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News for third quarter 2009

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:55:07 UT

An organized community ready to work along side with us!

One key role of the foundation has been to support organized groups within the community that want to improve their quality of life. The “5S Committeee” involves leaders of various community sectors (Restaurants, musicians, fishermen, handcrafts and souvenir salesmen, etc) who would like to "certifying" the town as a top tourist destination. Cleaning up the beaches, fixing the roads, security, general additions and improvements to the town, quality in food and services are many of the many issues they have to deal with in order to get the certification. However, one key component for all of this and have a bigger impact for tourism is the construction of a plaza, promenade and parking lot, the project we have been working with municipal government for several months now.
The foundation has met with the community committee to find out about their real needs and prioritize with them the implementations of different programs.
For next year we have identified the following items as top priorities:

1. Improvement of the town appearance: Community will contribute with human resources with the government and Foundation providing funds for painting, restoration of some homes, trees, etc.
2. “Astillero” Area to fix boats and a boat ramp (for fishing and for tourists)
3. Beach clean-up and recovery
4. Vocational-Technical school

The community is very aware that the area has a lot to offer tourists, that if we work together we can build a better place that will benefit everyone. Now, with the collaboration of the community, we will be updating our Smart Growth Report by including all those prorities that the towns need and are missing in our original report.

Proyecto Integral
A dream that is about to become true! Members of the Foundation have been following up with Municipal Government, DINE and owner of the land where the plaza will be constructed. The project was presented to all the actors involved, providing a presentation with Arquitect Jaime Barba, who drafted up maps, pictures and sketches of the project. Everyone has embraced the project and the government has given green light. Once the owners of the land finish the pending paper work, govenment will be able to change the use of the land and we will be ready to start construction.
Take a look at the pictures attach to get an idea of the outcomes of the project!!

Hygiene Project

In the midst of the influenza breakout we decided to contribute to this amazing project consisting of three different components which impact the health and hygienic conditions for children. The project was developed by Children Shelter of Hope Foundation and took place at the five public schools in the area: Corral del Risco (Kinder Garden and Primary School) and Emiliano Zapata (Kinder Garden, Primary and Middle School).

1) Restrooms remodeling. Renovating and remodeling all restrooms at public schools in the area was a priority. Water pumps, electricity, toilets, sinks and accessories were fixed or restored according to the needs of the schools.
2) Maintenance. Providing basic cleaning supplies and staff to keep the facilities clean was the second step. The sustainability of the project relied on cleanliness in the restrooms. Ongoing supplies and support staff dedicated to maintaining the restroom facilities are being provided.
3) Education. Parental educational meetings as well were given as were hygiene classes to children, where the importance of establishing routines and maintaining good hygiene practices were highlighted. Signs for bathrooms were done in English and Spanish in order to educate and remind the kids to flush the toilet, wash their hands and not to waste water.

The results of this project can be observed in the improved health habits as a result of experiencing cleaner restroom spaces and also participation in discussions about improved health and hygiene practices at school and home. A total of 630 children benefitted from the project plus all their families and teachers as indirect beneficiaries.

WELCOME OUR NEW FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION

We are very pleased to welcome Steven Dostart & Sharon Meers, Keneth Hersch, Lonna Wais and Anne & John Marion as our new “Friends of the Foundation”, these are very committed people who have donated $5,000 USD or more to any of our projects during this year.

NEXT EVENTS

Tuesday, November 24th. Kim Cawood's new store, Design Living and Art Gallery will have its inauguration (located next to Plaza Olin) from 6PM to 10PM. Kim will be donating 10% of all gross sales to the Foundation from Tuesday through Saturday, November 28th. Catering by de Santos.

Wednesday, November 25th. Plaza Ollin is proud to host the first of these important events, we hope that you will be able to join us. There will be up to date information on the Foundation, Village project, and much more! The stores within the Plaza Ollin will be donating 10% of their revenues starting on Wednesday, November 25th through Sunday, November 29th to the Punta Mita Foundation to support our local foundation and most importantly our Village.

Saturday, November 28th. 3er Annual Golf Tournament
9:00 am “Bahía” Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course at Punta Mita. 72 golfers, 18 Foursomes, Scramble format. Prizes: Club Car Golf Cart (hole-in-one prize), guest stays at Four Seasons, sunsen abourd Four Seasons Yacht, Vallarta Adventures Gift Certificate, Course dinner at Caroliina Signature Restaurant & Champagne Ritual at St. Regis, massage and facial at St. Regis Spa Suite, Punta Mita Greens Fees, Punta Mita Expeditions ATV & Fishing Tour, Green Zebra Advetures Tomcar Trips.... and more.

Entry Fee: Individual package $3,000 MN (US $225) includes and additional complementary greens fee and admission to the Gala Event, beverages and snacks. Foursome package $10,000 MN (US $750) includes and additional complementary greens fee and admission to the Gala Event, one for each player, beverages and snakcs. Register at ymell@puntademitafoundation.org

Saturday, November 28th. “A taste of Punta Mita” 3rd annual Homecoming Gala
Come and experience food samples from Punta de Mita´s local restaurants! Cost $500 pesos. Open bar – Music – Raffles and Prizes. All proceeds go to the foundation. Limited Capacity
Reserve at ymell@puntademitafoundation.org

Second Annual Foundation FIESTA!!!

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:23:17 UT

2nd Annual Punta de Mita Foundation FIESTA!!
Introducing our "2010 Projects"
Friday March 19th, Hotel des Artistes SKY BAR at 8:00 pm.
Cost $100 USD/ $1,300 pesos per person.

Open Bar - Music - Canapes by Cafe des Artistes del Mar.

All proceeds go to the foundation.
Limited capacity, to reserve contact Ymell Villegas at ymell@puntademitafoundation.org

TICKETS FOR SALE AT:
HOTEL DES ARTISTES RECEPTION
PUNTA MITA HOA & CASA MITA

Research to identify qualified U.S. retirees living in Mexico

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:23:07 UT

Dear friends and supporters of the Punta de Mita Foundation,

The International Community Foundation, our fiscal sponsor in the US is undertaking a research where they need to identify qualified U.S. retirees now living in Mexico either part time or on a year round basis for a study of U.S. retirement trends in Mexico being undertaken by the International Community Foundation.

The goal of this research will be to better assess the consumer preferences and lifestyle choices of U.S. retirees now living in Mexico on issues related to cost of living, health care, public safety, environmental sustainability, as well as the degree of cultural integration and civic engagement in ones adopted Mexican community. Through the research findings the International Community Foundation hopes to provide U.S. and Mexican policymakers with recommendations that will better enable Americans to comfortably retire in Mexico while at the same time assisting their adopted Mexican communities to sustainability adjust to the growing number of U.S. retirees that are likely to emigrant to Mexico in the coming years. We also hope to use this research to promote more active engagement of U.S. retirees with Mexico’s nonprofit sector through expanded volunteerism and philanthropy. The study is scheduled to be completed in January 2010.

All information provided will remain confidential in adherence to the International Community Foundation’s donor privacy policy. For each completed questionnaire from a qualified U.S. retiree, the International Community Foundation will make a US$3.00 contribution in the name of the retiree to their Mexican charity of choice with a “friends of fund” at our foundation including Punta de Mita Foundation.

If you are currently retired living partly or fulltime in Mexico or are planning to do so, please paste the following URL in your browser to access the online questionnaire:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=uYzpSnz0rLrjaDRXKYZOCg_3d_3d

News for the second quarter of 2009

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 01:16:24 UT

Second quarter of the year has passed by and we have great news to share with you!

PROYECTO INTEGRAL

As we have already share with you, one of our most important mandates for this year is to support a plan of improvements that will improve the local region and its economy. The “Proyecto Integral” involves five components: Parking, Plaza, Pathway, Paseo Avenida Anclote and Playa (the beach). All are important and integral components to help the community and make it a better-looking and better place to live.
The parking lot is now in place but needs improvement. Located just below it is an empty lot, which will become a small plaza. A pathway will lead down from the plaza to Anclote Avenue. And then the avenue will be extended to go out on the the marina jetty, creating a malecon.
The foundation’s Smart Growth Committee members have been meeting with Jaime Barba, the architect who created the original plans for the improvements to the avenue. He is taking the committee’s ideas and implementing them into his original plans, so that artist renditions, plans and budgets can be created. Once this material is available, a meeting with the municipality will be called to see how we can get these projects financially off the ground. Barba also explained his original plans on how the avenue traffic and parking was to work. Traffic would only be in one direction, the direction yet to be determined. No parking would be available down there, except short-term parking. Barba would also like to make the plaza the main entrance or gateway to the avenue, so there would also be another drop-off point in front of the plaza, across the street from the parking lot. People would walk into a typical Mexican plaza with a bandstand, surrounded by trees, gardens and benches in the shade. At the other end of the plaza, they could take a gardened pathway down to Anclote Avenue, which would come out directly in front of the malecon on the existing jetty. We will provide updates on our next newsletter.
The foundation has already verbally committed to help with these projects and DINE has committed to gift the land for the parking lot and also for the plaza. There will be a full presentation of this during the Thanksgiving weekend, along with many other events.

EDUCATION PROJECT

We have finished two additional multi-functional rooms at the Primaria in Emiliano Zapata. We will be having a ceremony where the total of four classrooms will be handed to the Mexican authorities and will be officially functioning for the school year that starts in August

GRANT MAKING MECHANISM
Another important mandate for the foundation is to support and fund programs of the different non-profit organization working in and around the Punta de Mita area, rather than becoming another operational foundation in the area. Our intent is to generate all the necessary conditions for those field-oriented organizations to grow and become more effective such as lobbying with the government, corporations and other parties in the area, fundraising and capacity building through different experts according to each organization’s needs.
Our primary grantee from last year was PEACE, followed by Rivera Recicla and Costa Verde International School. For this year we have already revised the different proposals and we are pleased to announce the results:
1) PEACE:
We are funding their Community Pride, Casa Comunidad and Manos Unidas programs in the communities of Corral del Risco, Emiliano Zapata and Higuera Blanca with a total grant of $1,000,000 pesos. In addition to the funds, we will be working closer with them in helping with budgeting for this year and going into next as we want to ensure that all the legal and fiscal problems around them that have prevented us for giving funds earlier in the year are solved.
2) COSTA VERDE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
cholarships have been approved and renewed for the two kids to the next school year starting in August.
3) CHILDREN’S SHELTER OF HOPE FOUNDATION
We are very pleased to start working with a new partner, Children Shelters Fund presented a hygiene project that included several components to better impact the health and hygiene conditions of children living around the Punta de Mita area, restrooms remodeling, maintenance and hygiene education. We are very confident that this will be the first of many projects that we will start togheter.

NEXT EVENTS!!
Please mark your calendar and get ready for our Homecomming event and Golf tournament that will be celebrated during Thanksgiving weekend. More details to come….

WELCOME OUR NEW FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION
We are very pleased to welcome Charlie Ewell, Ronald Budacz, Sandy and Dallas Howe, Bob and Katherine Penn, Kevin Burke, Jay Precourt and William Farquharson as our new “Friends of the Foundation”, these are very committed people who have donated $5,000 USD or more to any of our projects during this year.
If you are interested in becoming a Friend send an e-mail to info@puntademitafoundation.org

Friends of the Foundation Program

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:21:42 UT

Friends of the Foundation Program
Any donor who pledges more than $5,000 USD to the Foundation becomes eligible to be a “Friend of the Foundation”. Donors will be recognized as such with a plaque that will be mounted at the Punta Mita Beach Club. As well, donors will receive a number of benefits from local businesses in the region. Any 2009 pledges that have already been gifted to either the Punta de Mita Foundation or PEACE will be recognized as going towards this program. 40% of the funds raised through this program will go to funding ongoing activities of PEACE. For more information of this program email Paloma at info@puntademitafoundation.org.

Punta de Mita Foundation Video

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:18:41 UT

To see the Punta de Mita Foundation VideoClick here.

Contact Information

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:56:31 UT

Our contact information is the following:
Punta de Mita Foundation A.C.
Privada Marlin, 125
Fracc. Corral del Risco, Punta de Mita
Emiliano Zapata, Nayarit
63734
(Tel.) 52 322 169 6933
(Fax.) 52 329 291 6620 ext. 104
info@puntademitafoundation.org