Happy Holidays!!

Here at La Catalina Educational Foundation we are wrapping up another great year and would like to express our gratitude for all the support we receive. Thanks to you we are able to continue providing free educational programs that build a better future for the community of La Manzanilla!  We wish you all the best for 2012!

Need a Great Gift Idea? Donate to the Computer Lab Construction!

Construction of a second classroom is underway at the Costa Alegre Educational Center!

We would like to extend a big thank you to the municipal government of La Huerta for donating the required building permits. These permits are expensive and generally good for only one year. However, the Municipal President Carlos Roman Ramirez Nuñez and his government  counsel, believing in the charter of the new Educational Center, voted unanimously to award free permits for as long as will be necessary to complete construction of the Center.

The second larger classroom currently being constructed will become the new community classroom, and the smaller existing room will be converted to a computer lab where LCEF will offer computer classes to community members. Through a survey conducted this past September as well as through strongly expressed desires of community members, it has become very clear that what the community requires is a computer lab. Residents want to learn basic computer skills that will broaden their employment opportunities as well as their access to information and communication channels. 

A small minority of people in La Manzanilla can afford a computer but a large majority want to develop computer skills. The new computer program at the middle school only serves a tiny percentage of the population and still leaves most children and adults without the opportunity to access a computer. La Catalina Educational Foundation is stepping up to give the community what they are requesting, but we need your help!

The building foundation was laid in August with proceeds from our 7^th annual “A Night under the Stars” auction and party, and we have almost been able to finish constructing the brick walls thanks to generous donations by: Jim and Susan F., Richard R. & Nansee N. (of Casa Luz), Robert R., Cyndi C., Cruz G., Kay & Tolling, Marcia G., Gabriela de la Vega and Tia & Toby (Cafe Risa). Funds are now needed (listed in US Dollars) to:

Finish brick walls (only 200 more bricks needed!), lay cement floor, plaster walls ($3875) Install windows and door ($1500) Build a palapa roof ($1167) Prepare electrical system ($417) Install security system ($1000) Paint building ($833)

Total funds needed to complete the second classroom are $8792US.

Give the gift of education and help us finish this second classroom! Online donations can be submitted via Paypal. For more information please call 315 351 5362 or email la_catalinafoundation@hotmail.com.

Zumbathon Fundraiser Lots of Fun!

On Tuesday morning almost 50 people came out to the Zumbathon fundraiser at the ejido hall! Everyone had a great time dancing, getting some great exercise, and then enjoying (well deserved) cookies and cakes! 

The event was a fundraiser for La Catalina Educational Foundation and La Manzanilla’s daycare and raised 2500 pesos. After paying the teachers from Melaque and Cihuatlan and a few small expenses, each organization received just under 900 pesos. La Catalina Foundation will use the proceeds to buy notebooks for every student from grades 4-7 receiving English classes with us in the public schools. The Daycare will use the proceeds to finish painting the new space they are in. 

We are very grateful to everyone who donated and helped make this event so much fun: 

June N., Guacamole Restaurant, Debbie D., Chayo M., Isaura M., La Catalina Natural Language School, Abarrotes Requena, Traver R., Steven R., Sandra S., Nancy W., Judith R. and Julie C. 

And a huge Thank You and hats off to all who attended! If you didn’t have a chance to participate and would like to give a donation, please contact us at la_catalinafoundation@hotmail.com. 

To view photos of the event, visit our facebook page by clicking here. 

We appreciate your support! 

Help Local Residents Build Their Future—Brick by Brick!

LCEF has broken ground for the dearly needed second classroom at the Costa Alegre Educational Center. The foundation for this second classroom has been laid using 40,000 pesos of the proceeds raised from “A Night under the Stars” 7^th annual fundraising benefit and part of an $800US donation from Thetis Island residents. The kids and community members are now jumping with excitement to see the walls go up!

This second and larger classroom is being built because the increased participation in our free educational programs means we have outgrown the capacity of the first classroom. The old classroom will be converted into a computer lab and the new classroom will hold our community classes including afterschool art, English, literacy and music programs, DIF counseling programs for kids, adult English classes, our annual summer day camp and more.

Having a computer lab has been a goal and part of LCEF’s strategic plan since 2005. In a community survey administered in September, 2011, learning English and Computer Literacy were ranked as the highest priorities to prepare local youth for a prosperous future. This new lab will be designed for 15 computer stations and will provide training and lab time for students, adults and teachers in the community. 

Hugo Brambila, whose children also attend LCEF’s programs, is the dedicated foreman of our construction team and is working to give us the lowest costs for the project. This second classroom is being built in three phases as the required funds are raised:  

	Description	Cost in US Dollars
Phase 1	Foundation laid	$4250 √Complete!
Phase 2	Structure built with bricks	$3900
Phase 3	Finishing  (paint, fixtures, floors,         doors, windows)	$3850

You can help with Phase 2 of the project and be a part of building better opportunities for the locals of La Manzanilla, brick by brick!

You can choose from three donation levels to support the construction:  

1. 50 bricks with cement, sand, mortar and labor – donation:  $65US

2. 100 bricks with cement, sand, mortar and labor – donation:  $130US

3. 250 bricks with cement, sand, mortar and labor – donation:  $325US

We need a combined amount of 3000 bricks with material to complete the walls.  However, as donations come in we will be able to begin building the walls and moving  the classroom closer to its completion.

You can make your donations through Teachers Without Borders for a US tax receipt or through Paypal.  See our Donations page for more details and links.   

Wings Scholarship Program Expands to Support 21 Youth in 2011-12!

New 2011-12 Scholarship Recipients with their proud parents at the Centro EducativoIn 2011 the Wings scholarship program has soared to new heights!  In June we featured nine students who were nominated by their teachers and LCEF board members for scholarships to cover the 2011-12 academic year.  More than nine sponsors stepped forward allowing every nominated student to receive a scholarship for the upcoming school year. 

Additionally, all of last year’s donors were pleased with the progress of the student they sponsored and the management of the Wings program and have committed to support twelve continuing scholarship students. This makes a total of 21 students in our Wings Scholarship program! From only one scholarship offered in 2007 to 21 in 2011, we are so happy that more and more kids from our village are able to achieve their dreams each year!

To see funded students, please click here.

 A big thank you to our 2011-12 new and continuing scholarship sponsors: Nelson Ames, Gary Ockenden, Jan Engemoen & Graham Hill (scholarship 6 group), Jordan Reese, Bonnie Smith, Gabriela de la Vega, Shanna McClarnon, Valerie & Dave Denford, Tom Beninger, Dave & Debbie Dagoli, Helping Hands Bookstore, Universidad de Londres, Ann & Tim Edwards, Paul & Sylvia Brock, William Albritton, Jean & Brian Harvey and Larry & Judy Buttress.

10 Students Need Your Help to Continue Their Education!

Current Wings Scholarship recipients doing extra course workIn 2007, two of our founders, Victor Amezcua and Julie Catton, had a dream to reduce the stunning rate of high school dropouts and to help the children of La Manzanilla stay in middle school. With the help of Volunteer Associate Director Dean Klompas and the generous sponsors of the Wings Scholarship program, in just four years LCEF's scholarship program has grown rapidly.  It currently has 13 active students continuing their education and getting closer to achieving their dreams.

This year LCEF is looking for sponsors for 10 students who do not have the financial means to continue on to middle school or to high school.  As a sponsor, you have a unique opportunity to make a difference in a child´s life and also to make a lifelong friend along the way.

To find out more about sponsoring one of these inspiring middle school or high school students, please see our scholarships page or contact us.  We hope to hear from you soon!