Zenaida Karmody Hope Award Fund

Zenaida Fareen Karmody devoted her life to education, firmly believing education is the way out of poverty.  She grew up in a small village in Trinidad and Tobago, in a house with no running water or electricity, sleeping on the floor with her siblings. She was the second of seven children and the eldest daughter, assuming a maternal role for her younger siblings in the absence of a mute and deaf mother.  After 10 years of staying home with her 4 children, she dedicated 27 years of her life as a New York City high school science teacher at helping countless students and families at Richmond Hill and Jamaica High School.  She was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer at the age of 42, which she was given no more than 5 years to live. She survived for approximately 20 years after, traveling to 40 different countries, and grew a deep spiritual practice for meditation. She also graduated  from a beauty school while battling cancer, as this was always a passion of hers and believed that feeling beautiful and self-care was a necessity, especially for cancer patients.  One of her goals was to volunteer to help others, especially cancer patients by encouraging mediation, self-awareness and holistic well-being. She wanted to help people quiet their minds, as this can help transform how students learn and families cope with illness.  To honor her remarkable legacy, the family established the Zenaida Karmody Hope Award.  A scholarship that honors her dedication to education, compassion for others, and the courage she inspired. The scholarship award will be granted to a senior in high school  or undergraduate student who exemplifies Zenaida's core values and is committed to seeking higher education.  This individual has a desire to follow a health and medical, education, or cosmetology degree, and encompasses what it means to help others and their community. Zenaida was one person in our eyes but to her, she was made up and inspired by all those that she interacted with and connected to all life through God and the universe. Her lasting motto was, "Kindness rules but love heals everything". We will strive to bring more kindness and love to the world and keep you close in our hearts always.  Thank you, Zenaida, for all that you were. You meant the world to us, and we hope to continue to share your legacy for years to come.