Sailfest Wrap-up‏

Dear Volunteers, Donors & Friends,

Wow! What a special Sailfest this year! New records in almost every category & event. The 2014 net income is $1,023,133 pesos. (The financial spreadsheet is available upon request. Send e-mail to jackbes@hotmail.com)

The Cruisers, who began this community festival 13 years ago to help Zihua's less-fortunate children, came thru as always - welcoming 297 guests aboard for a day of sailing. Where would Zihua's kids be without them?

31 first-time volunteers joined the dedicated annual core of volunteers to help the Cruisers realize their dream of educational opportunities for all of Zihua's children - donating more than 1,000 hours of committee work to organize the land-based events; such as donations, auctions, sales, etc. The volunteers made marvelous things happen.

The City government enthusiastically pitched in, assigned an Education department employee to work with us, and granted every request we made - lights & fresh paint for the events plaza; Porta-potties, lifeguards and awnings for the kid's beach day; and so much more. The attendance of the Mayor, the City Councilman for Education and the Director of Education at our final event was a welcome and touching acknowledgment of the value of your work, and your acceptance in the community.

The heart-felt generosity of our donors is a direct reflection on the amazing success of your efforts - more than 70 classrooms, bathrooms and kitchens in 12 years, with only incidental expenses. The math speaks for itself - nearly 70 classrooms; serving 25 students a year; for the 20 year life of the classroom; equals an educational opportunity for approximately 35,000 bright-eyed young scholars.

And what can I say about Austin and Jane? A 9-year-old boy who raises $21,000usd in two years to build his dream school, and Jane who quickly donated $10,000usd to build a kitchen at Austin's school, and then donated an additional $10,000usd with the understanding I would start saying nicer things about Ixtapa. (I, of course, now love Ixtapa.)

We will meet with the city this week to evaluate the needs of the 14 schools that have submitted requests for assistance, to add the city's request list to ours, and to mutually decide on the projects that reflect the greatest immediate need and the most efficient use our our resources. We expect the city to be a full partner in addressing the tragic shortage of classrooms in our community, as they were last year.

To all of you, on behalf of the kidlings, and from the bottom of our hearts, Un Mil Gracias!

Abrazos y Adelante!

lorenzo & the Por Los Niños Committee