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Banner Photo - In October, hundreds in Halloween attire danced to raise needed funds for Xela AID. See accompanying story of results.
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CALENDAR
* June 2-June 14, 2012
* July 29-August 9, 2012
20TH ANNIVERSARY VOLUNTEER VACATIONS 
Xela AID Volunteers and local friends at Lake Atitlan, summer 2011.
Lend your time and talents to the development of the community of San Martín Chiquito and surrounding communities. For more information, click HERE.
* June, July, August 2012
CELEBRATE CLAREMONT FAMILY FESTIVAL
Benefits Xela AID. For more information, click HERE.
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Xela AID volunteer Jessica Sonnenfeld shared a moment in the kitchen with Fabiana, master weaver who's weavings can now be purchased as fine "Joji" handbags (see story on new Marketplace).
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WE'RE PROUD OF OUR NUMBERS
Many charitable organizations spend 30% and more of contributions on office space and administrative overhead. We are proud that Xela AID is able to apply 98% of your valued contributions directly to funding projects in Guatemala!
Of Each $1 You Contribute:
90 Cents ˇ Goes directly to health, education and other projects you've elected to support that directly benefit underserved children and families.
8 Cents ˇ Augments other donations to pay our doctor, medical director and caretaker at Xela AID's June Russel-Glennon Clinic and Community Center in San Martín Chiquito. These professionals are there weekdays serving the needs of the community. 2 Cents ˇ Covers the minimal costs of staying in touch with you and our other supporters (largely, without cutting down trees) including costs of our website, email, newsletters, and postage.
ZERO! ˇ What we spend on employees in the U.S., expense accounts, office space, or telephones. This is possible because our Xela AID USA Board is 100% volunteer and our office is efficiently virtual! Thank you for your support!
*** ABOUT US
Xela AID recognizes that education is key to overcoming poverty and to creating abundance.
We aspire to ensure that every child in our current area of focus is safe, healthy, well-nourished, educated and equipped to be self-reliant.
Xela AID partners to address the health, socio-economic and environmental challenges that threaten well-being and pose obstacles to learning.
We pursue an integrated model of community development, and solutions that are comprehensive, sustainable, scaleable and transferable.
The important work of Xela AID is made possible by the generous gifts of ordinary people who wish to do extraordinary good for others - people just like you! Learn how to get involved, or donate now.
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Xela AID Partnerships
for Self Reliance3571 Windspun Dr. Huntington Beach, CA 92649 http://www.xelaaid.org xela_aid@earthlink.net
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Dear ,
The holidays are nearly upon us and first up, a time to reflect and to give thanks. Each time we visit Guatemala, the children and families we serve make their gratefulness abundantly clear: the educational assistance, health care, clean water, small-business and other initiatives Xela AID undertakes dramatically impact their quality of life. This work would not be possible if it were not for the generosity of our supporters - people like you. We at Xela AID are grateful for your ongoing interest and support, and wish you and your family a peaceful and abundant Thanksgiving Holiday. Most sincerely yours, The Xela AID Team P.S. You can share your abundance this holiday season with those in great need through a gift purchased in our new marketplace (read on) or through a tax-deductible donation HERE.
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Xela AID directors Mel Dinkel and Pat Maxwell manned the booth at the "Thrill the World" fundraiser.
FUNDRAISING EVENT A "THRILLING" SUCCESS
Santa Barbara World Dancers fund
Xela AID's development work
Led by Janet Reineck who heads Santa Barbara's World Dance, dancers each made a donation to participate and also signed on sponsors to support them in their charitable endeavor. To date, the wildly successful event and follow-up dance classes have raised nearly $7,000 to help fund Xela AID's education, health, and women's empowerment projects. Janet will contribute funds collected at her World Dance sessions throughout November.
Xela AID is extremely grateful to Janet and to all who came out to support this creepily campy and scarily successful charitable event!
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Event organizer Janet Reineck (green) in ghoulish glam with participants including Xela AID volunteer Sherry Robin (in black) and Xela AID's Leslie Baer Dinkel (pink).
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Missed it? Watch the VIDEO by clicking HERE.
Want to hold a fundraising event for Xela AID? Contact Leslie HERE.
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XELA AID MARKETPLACE LAUNCHES TODAY!
Holiday shopping never did so much good...
Xela AID's online store launches today with this newsletter. Here, you can make your holiday shopping count - since every item you purchase will help support our educational programs, health care and clean water initiatives, and micro-business investment! Each of these programs work together to help members of the San Martín community improve their lives and that of their children. 
On the new Marketplace site, you'll find many hand-crafted fair trade items from Guatemala and unique items like: 
* hand-beaded bracelets
* colorful scarves
* silver and jade earrings
* sling purses
* water bottle holders
* small camera purses
* school backpacks full of learning supplies you can purchase in your name or a friend's to be donated to children in Xela AID's educational programs (Great item to add to your order...)
* music CDs (by Xela AID's own Leslie Baer Dinkel!)
Featured are the exquisitely designed and crafted "Joji" handbags (see image at top of article) created by Xela AID volunteers Kathy Logan and her daughter Amy Logan. The handbags are quality made in the U.S. from cloth hand-woven by the women of Xela AID's  fair-trade cooperative "Tesoros del Corazón."
Xela AID is exceedingly grateful to: Gary and Michelle Richmond for their tireless efforts at creating this beautiful marketplace; to Kathy and Amy for conceptualizing and fabricating the magnificent "Joji" handbags; to Betsey Binet, graphic designer who has long supported Xela AID's efforts and contributed the gorgeous design of the music CD's featured in the marketplace; and Xela AID's long-time supporter and partner Laura Bokesch who will handle  all-important fulfillment when your orders come in!
Xela AID is grateful to each person of the "village" of volunteers it has taken to launch, stock, and fulfill orders that will occur through this extraordinary marketplace.
Please enjoy your holiday shopping HERE! Also, check back for new items that will be added over the next few weeks by going to Xela AID's home page and clicking the "Marketplace" tab.
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Xela AID Advisor Karen Yoshino (center) with newly sponsored Nicolas and family in August.
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EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS ARE CHANGING LIVES! PEX program welcomes 14 new sponsors, seeks sponsors for four The Xela AID educational scholarship program (Proyecto Educativo de Xela AID, or "PEX") continues to grow. In the past few months the following sponsors provided educational opportunities to the students of San Martín and nearby communities. We currently have 75 students in the program. Xela AID thanks these generous new and returning sponsors:
Dove Benari - Richard & Mandy Bennett - Jill Onken & John Douglass - Paul Hubbard - Damian & Ann Jackowski - Sherry Robin - Kevin & Wanda MacPherson - Justin Flint - Jeremy Reineck - Karen Yoshino Economy Taking Its Toll - During this past year, several of our scholarship program sponsors have let us know that they are unable to continue their support, for most part, due to the sagging U.S. economy. A small group of volunteers and committed donors have continued to support these students through a Xela AID bridge fund called "Education Forever." We'd be honored to have you join us as a one-time donor to this fund HERE. Or, if you would like to become the new sponsor of any one of the four students below please contact Pat Maxwell at pat@xelaaid.org.
Here are our four students in waiting, and just a little of their personal stories:
Cristian Geovani Miranda Escalante attends high school on Saturdays so that he can help support himself and his
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Cristian Geovani Miranda Escalante
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grandparents by working in the fields during the week. Amazingly, he's been able to maintain a 79% grade point average on his core class work. His long-term goal is to go to the university and study medicine. A supportive sponsorship of $375 annually for the next three years will get him through high school.
Andrea Yesica Gomez Ramirez has
 | | Andrea Yesica Gomez Ramirez |
been in our scholarship program
since 2007. She is in elementary school, at the age of twelve. Her annual sponsorship right now is $275. As soon as she begins high school, her tuition needs will increase and the annual sponsorship will be $375.
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Eddy Rolando Cabrera Molina
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Eddy Rolando Cabrera Molina lives in Concepecion Chiguirichapa, just outside of San Martín, with his mother. At the age of twelve, he is in elementary school. His current annual tuition needs are $275 and will be $375 once he starts high school.
 | | Ilcia Catarina Lopez Vasquez |
Ilcia Catarina Lopez Vasquez is a vivacious thirteen-year old living in San Martín with her family. Her sponsor here in the U.S. is unable to continue supporting Ilcia's educational pursuits. Her older sister, Claudia Dionicia Lopez Vasquez, graduated from our scholarship program in 2009. Ilcia is in elementary school and her annual sponsorship is $275, soon to be $375 as she enters high school.
Thank you for considering helping one of these special young people who want to continue their education! ***
> Missed a newsletter? Visit our ARCHIVE.
> Interested in a Volunteer Vacation? Read the latest about our TWO ANNIVERSARY TRIPS next summer.
We look forward to staying in touch! Watch for our December newsletter.
"I am only one, but still I am one.
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do something that I can do."
-- Helen Keller
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