Stories

When poet and Orange County School of the Arts senior Tobi-Hope Jieun Park released her debut collection, Meraki, last
year, she not only shared her talents with the world, but also her heart.

“Growing up, I’ve only heard stories of my Poppa (grandfather), about how funny he was,” Tobi shared. “But all those stories were always a little bittersweet because my Poppa passed away from cancer. I could see how it took a little piece of my mom’s youth. Ironically, my mother married an oncologist. When your father is a doctor, you learn a lot from the sidelines. Not just the science behind it, but also the humanity. I’ve seen firsthand how nurses, doctors and staff care and love on the patients. I’ve seen the work the Providence St. Jude Memorial Foundation does through fundraisers like A Walk Among the Stars. I’m also a Providence St. Jude student volunteer and I see how much they try to instill that vision in us. It’s with great honor that I can partner and donate part of my book proceeds to the medical center.”

Tobi’s book sales are supporting the Providence St. Jude Crosson Cancer Institute where her father David Park, MD,
is the medical director. 

Providence St Jude is grateful to Tobi for gifting us with her talent and generosity. To learn more about Tobi and Meraki, which means “to put a piece of yourself into everything you do,” visit tobihopepark.com.