Holiday Thanks!!

Extending a heartfelt thanks for all of your support during my son's hospitalization and

THANKS FOR YOUR GIVING!!

Dear Friends,

Twenty five years ago I moved to the community of Santa Cruz, not knowing anyone. During that first year my son was hospitalized twice with a viral pneumonia and I experienced the lonliness, isolation and fear of a single parent with a child who was seriously ill and fragile. I have had the opportunity once again to reflect on those days during the last two weeks while Joaquin has been hospitalized. They have been and will remain one of the driving forces behind Building for Generations.

The passing twenty five years have brought many friends into our picture....many good friends who were our support during his recent cervical fusion. Although, the doctors are not sure wether his walking will improve, it will stabalize his current condition which has caused a foot drag. Joaquin and I would like to extend our appreciation for all the love, support, visits, and e mails we have received during this time. He is currently home with me for the holidays and during his recuperation and therapy. Thank you for your patience as I catch up on e-mail and work at home.

WISHING YOU THE BEST THANKSGIVING EVER!

CORY AND JOAQUIN

Upcoming Events

Heritage Holiday Fair

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds

November 30th Friday 10am-8pm

December 1st Saturday 10am-3pm

December 2nd Sunday 11am-4pm

We would also like to extend a special thanks to the organization "Bread for the Journey" for their contribution to "Building Rhythm" our Santa Cruz music project for children with special needs.

We have been given a matching grant for anything up to $3000 we raise between now and the end of the year. Please consider making your year end donation with us!! Read more.........................

Children often walk long distances to school in developing countries. Children with disabilities often cannot or are put in harms way trying to do so. The belief in many parts of Africa that these children are a curse sets them up for ridicule and abuse. Some have physical challenges and others intellectual challenges that make the journey impossible. Parents at our site in Tanzania are primarily agricultural workers or vendors and unable to bring them the distance. The picture above is typical of one of our children's shoes. We have 70 children enrolled in our project however 30 of these children attend only occasionally. We can purchase a GOOD used van for about $6000.-$8000. that will transport them to and from school. We have been offered a matching grant of $3000 for any money raised between now and the end of the year toward this goal! Please consider making your year end contribution toward this project. Anything you donate doubles in value! The teacher has written a detailed proposal and the school believes that they can actually make money for their necessities by allowing the driver to use it for commercial purposes during school hours. You can contribute online at www.buildingforgenerations.com or send a check to 2175 Amber Ave. Santa Cruz, CA 95062

News from Peru, Skees Foundation visit

and what we are sending at Christmas!

PElena

Board member, Elena Sprenger Cayo recently received a report about Cuntip Alto, a small village in the Peruvian Andes. The report stated that villagers had to walk two hours to the nearest doctor, had no dentist, and parasites from the water. We will be sending educational materials about these issues and a guide for children with disabilities in rural areas with Elena over Christmas. She will also be investigating the area further and reporting back to our board.

Writer, Suzannes Skees recently visited our project in Chincha Baja, Peru. She has written one article and is working on a series for our use and to submit to papers and magazines. Suzanne has gotten some of her past articles about organizations into national magazines so we are very excited about that possibility! Below is a picture of her interviewing our board at the last meeting. Please look for her articles in upcoming newsletter links. (Suzanne, Far Rt., Rose Brindley, Lee Oberg, Elena Sprenger, also in attendance Teri Smith, Mark Rovan)