Cameron Siskowic’s infectious personality has served him well since leaving Illinois State.
The
former Redbird football player who was the 2006 Gateway Conference
Defensive Player of the Year took that personality to Las Vegas and
former Sisko Promotions.
Siskowic carved a successful business out
of helping Vegas night spots attract customers. He’s even expanded into
opening his own nightclubs in Vegas and Miami.
Yet Siskowic has
recently adopted another cause, a decidedly less glamorous one as the
president of fundraising for the Cambodian Village Fund.
Siskowic
has visited Cambodia, which is still feeling the devastating effects of
the murderous rule of the Khmer Rouge decades ago, and called it a “life
changing experience.”
Upon returning, he became aware of fellow
San Diego natives Bill and Nancy Bamberger and their Cambodian Village
Fund through a newspaper article.
“Our visions were very much the same on how to help the people,” Siskowic said. “It was just meant to be.”
Siskowic
is focusing on providing rural villages medical services, educational
opportunities, nutritional essentials and continuing sources for
development. Siskowic wants to “give a hand up instead of a handout.”
A five-room classroom school and medical center, The Dan Siskowic Medical Center in memory of Cameron’s father, will open soon.
Siskowic is often asked “why Cambodia?”
“Traveling
through Cambodia, I fell in love with the country and the people and
the rich history,” he said. “A dollar goes so far in Cambodia. You can
help so many more people with your money and I felt like it was
sustainable. I was able to build a whole medical center for $15,000.”
A
cancer scare at the age of 15 left Siskowic with a strong desire to
leave a positive impact on the world. He has found the cause at which to
direct that passion.
“At the end of the day, did I leave the world a better place or is it just the same?” he said.
Siskowic plans another visit to Cambodia in January in an attempt to gauge the fund’s progress and offer further assistance.
The fund accepts donations through its website: cambodianvillagefund.org. Donations also may be mailed to Cambodian Village Fund, 4376 Argos Drive, San Diego, Calif., 92116-2330.
Contact Randy Reinhardt at rreinhardt@pantagraph.com
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