The 18th of May saw the Inauguration of Becas para Prepas in the lovely home of Candelario and Terry Elizondo. The event attracted more than 50 participants, and the results were well beyond expectations. Fundación Don Bosco (FDB) provided excellent snacks and drinks, and the participants, after a brief social hour, were presented four speakers describing the schools and goals of both the Foundation and Becas para Prepas.
I gave a brief introduction to the event and presented Kris Salgado, who gave a moving introduction of Antonio Sandoval, the founder of Fundación Don Bosco. Jonathan Emerson provided powerful rationale and motivation for all who enjoy their choice to live here as expats to help the local community via this formal and well-run educational program.
The response to the event was greater than we had imagined, bringing in commitments for 16 scholarships. (One scholarship amounts to a monthly donation of MXN $1,000 for three years to support motivated students as they work their way through prepa—preparatory / high school—starting at 15 to 16 years of age.)
In addition to the scholarships, we received cash donations to FDB, a volunteer teacher, and the pro bono services of a dentist and a Legal Office in Cuernavaca for the programme and for students and their parents.
Our next event will be the first fundraising effort outside Mexico, to be held in Austin, Texas, on July 7th.