Why?: Today is the last regular post on this Blog. All good things must end. This project (I can’t think of a better word) began just about 5 years ago. I didn’t expect it to last this long. But because of YOU, it did. Some of you have already asked why I am stopping. It is not an easy question to answer because part of the answer is relatively negative. But I am being honest with myself … I shall also be honest with you.
75% of the reason my efforts end are strictly financial. I don’t have the money to live any longer in Mexico or to buy any more of what is needed. I am a retiree on a limited budget and I have exceeded it.
20% of the reason is a feeling of completion. The kids I started with when they were in the 4th grade are scattered now in different schools. The kids I knew best at Las Joyas have moved on. And perhaps most importantly, and most fortunately, Las Joyas no longer exists. It now has an official name, two real buildings, and (under)paid teachers (as opposed to no pay). That roof only area that teacher Lucy and I taught in that first year … the area we shared with students, mothers with babies, chickens, dogs and birds and an occasional passing burro is gone. Except for some pay to the teachers, I had nothing to do with the creation of the new school. Congratulations to Lorenzo and all the Canadians, Americans, Mexicans and the involved families of the children on a job well done.
5% of the reason is my own ego. In the past year I have felt unappreciated and often ignore by those I had felt closest to. Taken for granted. I am not highly social and not always easy to get along with. I probably offended some of those I am writing about and I probably asked for help from some who were as stretched as I was. Whatever it was, it sapped my energy and enthusiasm. Time to wrap things up!
What was Accomplished: As I mentioned from day 1, I am not much of a record keeper but some great things happened over my 5-year involvement. The biggest accomplishment by far was dragging more than 100 of YOU into contributing something. Most of you were thanked in my book and on this Blog. If I missed you somewhere along the line, my apologies. You were all terrific and collectively have given me the greatest memory in my life. Here is some more, in rough form, from the past 5 years …
Close to 5,000 hot lunches at two schools.
Close to $3,000 donated for school supplies, mostly for Las Joyas.
More than 2,000 pounds of clothing was donated. Much of the clothing was “earned” by the recipients, staying away from a “welfare” experience.
Close to 300 books (mostly in Spanish) to the two schools.
I taught more than 200 hours of English.
I tutored 11 students and teachers on the Rosetta Stone (English learning program).
YOU donated more than 100 uniforms for students at two schools.
Zihua’s top chef (Pepe) conducted two, 4-week cooking classes for students from Las Joyas.
My good friends from Los Angeles came down and threw a “fiesta muy grande” at the beach for 3 years running. (They spared no expense!) All told nearly 100 kids, teachers, parents and one drunk had a great day unlike any they had previously experienced. I also threw a couple of smaller beach parties for some of the kids from my English classes.
I sponsored 5 young people to keep them in school. More about this below.
My favorite (best day in my life) memory is the Christmas Day I was Santa Claus (not played, was!) and with best Mexican amigo Fidel and taxi driver Javier, we took large food packages into the upper hills of Zihua to the poorest families. The looks on their faces will stay with me forever.
And finally, YOU and I served as goodwill ambassadors to approximately 200 Mexicans, young and old, in schools and out, who will have good feelings towards America and Americans. (I know many of you are not American, but they see me and think American. Besides America can use all the good publicity it can get, so thanks for helping us out!)
Some Interesting Stats: This Blog started in July, 2008. Here is a list of my favorite Stats from the Blog:
There have been almost 20,000 visitors. They have come from more than 100 countries (some I am sure were phishing or spamming or whatever you call those evil types).
There have been 231 comments posted to the articles. As I recall, all were positive. Thank you for taking the time to send me your thoughts.
Friends Galina Quigley, Oregon (most) and Terry Paulson, California (2nd most) were far and away the most frequent comment posters. (In fairness, some of you sent me frequent emails that did not show up as a comment.)
Karen: Great news about university student Karen. She has been accepted as an exchange student at UCLA (for those of you out of county, UCLA is in Los Angeles, California). Her arrival date depends on her completing an English requirement. She will be hosted by Ken and Denise Nowack who live in Santa Monica (close to UCLA). I will be on hand for her arrival and hope to show her a few sights before school starts. Karen is a finance major, an “A” student at the University of Guadalajara and a very sweet young lady who has pulled herself up by the proverbial bootstraps. It is a pleasure to help her along and great things are expected from her! For more information and a recent picture of her, go to my previous post (March 31).
Niño’s Adelante: Niño’s Adelante (Children Forward) is a Mexican non-profit organization that provides much needed help to deserving children. Funding comes through a US based organization called Friends of Niño’s Adelante. I pay them $300 per child each year. They in turn give monthly payments (called becas) to Bernabe, Jose Angel and Brayan. These are children who likely would have dropped out of school in the 7th grade because they could not afford middle school.

End of school year for party for Niño’s Adelante. Jose Bustos in center; my 3 boys together, front row on knees
I have known Niños Adelante and their director, Jose Bustos, for four years. They do great work and have about 220 young people in middle schools, high schools and now even universities.
They need more sponsors. If you can afford $300 a year you can help a young, deserving person get an education. For more information you can look at the Friends of Niños Adelante website (kept by volunteers), complete a very simple form and send it off to Friends of Niños Adelante, PO Box 1624 Sonoma, CA 95476. You can also write an email enquiry to Bob Albright at bobalb@comcast.net – tell him Memo sent you! (And it is Tax Deductible – they send you the paperwork.)
A special thanks to Guillermo Gower of Southern California for responding to an earlier plea. Because of him, Karla Jasmine gets to go to school.
Periodic Updates: Before I sign off I want to offer those of you who are interested a chance to keep up with Karen and the kids from Niño’s Adelante. I will send out occasional emails regarding them. To be on that email list either indicate an interest in the comments section of this Post or send me an email.
And now I really must go. This time for good.
Thanks for coming along with me on the journey. Tu amigo, Memo