About the author and publisher
Born in the Canal Zone in Panama in 1955, Mario A. Bayne came into this world as the fourth child of his Panamanian parents. With eight years difference between Mario and his closest sibling, in the years to follow the older three would often refer to him as the “unwanted child.” Regardless of this stigma, he grew up wrapped in the loving arms of a protective extended family. Here Mario thrived and learned how to give and receive. It was in this environment that the seeds of compassion were planted; eventually to wither, only to blossom again.
Learning early that life can throw you a curve ball, Mario faced the sudden death of his father at the age of nine. Sports became Mario’s Rock of Gibraltar, consuming his life as a teenager. Eight short years later, Mario suffered the devastating loss of his mother. Her untimely demise at a formative age threw Mario into a turbulent, angry tailspin that affected him for the next 17 years.
It is said that it is always darkest before the dawn. This proved to be true as Mario hit bottom in 1989. Depressed, angry and alone at thirty-four, there was nowhere to go but up.
Mario Bayne began with a vision, which became a mission to dedicate his life to helping children. The Career Concepts for Youth, Stay in School and Achieve program was born. As the founder and president of this award-winning, critically acclaimed non-profit organization, Mr. Bayne brings his valuable life experience and philosophy to classrooms, athletes, community leaders and beyond.
Though the decision to help others was a long time coming, the steps that guided him to this place are lessons from which we can all benefit. We often don’t see that our life has a purpose until we survive it. With determinations, we can look back and see a pattern in our tattered tapestry, learn from it and share it with others.