The newlyweds joined the Glendale Young Life committee, where they hosted gatherings and Kate, not having had a lot of involvement with the mission remembers, “We always had Orbi and his leaders and kids coming over to our house. I was raised Catholic and knew Christ; seeing leaders pour into the lives of kids and seeing teenagers being transformed by the love of God showed me how Jesus impacted people at a more personal level; I soaked it up.”

In 1989, the Rodriguezes transitioned to Yuma due to the family business operations. Mark’s father, Joe, began the business in 1950 focusing on custom produce harvesting. “The Growers Company” is “a company established on the premise of serving the customer's needs while providing fair, equitable and opportunistic employment for all workers.” The business has grown to include over 4,000 employees throughout Arizona, Nevada and California.

Upon moving to Yuma, Mark and Kate introduced the community to Young Life, while Mark continued to serve on the Glendale committee. During this season, they helped create Lost Canyon and launched the Yuma Young Life area in 1997. After a visit to Yuma in 1998, President Denny Rydberg asked the couple to join the Young Life Board of Trustees, a role they continue to serve in 24 years later. Mark has served as committee chair for Yuma Young Life since its start.

Young Life Chief Foundation Officer Marty Caldwell said, “I have known Mark since the late 1970s and Kate almost as long. They are both ‘enthusiastic encouragers’ of people. Mark is the kind of partner who says yes before the question is asked when it pertains to helping Young Life grow and flourish. He wants lost kids to be loved and introduced to Jesus.”

“I don’t know of anything more rewarding,” said Mark. “The people involved at ALL levels of Young Life are some of the best people I have known. The stories over the years of young people’s trials, tribulations and redemption are none that I’ve heard elsewhere. Young Life works! It’s worked since 1941! And it still works in 2022!”