About ISAIAH'S FOUNDATION

Isaiah Alexander DeLeon Mares came into this world August 14, 1987, and left us on September 14, 2016 at the age of 29.
 

He was born in La Junta, Colorado, then his family moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he remained until his passing. Isaiah believed family was everything. He had a contagious smile with dimples you could not forget! Always had words of encouragement to give to a person at the perfect time. His love had no bounds. He gave so freely and asked for nothing in return. He taught us every day what it meant to be a friend. He was a huge inspiration to countless people he came into contact with. He was an active mentor for youth in the St. Louis area and the East Coast. Isaiah cared and worried about these kids all the time. He never stopped pushing them to be better and wanted more for them than they thought they deserved. He was a coach, a mentor, big brother, and even father figure to some.
 

Isaiah was the director of the Reebok Series, Champions Basketball Academy of St. Louis, Missouri, “T.F.B” The Family Business, and Mares Management. He graduated from Christian Brothers College High School in 2006, where he excelled in football, basketball and academics and received many awards.
 

The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholarship Athlete Award, St. Louis Post-Dispatch Scholar-Athlete Award, Hispanic Heritage Foundation Gold Medallion for Community Service Award, and Monte Senior Shockley Award for Social Justice. During his time at CBC, Isaiah was part of two mission trips to Mexico. These trips were a great opportunity to “LIVE SIMPLY” so that others many “SIMPLY LIVE” and to recognize the gifts available to them daily while also challenging themselves to see where and how they could live differently when they returned home.
 

Isaiah was a graduate from Yale University in 2010, where he played for the football team and made his varsity debut against Columbia during his freshman season. But a continuing problem with concussions ultimately ended his playing career. Isaiah was such an amazing teammate, player and leader that he was given a spot as a student assistant coach in 2008.
 

Community service was such a passion to Isaiah that he became the community outreach coordinator for the Yale Black Men’s Union, Yale’s Teacher Preparation Program and the HSF Amigos mentoring programs. Their mission was to work with high school students, engaging in activities that impacted personal growth and development. 

Isaiah started doing community service when he was in the second grade. It all started with one senior citizen, Joe, who was 82 years old and couldn’t take out his trash. Isaiah started throwing out Joe's trash every week. Then, Joe told Isaiah that it was going be a tough week and he had to make a decision. He had to decide whether to buy his medication or some food. Isaiah couldn’t figure out why, but he asked Joe what he could do to help. Isaiah told Joe he would help him get his food. Like his father, Isaiah loved to help people. So, Isaiah talked his mom and dad into giving Joe some food. After that, Isaiah started to help all the seniors in the complex. Isaiah‘s father asked a manager at a local grocery store if he could assist. 

Isaiah, his little brother Zachary, and his father were putting bags together for over 100 seniors every Sunday. This was just the beginning for Isaiah. He started volunteering at shelters, soup kitchens, the animal shelter, and anywhere he could help. Soon, Isaiah started volunteering at school. Isaiah did so much community service that his counselor at CBC told  him that he had to cut down on community service because he was not going have enough time to do his homework. That didn’t stop Isaiah. In high school, Isaiah was named one of the top five community service students in the nation by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. He also won the Monsignor Shockley award for community service and social justice.
 

Isaiah is survived by parents, Marc Mares and Loretta DeLeon-Mares. His brother, Zachary Mares; his sister Melissa (Gary) Buchanan, grandmother, Cecelia Mares; two nephews Marcus Buchanan and Jayden Buchanan; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Eugene Mares, grandmother Mary DeLeon, grandfather, Joseph DeLeon, uncle Patrick DeLeon and cousin Elijah Martinez.
 

He is dearly missed by all who knew him.