Author: CSHF Board

We are very happy to announce a new member of the Children’s Shelter of Hope Board – Pauline Wallis.  Pauline was born and brought up in New York City.  She worked for the public school system as a School Psychologist until her retirement in 2003.  She has been a winter resident of Puerto Vallarta for the last 9 years and has been actively involved in fundraising for RISE as the live auction chair.  Her concerns have always been the education and well being of children and as such she has become a board member. Her energy and creative ideas are a welcome addition to our small group of volunteer members.

 

When we checked last week on current needs at both RISE and Sendero, the clear response from staff and the children at both locations was Backpacks!! It seems that we are now half way through the school year and that is how long backpacks last here in Mexico with the heavy use they receive each day.  With 35 school-age children at RISE and the new project for Sendero at the New Beginnings center, supporting several hundred impoverished school-age children, THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN!  So, we at Children’s Shelter of Hope Foundation, are declaring February as the Month of the Mochila (Backpack).  For a donation of $20 US/CDN we can overcome this problem quickly and make many children very happy.  Please send your donation or make a contribution through PayPal, marked “For Backpacks” right away.

 

 

Yes, the biggest and by far the best event of the season, to benefit both RISE and Sendero, is now officially scheduled to occur on February 8, 2014 from 5 PM to 9 PM.  Attendees will once again be treated to amazing food from many of Vallarta´s finest restaurants, terrific live entertainment, live and silent auctions, and LOTS of fun at the stunningly beautiful Gran Salon of Resorts SECRETS Vallarta Bay/ NOW Amber.  Tickets will be on sale beginning January 1st.  Please contact Chris at chris@cshf-us.org for further information or to reserve tickets now.

 

This seems to be a time of year, along with the holiday festivities and the New Year, for endings and new beginnings for us at Children’s Shelter of Hope Foundation and for our projects here in Puerto Vallarta.  Sendero de Esperanza y Amor (Pathway for Hope and Love), a small home for teenage girls that we have assisted for a year now, decided recently to change the path and direction they are going.  They are moving their efforts and focus to the Bosques de Progreso neighborhood (site of the old dump) in order to partner with the New Beginnings Mexico (www.newbeginningsmexico.org) facility to support many children and their families living there in extreme poverty.  Andy and Janet Stevenson, from New Beginnings, have established strong relationships with that community and are offering educational, vocational, nutritional, and medical assistance mainly to the adults in that area.  Sendero de Esperanza y Amor has agreed to begin and maintain a support program for the children by:

1. Connecting with the schools to provide supplies, uniforms and shoes, transportation costs, etc. for children in danger of dropping out for financial reasons;
2. Offering daily tutoring for homework and enrichment opportunities for children at the New Beginnings facility;
3. Arranging for doctor, nurse, and dentist interns to provide services to the children on a regular basis; and
4. Developing activities specifically for babies and toddlers to stimulate their growth and development.

The Board of Directors and staff from Sendero are very excited about this new direction and Children’s Shelter of Hope Foundation is pleased to continue supporting the wonderful work they are doing.  If you are interested in supporting  this effort or would like more information, please contact Chris at chris@cshf-us.org or send a donation marked “For Sendero.”

NOTE:  The teenage girls who were living a Sendero have returned to live with their families or are now at Corozón de Niña, a larger shelter for girls in Puerto Vallarta.