shared. “She turned hardship into opportunity and is now paying it forward to others.”

Through their signature Market Ready Program, Kaimore helps participants gain financial literacy, real-world business experience, and the confidence to dream again. For Anita, that meant transforming pain into purpose—and shaved ice into second chances.

“When I see my kids helping at the booth,” Anita said, “I know they’re watching me build a better life from the ground up. I want them to know that no matter how hard things get, we can always succeed.”

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