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I do not know the number of children who have resided at the Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza since it first opened its door to 14 children.  Some children are there only for a few days – others for years.  Some have made such an impact on our lives that we are unable to let their memory go.   Their names are “Moi, Lupita, Teresa, Angel, Zuliin, Elisa, Aron, Carmen and Carlos,” to name just a few.   My fellow board members and I wonder if we were to see one of these children on the street would they recognize our faces?   Yes, a few times, to my delight, I have heard a little voice singing the silly song the children taught me during their kitchen duties or have heard my name called from a passing bus.

Through Facebook, I personally have been able to see a glimpse of a few of these children’s journeys after leaving RISE.  I can view pictures of them at school, work, baby showers, and I have now begun to watch their own children grow.  Some of their stories are heart breaking as the cycle of under-education and teenage pregnancy continue.   But there have been those who are strong and on the path to a better future.  Two such examples are Carlos and Carmen.

On his very own, Carlos, whom some might remember, applied for and received a full scholarship at a high school in Guadalajara.  He has grown into a handsome man and is still kind and caring.  His grades are excellent, and he plays on the starting lineup of his school’s soccer team.
The other is Carmen, who is being sent by YOU, our donors to a vocational school where she will graduate with a certificate as a hair stylist.  She has become confident, and each time I see her she  seems more beautiful.  She personally strives to improve her English so that her options after graduation are many.

But these success stories are not about the board of the Children’s Shelter of Hope – they are about YOU.  YOU are the ones who  gave us the ability to invest in good schools, the funds to pay for qualified tutors, the ability to enrich their lives through sports, music and even karate.
The scholarship granted to Carlos has provided for his every need.  It even pays for his transportation home to visit his family.  And I’ve heard that he always finds time to return to RISE so that he can visit the Madres (as shown in the picture).

However, Carmen still has 3 months left of school and a long list of needed supplies.  The amount is small compared to such schools in the U. S. (approximately $600 U.S. remaining).   But the funds still need to be raised– can we COUNT ON YOU “again” to secure the future of this well deserving young woman?

 

Oh, what a night!!  On Saturday, February 2^nd the community indeed came together for the Celebración Para Los Niños event to support some children in need in Puerto Vallarta.  The new indoor venue, the Gran Salon of the SECRET Vallarta Bay/ NOW Amber was stunning!  The food, provided by many of the finest local restaurants, was plentiful and magnificent.  The live entertainment, including Los Bambinos, pianist Salvatore Rodriguez, Ballet Folklorico Xiutla, and, of course, some of the children from RISE, offered something wonderful for everyone.  Many happy bidders took home amazing items donated by local shops or individuals, and purchased at the Live Auction or Silent Auction.  And, most importantly ALL of the money raised will help the children at Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza (RISE), a shelter for children in PV, and Sendero de Esperanza y Amor, a new shelter for older children opening later this month in PV.

Thank you, thank you to the committee and volunteers who worked tirelessly to put together this event.  Thanks also to Abraham Solares for these photos. And, thank you also to all who were able to attend and enjoy this special evening.  We hope to see you all again next year.
For more information about RISE, please call 222-7857.  Visiting hours are Monday through Saturday from 11:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.
For information about Sendero, please email  Cecilia Altamirano at Cecilia_sendero_ea@hotmail.com

 

 

On January 29th, the Jalisco office of the Mexican Government’s Department of Social Welfare (IJAS – Instituto Jalisciense de Asistencia Social) honored Chris Amo as a representative of the Children’s Shelter of Hope Foundation.

As a tireless advocate for the children of Puerto Vallarta, IJAS nominated Chris for “best foreign donor of 2012.” This honor was based on her work as President of CSHF with Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza, Pasitos de Luz, Sendero de Esperanza y Amor A.C., as well as sponsorship of local events.

With so many wonderful charities in the Puerto Vallarta area, the award is an amazing honor and the CSHF board is truly grateful that Chris is recognized for the energy and passion that she’s given to the children of Puerto Vallarta.

 

 

A child of the 1960’s, I always looked forward to the holidays – snow, gifts, and a bounty of food. It was also the time of year when our family received a special letter and photo of an orphaned Asian child that we sponsored.

I remember the photos and letters.  Children that looked different.  The handwriting, and even the paper, was different than anything I’d seen.  The letters included genuine gratitude for the food, clothes, and shoes that they were able to purchase with our donation – everyday items that I had never considered doing without.

Those annual experiences gave me a life-long appreciation for the seemingly random circumstances of my healthy birth into a financially stable, compassionate, and loving family.  I realized that the world was much bigger than my pampered neighborhood.  I recognized that others weren’t always able to have the basic necessities of life – shelter, food, clothing. Moreover, I learned that helping others was a great thing – it made me feel good too.

So, although I’ve never visited RISE, as a 10 x 10 sponsor for 3 years, I cherish the personal connection that I feel.  I know that my donation makes a difference in the life of an innocent child.  And, I love seeing and sharing photos of all of the beautiful, happy children there.

As the new coordinator for the 10 x 10 Sponsorship Program, fellow sponsors have recently received a “Multiplication Message”, encouraging them to share their CSHF experience with friends or family with an enclosed note card, featuring a photo from RISE.  In addition to providing annual growth and interest reports, CSHF will also be thanking donors that contribute at least $365/year toward the Sponsorship Program with 10 (blank inside) 5 x 7 RISE photo note cards (and envelopes).

In addition to the “Monthly 10 Donation”, I’ve also introduced 2 new levels for the 10 x 10 Sponsorship Program: the “Daily Coffee Donation” and “Daily Dollar Donation.”  I urge anyone considering sponsoring a RISE child to do so – and multiply the message.

 

As most of you know, Children’s Shelter of Hope Foundation is a hands-on, grassroots foundation supporting the needs of children and their families in Puerto Vallarta and in the small communities that surround it.  Like you, we are concerned about the health, welfare and education of children.  Our primary focus for the last 10 years has been to help and assist with the needs of the Refugio Infantil Santa Espenaza (RISE) and Pasitos De Luz.  These fine facilities care for the unique needs of many children.

We are now excited to tell you about a recent project that has caught our attention – Sendero de Esperanza y Amor.  This innovative shelter, slated to open in January or February, will offer a new and different option for some of the older children and their siblings currently living at RISE.  It will be a much smaller, family-like home where the children will not be distracted by issues around communal living, will not be reliant on staff members to constantly provide for their needs, and will experience how families function with consistent expectations and values.
The Vision for Sendero is:

A Family Home where each child can reach his or her fullest potential through guidance counseling and academic support.

A Family Home where all the children learn personal responsibility for themselves and for others.

A Family Home where each child learns the life skills necessary to succeed in the real world.

In this home every child will be involved in the daily household tasks of cooking, cleaning and even purchasing the food to prepare their meals.

In this home every child will learn the concept of money and how to live on a budget, have the opportunity to play sports, or attend dance classes, or even hold down a part-time job if desired.

In this home every child will have to opportunity to learn, through example, how families care for each other – now and in the future.

Living at this family home will be an honor, not a right.
We see it as the future of Mexico, a country that many of us have come to love.

Can we count on your support as we go forward to make this vision a reality?