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International Community Foundation

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:17:22 UT

Vallarta Lifestyles Publishing Group

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:14:42 UT

Dine

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:09:38 UT

Connell & Associates

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:45:11 UT

Costa Verde International School

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 00:13:39 UT

Punta de Mita Foundation, with help from Becas Vallarta, has started a scholarship program for children of Punta de Mita to attend the Costa Verde International School (CVIS). This is a new bilingual primary school between Sayulita and Punta de Mita that is focused on teaching art, culture, and environmental sustainability. The school itself will be an architectural marvel of certified green building and provide the children with a invaluable learning experience.

CVIS will be a community-oriented, multilingual, multicultural, accredited, ecological, private educational institution.

The school will provide an intellectually stimulating curriculum for initial grades from preschool through 6th, with small classrooms emphasizing the education of the whole child in an environment designed to develop the talents and skills particular to each individual. Students will analyze and solve problems, rather than simply memorizing facts. Our dedicated staff of teachers, personnel and parents will work together to provide a joyful and nurturing atmosphere with a strong commitment to diversity, the surrounding culture and the environment.

Riviera Recicla Regional

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:54:32 UT

Riviera Recicla Regional is a cooperative formed by local non-profits that works in recycling and organic composting projects. It is currently active in the communities of Punta de Mita, Higuera Blanca, Sayulita, San Pancho and Bucerias. The mission of Riviera Recicla is to increase and coordinate the recycling efforts along the Riviera Nayarit region and to educate the general populace about the benefits of more sustainable waste-management. The objective of the cooperative are to bring together to the communities of the Riviera Nayarit to creat a more efficient and less energy intensive recycling program, as well as to bring back the benefits of recycling to the local communities through the sale of recycled products.

P.E.A.C.E.

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:49:18 UT

P.E.A.C.E. facilitates sustainable programs and nurtures self-empowerment throughout Mexico by providing communities and individuals with tools to improve their quality of life. One of their programs, Casa Comunidad, provides children and adults with programs and opportunities to develop the necessary skills to be successful, positive contributors to their multi-cultural and multilingual communities. There are currently nine programs up and operating in Casa Comunidad. P.E.A.C.E. also runs Manos Unidas por la Mujer, Community Pride and Ayuda a los Animales. Accion Ciudana, a community based organization, has facets in both Emiliano Zapata and Corral del Risco. These groups work to support community needs by raising funds and granting them to the identified project or program.

Two great options for you to support the communities in Punta de Mita!

Mon, 24 May 2010 19:43:50 UT

If you are still wondering how you could support the communities in Punta de Mita, we have two great options:

An amazing 6 year old boy is just waiting for the opportunity to access better education

Juan Manuel, lives with his parents in Emiliano Zapata. His father is a construction worker and his mother an english teacher, their family monthly income is below US$800. Their child has finished his kindergarten education and is ready to start primary school, unfortunately the public schools in the area do not have enough capacity to attend all children. Juan Manuel is on waiting list.

In the meantime his mother is looking for alternative options, as a teacher she is better committed with her child´s education. She is aware that this is the only way he can have a better future. She contacted the foundation and applied for the Scholarship program. Through this program children have the opportunity to attend Costa Verde International School.

This private bilingual primary school between Sayulita and Punta de Mita aims to produce healthy, happy and well-adjusted life-long learners. Our shared target is that each child acquires fluency in a second language and a profound understanding of the necessity for a “green” approach to living. To achieve this, CVIS is dedicated to a small student to teacher ratio and has focused education on the whole child in an environment designed to develop the talents and skills particular to each individual. Students learn to analyze and solve problems, rather than simply memorizing facts.

The Foundation has already committed to the scholarship of two other children but we can enroll Juan Manuel with your support. We need $3,000 to cover his annual costs. If you are interested in sponsoring Juan Manuel click in the following link for on-line donations http://www.icf-xchange.org/graphics/plug?p=campaign_display&w=pdm or send an email to ymell@puntademitafoundation.org

Acquire a great painting at the same time you support a worthy cause!

Last march we had one of our fundraising events, we were very pleased to host the work of Robert Jennings from England. Robert has travelled and painted all over the world but takes specific inspiration from South Africa where he grew up. He is a graduate of Michaelis School of Fine Arts at the University of Cape Town. His early work is influenced by early Dutch Still Life painters and Impressionists and later influences stem from deconstructive artists like Piet Mondrian. Robert's live painting performances have been enjoyed by thousands in Africa, Europe, the Americas and recently in Punta de Mita where a fun live performance was given and the painting was donated to support the work of the Foundation!!

We are having a silent auction with a minimum bid of $1,000. The painting is on exhibit at Bocca Deli in Plaza Ollin. Deadline for Auction will be June 15th, 2010. Contact: paloma@puntademitafoundation.org

To know more about the artist visit www.eArtist.com and www.jennings.vg

News for First quarter 2010!!

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:30:50 UT

Annual Report 2009

One of our main principles that has guided our work has been accountability to our donors and supporters and to the communities we serve. As we mentioned at the beginning of last year, all our projects must follow our strategic priorities outlined by the Smart Growth Report, which is an in-depth analysis on the Punta de Mita region prepared by a professor of sustainable tourism development at the University of Guadalajara. With a vision of achieving sustainable development in the area, where our actions can reduce social imbalances and the unequal relationship between rich and poor sectors, the Foundation focused its time and resources to fund projects under these four main streams:

Employment and economic development
Education
Health
Environmental and Ecological Issues

Click in the following link to download our 2009 Anual Report for detailed explanation of the type of work done in each area. Some of them are projects that we developed ourselves, others are programs from local NPOs that we support, not only with funding but also with oversight of the implementation to ensure good accountability and adequate stewardship of the resources.

http://www.puntademitafoundation.org/puntademita/news/annual-report-2009.shtml

2010 Projects

We are committed to continue with those programs that were initiated in 2009 such as our Hygiene Project in partnership with Children Shelter of Hope Foundation, scholarships for children in the area to attend a bilingual private school in Sayulita, but we also want to expand our efforts by developing those projects that have been identified as priorities for the communities and are in alignment with our Smart Growth Report. Take a look at all the projects that we are looking to developed this year, visit http://www.puntademitafoundation.org/puntademita/initiatives/Proposed-Projects/index.shtml

Kindergarten at risk

One of the kindergartens in the area lacks infrastructure, human resources and educational tools to ensure a good education for 35 children between the ages four and six. The Foundation, through its Education Committee lead by Beth Fuller, a committed resident with many years of teaching experience in US, has embraced this project and committed to change this by next school year.

We have started by renewing the existing classroom (painting, school supplies, furniture, books, games, etc) and will be followed by trainning "volunteer mothers" that can assist the only teacher available at the school.

An incredible effort has been made by many of the parents to clean up the existing rooms that we will renew. They also organized and purchased the flooring for one of the new classrooms. Carpentry, furniture and painting still needs to be done. One of the rooms will be for a library and books have already been donated with more yet to come, the other room will be for four year old activities.

Clean Environment (Highway trash pick-up program)

Another important commitment for us is to create awareness and education to all residents in the area about the importance of having a clean and safe environment. We have already started with very clear actions. Through the Highway trash pick-up program that started in mid-February, we have been able to remove 279 jumbo bags of trash. This will be an on-going effort through the end of the year. Some of the next steps include trainning materials and workshops with parents and children at school. Banners will be placed in key areas like bus stop and construction sites.

Road before project

Road after cleaning

2010 Donors

We are very humble and inspired by the generosity we have witnessed in the first quarter of the year from those who have already contributed for this year´s projects. An especial thank you for the "Guy´s group" of Charlie Ewell for their commitment as a group but also as individuals. We also want to welcome and thank some new Friends of the Foundation for 2010:

Charles and Valerie Ewell

The Precourt Foundation

Frederick Warren

Bob and Patricia Dahl Foundation

Peter and Claire Newton

The Siebel Foundation

The Corroon Foundation

To find out more on how to become a Friend of the Foundation please go to the link: http://www.puntademitafoundation.org/puntademita/giving/index.shtml

Annual Report 2009

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 23:46:54 UT

The Punta de Mita Foundation defined its strategic priorities for 2009 according to the problems that were brought to our attention by the Smart Growth Report. The report outlined the primary issues and challenges that the communities of Nuevo Corral del Risco and Emiliano Zapata are facing and some of the potential solutions. With a vision of achieving sustainable development in the area, where our actions can reduce social imbalances and the unequal relationship between rich and poor sectors, the Foundation focused its time and resources to fund projects under these four main streams:

Employment and economic development
Education
Health
Garbage Pick-up and recycling and environmental education

Annual report 2009 (2.2 MB)

Download our full report for a detail explanation of the type of work done in each area. Some of them are projects that we developed ourselves, others are programs from local NPOs that we support, not only with funding but also with oversight of the implementation to ensure good accountability and adequate stewardship of the resources.

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

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. For more information of this program email: info@puntademitafoundation.org.

We want to thank our 2009 Friends!!!

Anne & John Marion
Charles & Valerie Ewell
Ernesto Truqui
Juan Carlos & Karla Yamin
John & Florence Youden
Kenneth Hersh
Kevin & Mary Grace Burke
Lonna Wais

Peter & Claire Newton
Ronald R. Budacz
Robert & Katherine Penn
Steve Dostart & Sharon Meers

Tim Koogle & Pam Scott
William & Gail Farquharson
Catherine Schmidt & Robert Karp
Barbara Henri
Robert Colman
The Precourt Foundation
The Levitt Foundation

Punta de Mita Foundation Video

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:18:41 UT

To see the Punta de Mita Foundation VideoClick here.