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| entreamigos Newsletter |
November 2009 |
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 Dear Friends,
Please join us for the GRAND INAUGURATION of entreAmigos new CENTRO COMUNITARIO EDUCATIVO
Sunday, December 6th
3pm - 5pm
This isn't the official inauguration invite... I just wanted to test out how it sounds. Can you believe it? Can I believe it? What an adventure. We are polishing floors, installing windows, building shelves and soon we will be adding books to those shelves, filling up the gallery and filling up the building with children, education, art, fun and all of those other activities that are part of entreAmigos and part of being a community. This Saturday, November 21st 9am-1pm will be the very last of our community work days to get the building ready. Please join us to bring the finishing touches to our new community education space! Please visit the construction page of our blog to view our website and keep up on the details. http://www.entreamigos.org.mx/projects/our-new-building/Those details... by the way... keep on coming. We are still receiving pledges and donations towards the construction project. If you weren't able to donate before and would like to contribute now... please do so!! Please see below for recent happening and upcoming events at entreAmigos. take care. nicole www.entreamigos.org.mxp.s. here is a link to our donor page!
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Recent Happenings at EntreAmigos
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 Scholarship kids... already at work in the new building.
The dedicated kids that form part of the entreAmigos scholarship program are already meeting in the new building.
These 46 kids join us every wednesday to do their homework, learn english or hone their artistic talents. They work hard, have fun and are very much looking forward to the new building and the computers.
Scholarship Kids need your support: We have 46 children in the Scholarship program including two high school students but not all of these kids have sponsors. Child sponsorship guarantees that these kids will have uniforms, school supplies, school fees paid and in some cases food, transportation or additional support on a daily basis. Child sponsorship costs $600usd for a full year. It can be paid in full or on a monthly basis. Please consider supporting a child today!
We are continuing to ask all visitors, residents or people who travel frequently in and out of mexico to please bring us donations of backpacks and school supplies. These supplies help us ensure that the kids have what they need year round.
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 Memorial Fountain to be built in the memory of Rita Adelman.
Rita Adelman was a special spirit that we will always remember for her wise advise to love life and always be learning. Rita was a brilliant, thoughtful guiding light for me, her family and many others. She passed away in August, 94 years young.
The Adelman family have always been tremendous supporters of entreAmigos and recently contributed to create a memorial fountain in honor of their mother.
We will break ground this week on the fountain, designed by local sculpture artist Rodrigo Ballestar and hope to have it finished in time for our formal inauguration in January.
We love you Rita and are so excited to always have you with us in this way!!
There are select memorial and dedication opportunities at the new entreAmigos. If you are interested in honoring a special person in this way, please contact nicole.
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 Food for Work program helps families in san pancho.
When several women came to entreAmigos and offered to do anything... anything... in exchange for food, we recognized that the economic situation had become desperate for many families. We began to ask for food donations to help these families and in our quest to help, and in their desire to show their gratitude, the food for work program began to take shape.
Today, everyday, 5-10 families work 4 hour shifts at entreAmigos. They often help in the recycling program or in painting, sanding, gardening or other tasks. At the end of the day they receive a coupon for food packs that they can bring home to their families.
Who are these families? Many people have a hard time believing that people could be hungry in San Pancho or that poverty even exists at that level. Every family is different but many are struggling just like hard hit families struggle everywhere. Work is hard to find, there are many young kids in the home, chronic health problems or an unexpected death of the principal wage earner leaves a struggling family with additional mouths to feed.
entreAmigos principal focus is education but we have found that we can't ask children to attend school regularly if their most basic needs are not being met. We can't ask parents to be positive role models if they can't find dignified work. Working with these families in the way that we are brings us closer to them, and in being closer we can understand the real struggles that are happening at the heart of the community and can better serve their needs.
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Upcoming Events at entreAmigos
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Mark your calendar...
...the new entreAmigos is brimming with activities planned for the new year. 
We have a new building and some big plans for the coming year.
This is a sneak peak of upcoming activities...
Dec 6th - Community Inauguration planned
Dec 17th - 20th - Pinata Festival
Dec 20th - Holiday Posada Festival
Tentative Dates for upcoming events...
Jan - Gala Inauguration of the new Centro Comunitario
Feb - April - Free Concert/Lecture series every other Thursday
March - Children's Art Festival Fundraiser
Other fun things to look forward to...
Spanish and English classes...
The mornings at entreAmigos will be dedicated to teaching spanish to visitors, tourists or residents. The afternoons will be reserved for children and adults hoping to improve their english skills. Classes will given by certified professional teachers with years of experience and will begin in January.
a Community Kitchen... with really great coffee
The owners of the Italian Bakery will be joining entreAmigos to offer their amazing coffee, pizza and baked goods to our visitors in the morning hours. The kitchen will then open to the public in the afternoons to offer an array of cultural and educational classes surrounding food. If you have always wanted to know how they make those Tamales... now is your chance!
Concert and Lecture Series...
entreAmigos has built the only community stage in San Pancho and we plan to put it to very good use. Free concerts and lectures are planned for this community space as well as the opportunity for any other community organization to use the stage and our facilities. We are in the planning stages for the 2010 season... If you know of a performer or educator who might be interested in working with us, please let us know. We are excited to be able to offer this opportunity to the growing community.
Salvation Army style store to help fund entreAmigos...
The new entreAmigos will have space for a salvation army style store selling donated goods to anyone looking for a great second hand deal. Please think of us when you are getting rid of your old clothes, old kitchen stuff, furniture or anything else. You can start to help us by dropping items off NOW, between the hours of 8am - 1pm. We are excited for this new opportunity to help sustain our project and programs.
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 Thank YOU! to everyone who has contributed to this amazing project.
Please consider supporting entreAmigos.
Remember the donor tree? This commemorative mango tree will be painted in the new entreAmigos in appreciation of our donors and collaborators. It's not too late to have a place on the tree!
Pledges will be recognized in the following increments:
Trunk Donors - $25,000usd
Mango Donors - $5000usd
Branch Donors - $2500usd
Leaf Donors - $1000usd
Roots Donors - $500usd
Donations of every amount are greatly appreciated and will be recognized on our website and literature.
To make a donation please send a check, payable to entreamigos to: entreamigos P.O. Box 3231 Lake Arrowhead, CA 92352 or using your credit card or bank account please visit www.paypal.com and enter entreamigos.sanpancho@gmail.com as the receiver address. If you are in San Pancho. Nicole's house is currently being used as office and donation drop off center. entreamigos is a 501(C)3 non profit. Your donations are tax deductible in the United States. | |
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To make a Donation:
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To make a Donation:
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| Contact Information |
| For questions and suggestions regarding entreAmigos in san pancho please contact:
entreamigos is located on the main street of San Pancho in a large warehouse building about 2 blocks from the highway.
Looking forward to seeing you soon! |
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