“I want to make a difference,” said Francisco Lopez , a paraprofessional at MS 129 in the Bronx, one of the honorees at the District 12 UFT Scholarship Committee’s first breakfast fundraiser on June 2. Nearly 200 people turned out to honor students, educators, school staff and others at the UFT’s Bronx borough office, where they were joined by state Sens. Gustavo Rivera and Luis Sepulveda and City Councilman Rafael Salamanca. “It takes a village to raise a child,” said Steven Goldberg, the UFT’s District 12 representative. “We have educators, administrators, parent leaders, legislators, parents, students, community businesses and our business partners working together toward that common goal.” Recognized, in addition to Lopez, were: Marcia Abraham, a teacher at PS 214; Aracelis Allende-Paucar, a school secretary at PS 57; parent coordinator Jean-Marie Blair of CS 300; Sharon Rowell, the PTA president at CS 458; Sander Qarri, a custodian at JHS 98; Madeline Torres, the assistant principal at PS 66; and two principals, Tiawana Perez of PS 6 and Debra Jones of CS 463. Laptops were donated by WebGuyz and scholarships were awarded to 12 students, all graduating from 5th or 8th grade. Outstanding para Lopez said he appreciated being recognized in front of friends and family members, who were “clapping and shouting and screaming” when he got a call about the award. “It felt good to know the district is watching and noticing,” he said. “From day one, I said I will treat a child the way I want someone to treat my child.” Blair, the parent coordinator, said the award was an honor, and a pleasant surprise. “I love my job; I don’t do it for recognition,” she said. “I try, whenever I can, to help paras, children and my coworkers.” Allende-Paucar didn’t expect her Outstanding Secretary award because she’d taken time off to look after her ailing mother. “I lost my mother in April, so I was kind of depressed,” she said. But the award “brought a little joy back, knowing they felt that way about me.”