Today we’d like to introduce you to Ishmael Awange Omondi.
Ishmael, please share your story with us.
I am a former UTA and Dallas Baptist University basketball player and turned my dreams into a reality – a dream that started back in my hometown of Nairobi, Kenya.
Big Dream Vision Orphans, is a nonprofit I founded to improve the lives of orphans and children in poverty in my hometown and around the world. Through Big Dream Vision that I founded in 2010 while in DBU God has positioned me to be a giver and touch the lives of children who were like me as I was growing up. Being an orphan is the toughest part in life while growing up. And it makes me sad indeed when I see some kids taking their parents for granted by disobeying them and by not listening to them nor respecting them.
Before becoming a collegiate basketball player a real estate agent and a fashion entrepreneur, I didn’t have much growing up while in Kenya. I had lost my mother at a young age and became an orphan at 12 years old when my father died. After that my I went ahead to live with my eldest sister who after a year had a severe heart attack and passed away right in my eyes.
I had to question many things and asked God, ‘Why?’ Then one day, while at my mother’s burial site, since that where I used to go every time I got upset I had to question God. He answered me back in a way that changed my life completely, he said.
“[God] was like, ‘Hey, I’m the one that brought you here. At the end of the day, I’m going to take each and everybody, but you haven’t finished your purpose on earth yet, you still have a long way to go touching lives,’” Since that day I knew my purpose that my vision was bigger than myself.
After that, I moved in with one of my brothers Alan and picked up on playing basketball to keep my mind occupied, but one day coming from a High School Championship game coming home super excited that my school Aquinas had won under Coach Carey Odhiambo, I found my brother Alan vanished without explanation until this day. I pray that one day I will find my lost brother.
Being on my own since the age of 14, I had to struggle to find a meal every day and pay rent, but I didn’t give up. I used the money I earned from winning basketball tournaments to survive to push me forward. Being in a family of seven we all had disperse and make ends meet as life was just tough and not forgiving.
Around 16 years old, I Joined St. Austin’s Academy under Radhika Lee an amazing principal who gave me an opportunity of a life time to play basketball for the school. I made the hour long trip to school daily sometimes by foot in hopes of getting my big break, and I did. After winning my second championship with the school we left to the United States that year. It was fun playing basketball here in the USA and I decided to continue my career. I decided to go visit family friend in Dallas but once I arrived in Dallas, I stayed in the airport for a while, because he never picked me up or answered my calls. Two weeks later, his friend’s tow truck company picked me up from the airport as I decided to call 100 times a day for someone from his company to pick me up.
“My life started from there,” I decided never to give up until I achieve my basketball goals and career and most of all ‘Touch Lives!’
I spent my time in the U.S. playing basketball, hoping to get noticed so I could stay to achieve my dreams. Almost a year later in 2007, I was noticed by Scott Cross, men’s basketball head coach at UTA, and was given a chance to do what I loved.
“[Cross] gave me a chance,” “He taught me a lot to be a man, to be strong and to be focused.”
After two years on the UTA basketball team, I transferred to Dallas Baptist University, where he guided the team to the championship under head coach Blake Flickner a great man of God who helped me on the path of growing spiritually. And I dearly thank him for the opportunity.
After graduating with a business degree I decided to get a Master degree in Business Administration at West Texas A&M University. I knew with more knowledge it would be much easier for me to make a difference in the globe. I went ahead and registered Big Dream Vision Orphans.
The mission for Big Dream Vision Orphans is to help orphaned kids individually through counseling, mentoring and assistance of needs that would help them to pursue their dreams and accomplish their purpose that God has placed in their hearts. We believe that if orphans thrive they would be able to give hope to others and being a testimony themselves of the wonderful journey Christ has taken them to run the race of life.
We have touched orphan lives and have made a difference in them through providing books, pencils, clothes, shoes, sports equipment etc.
As a real estate agent at Century 21, Mike Bowman Inc. in Grapevine Texas I make sure that my passion for the orphans is never forgotten and thus far we have helped over 1000 kids to go back to school and over 20 kids to aspire their dreams in basketball through full scholarships in the USA, Canada, Australia and other parts of the world. Raising funds is the biggest challenge but God always provides miraculously and I came to understand that my purpose all along was to touch lives. Here in the USA we help kids in low income community by providing food and sports training. We encourage them not to give up and always to have hope. Last year, we provided 5000 drinking bottles to Sand Branch community and changed lives of the children and the community. I was surprised that this particular community near Seagoville had not sewer system, water system nor electricity.
Starting Big Dream Vision Orphans has realized know my real purpose and everything I do revolves around it. Through my new MUDAXpro clothing line I make sure 10% of every sale goes to the orphans same goes to my work as a real estate agent. With the new start up App that am currently creating my goal is to use the revenue to fully accomplish the work of touching lives of orphans by creating a huge facility for them to learn all type of skills. Through this they will be able to start their own businesses when they grow up and take care of their own families.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It was not a smooth road. I have lost family and through this the journey has been so difficult.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Big Dream Vision Orphans – what should we know?
The mission for Big Dream Vision Orphans is to help orphaned kids individually through counseling, mentoring and assistance of needs that would help them to pursue their dreams and accomplish their purpose that God has placed in their hearts. We believe that if orphans thrive they would be able to give hope to others and being a testimony themselves of the wonderful journey Christ has taken them to run the race of life.
We have touched orphan lives and have made a difference in them through providing books, pencils, clothes, shoes, sports equipment etc. Though there is still a lot that kids need and I have sacrificed to give 10% of my commission when I help my clients to buy or sell a home here in the Dallas Fort worth community. Selling home is my passion as it is an area of my field of Business management and Sales.
As a real estate agent at Century 21, Mike Bowman Inc. in Grapevine Texas I make sure that my passion for the orphans is never forgotten and thus far we have helped over 1000 kids to go back to school and over 20 kids to aspire their dreams in basketball through full scholarships in the USA, Canada, Australia and other parts of the world. Our recent recruit was James Mangoth who has not seen his parents for almost 16 years and is from the war torn country of South Sudan. Through our efforts we helped him to reach his goals of playing basketball in California and that is our goal. Raising funds is the biggest challenge but God always provides miraculously and I came to understand that my purpose all along was to touch lives. Our next goal for this year is to provide sanitary pads for girls who drop out of school for this purpose. We are planning to raise funds for this purpose so we can touch lives of girls who are struggling with this issue. Here in the USA we help kids in low income community by providing food and sports training. We encourage them not to give up and always to have hope. Last year, we provided 5000 drinking bottles to Sand Branch community and changed lives of the children and the community. I was surprised that this particular community near Seagoville had not sewer system, water system nor electricity.
What sets me apart from other companies is that I can touch lives of orphans and give back to the community one on one through touching each one.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Lisa Garcia- A great family friend who is like a mother to me who has been supporting me all the way through my basketball Career to succeed and has grown to be a mother.
Ashley Omondi -A great wife who has always pushed me forward to achieve my dreams
Oscar Oguta- A best friend who we have always encouraged each other during the good and hard times and he is a part of Big Dream Vision to help us touch lives of orphans
Deandrick Edwards- A great friend and a prayer warrior whom we have been working together to touch lives of children here in the USA
Beldina Omondi- A sister who has always encouraged me never to give up and always be the best
John Vawar- John Vawar is my spiritual father and a mentor who took me in to live with him basically adopted me and made me the man I am today. Now he runs his church Mosaic Church in Hurst Texas.
Diddy Roselyn- A great cousin who has always been on my side encouraging me to accomplish my dreams and contributed to get to where we are today.
Pricing:
- MUDAXpro reversible Jacket- $80
Contact Info:
- Address: 4101 William D. Tate Ave.
Grapevine, Texas 76051 - Website: bigdreamvision.com, ishmael.c21.com
- Phone: 2142054169
- Email: ifasports1@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigdreamvision/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bigdreamvision/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/docrealestate/
Image Credit:
-J Lu
-Phoenix Michelle Photography
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