Overview
Friends
of Barrón
(FOB CANAM AC) is a community out-reach program dedicated to improving the
educational environment for the children of our neighbors in Barrón, Sinaloa,
Mexico. We have capital projects as well as scholarship programs. Annual fund
raisers are staged at Estrella del Mar (an adjacent 4 Star Golf & Beach
Resort) and include a 50/50 Draw, a charity golf tournament, a Fiesta Gala and
a Silent Auction. FOB CANAM AC derives almost a third of its revenue from
generous individual donations of EDM residents, their families and their
friends. Routine communication with our donors and other interested parties is through
the Internet website www.FOBNews.org.
About
Barrón
Barrón, Sinaloa is
a small town located 30 minutes from the city of Mazatlan and 5 km from the
community of Estrella del Mar (EDM). EDM is a luxurious, beachfront,
residential community with over 500 hotel rooms/condos and a Robert Trent
Jones 18 Hole golf course. Many of the staff that work at Estrella del Mar live
in Barrón so there has always been a close connection with the town and
Estrella.
Barrón has about
400 families and 3,000 people. Approximately 100 people of that population work
at Estrella del Mar. The majority of Barrón citizens earn their income from
agriculture although some commute into Mazatlan to work. There is a decided
lack of services in Barrón; there is no
doctor, no dentist and no pharmacy. The water tower pump is turned off at 7 am
so the only water available during the day is the water that is stored in rooftop
or underground cisterns.
There are a few
amenities ... there is a “panaderia”, the bakery, cleverly disguised as a
home on the outskirts of town on the road down to the river. There are many
small family stores, called "abarrotes", that sell some fruits and vegetables,
canned goods, candy and snacks. Ana Isabel Soliz, FOB CANAM’s Barrón Student
Liaison Official, efficiently runs one such store, “Chula’s”. There are two "depósitos" for beer purchases. There are even a few “cantinas”
scattered about, although they are hard to find. There is a small Catholic Church, which celebrates
mass at 7:00 a.m. on Sundays. Mass is in
Spanish and the service lasts about an hour.
The land dispute
between the “Ejiditarios” of Barrón (cooperative farmers) and EDM management was
recently resolved. EDM has its entranceway back and any residual hard feelings resulting
from this dispute are dissipating. It is important to remember that the
majority of the citizens of Barron are not Ejido members and therefore were not
involved nor did they have any say in this dispute. They also did not receive any of the
settlement money; only the 142 actual Ejido members did.
FOB CANAM AC is
involved with the students and their schools. We are not currently involved in
any Barrón projects outside of the schools. The pertinent fact is that many of
these kids want to come back to Barrón to help their community. Most Mexicans
come home to stay and work and raise their families where they grew up. From
reading our scholarship applicants’ essays, we know the majority wants to
return to Barrón after they complete their education. We believe that a proper
education will allow these future leaders of Barrón to make decisions that will
benefit all parties involved.
About
the Schools
There are four
levels of education in Barrón; Kindergarten, Primary School (Grades 1-6),
Secondary School (Grades 7-9) and an Adult School. Barrón has no High School (Preparatory
School, Grades 10-12). High School is not mandatory in Mexico so kids wanting
to further their education have to travel by local bus to Mazatlan or Villa
Union where they pay increased tuition fees and must buy their own books and
uniforms.
The Barrón schools
employ 3 principals, about 20 teachers and a few supporting staff. There
are also a number of parent volunteers that assist with various tasks in and
around the schools. The Barrón schools have a total enrollment of about 300
students aged 5 to 15 years. The Adult School is staffed by volunteer teachers and
has an enrollment of about 40 adult students
Kindergarten: Escuela Estella Ortiz de Toledo (9:00am –
12:00pm). There
is a principal, three teachers and 59 four and five year old students. Over the
past three years, FOB CANAM AC helped the school to add another classroom to
accommodate an increasing enrollment. FOB CANAM AC has been very active in
helping the kindergarten furnish the new classroom and has assisted in
electrical work and a new water system with functioning bathrooms. Recently we helped repair a classroom that
was gutted by fire and reroofed part of the school. Painting the school and equipping
the new classroom with shelves, chairs and desks was our priority for 2012. The
Kindergarten physical plant is now in good condition. We do not anticipate any
major new capital projects for 2013.
Primary School (Grades 1 - 6): Escuela Josefa Ortiz de Domiguez
(8:00am – 12:00pm). The primary school has a principal, nine teachers and an
enrollment of 225 kids. In past years, FOB has helped complete many projects at
the primary school, including a new computer classroom, library, bathrooms and
air conditioning for several of the classrooms. Small projects including
exterior paint and new desks for one classroom were completed for the 2012
school year at the primary school. Like the Kindergarten, the primary school
physical plant is much improved, although the electrical system now requires a
major overhaul. We may participate in this project in 2013. If the Primary
School parents can put up half of the cost, we will consider providing matching
funds.
Secondary School: (Grades 7-9): Escuela Profesor Juan Rodolfo
Lopez Monroy (1pm-7pm). The present secondary school principal started in
September 2009. There are three teachers who teach seven periods daily to about
120 students. Subjects range from computer technology to English, history,
science and math. In both 2010 and 2011, FOB CANAM AC matched funds raised by
the community to build a new computer classroom at the secondary school. Unfortunately, there were no matching funds
from FOB CANAM AC in 2012 because the community failed to provide their
contribution. Accordingly, the computer classroom project has not progressed in
2012. FOB CANAM AC will only participate in the completion of this project in
2013 if the community first raises the necessary funds or provides the labor
necessary to complete the classroom. In the interim, there are now 17
functioning, Internet connected computers in an air-conditioned, newly rewired classroom
thanks to our efforts.
High School: (Grades 10-12) (7:00 am –
1:00pm) The reality of Barrón is that it is a real sacrifice for families to
maintain the children’s education past the 9th grade due to the
increasing travel, book and tuition fees. Barrón is primarily a farming community and kids are regularly needed
to work in the fields to augment the family income. To help offset the cost of
continuing education, FOB CANAM AC has designed a scholarship program, open to
all 9th grade graduates, that offsets approximately half of the expenses
associated with attending high school. This program is unique to Barrón in that
it offers a hand up, instead of a hand out.
The ongoing achievements of the scholarship recipients are monitored
over the school year to maintain their eligibility for these scholarships.
Adult school: The Mexican Government sponsors a national program that allows
those adults who did not finish school to earn a degree. Elementary (Primary)
and Middle school (Secondary) degrees can be earned through a combination of
home study and classroom participation. A series of examinations is given to
ensure student progress toward the degree goal. Literacy classes are also
offered. Barrón has such an adult
school program. Even though this is a government sponsored and sanctioned
program, the only resources the government provides are curricula, books, exams
and degrees. They provide no funding, no school property, no classrooms, no
furniture and no teacher salaries. Accordingly, at the time FOB CANAM AC became
involved, the Barrón Adult School was
operating out of a dilapidated two-room building provided at no cost by the
Barrón Ejido. Two
teacher volunteers run the program with no compensation.
FOB
Activities
Construction
Projects
Kindergarten:
FOB CANAM AC donated $3040 pesos to buy paint and a small
amount of furniture to complete the new classroom project started in 2012. For
their match, the parents put in the labor to paint the school. We do not
anticipate any Kindergarten construction/improvement projects for 2013.
Primary
School: FOB CANAM AC donated $21,746 pesos to
buy exterior paint and roofing materials for the primary school in 2012. For
their match, 30 parents spent a weekend preparing and painting the entire
exterior of the school and applying the roofing material to one classroom roof.
We are now considering a request to rewire the school (total cost $70,000
pesos). This is not the kind of project where parents can provide a match with
their labor so they will have to raise half the cost in cash before FOB CANAM
AC will participate. As it stands now, several classrooms, including the
computer classroom are without power, a situation that begs the question, “What
is the Mexican Government and/or the
Ejido doing to remedy this problem”? We will need a believable answer to that
question before we can agree to participate.
Secondary
School: FOB CANAM AC does not plan to
participate in any construction or improvements here in 2013. An exception
would be made to complete the computer classroom if the community raises funds
that we would match.
Adult
School: FOB CANAM AC first became involved
with the adult School in January 2012. The two room Ejido-owned building where
the classes are held was barely serviceable. It needed a new cement floor, new
plaster and paint inside and out, a new roof, basic furnishings (desks, tables,
chairs, etc.) and new toilets. FOB CANAM AC donated $37,728 pesos and the adult
students and volunteer teachers themselves provided all the labor to complete
these projects in 2012. The physical plant is now serviceable, however both
volunteer teachers have experienced personal financial difficulties in the past
year requiring them to seek employment in Mazatlan. Accordingly, the Adult
School, while still operating, is not adequately staffed. FOB CANAM AC is
evaluating a request to fund a teaching position for the Adult School in 2013,
possibly hiring one of the volunteer teachers who has demonstrated leadership
abilities.
Scholarship
Program
2010 - 2011 School Year Scholarship
Winners (Group One)
In May of
2010, scholarships were awarded to 15 Barrón secondary school graduates. Nine
students in Group One remain in the program on scholarship and are in their
last year of Preparatory School. Hopefully, all nine will graduate and continue
on to other opportunities.
2011 - 2012 School Year
Scholarship Winners (Group Two)
In May
2011, the Scholarship Committee received 29 applications from the secondary
school graduates. Eight students were selected for scholarships. All eight
students finished their first year of Preparatory School in good standing and
remain in the program.
2012 – 2013 School Year Scholarship Winners
(Group Three)
Ten Barrón
Secondary School graduates were selected for scholarships in June of 2012 based
on their grades, attendance records and quality of their essays. All have
received their first semester grades and attendance records from their new
Preparatory Schools and we are pleased to report that all achieved “B” or
better averages and remain in good standing in the scholarship program.
2012 – 2013 School Year Scholarship Winners
(Group Four)
Seven
students whose parents work at EDM but do not live in Barrón
were selected for scholarships in November 2012. FOB CANAM Ac decided to open the
scholarship program to all EDM employees with eligible students (originally,
the program was only available to Barrón students whether or not their parents
worked at EDM). An eighth adult student was also selected for scholarship. This
student is a 33 year-old EDM security guard who had to drop out of school to
help his family when he was a boy. He wants to finish High School so he can
enter the university to study Business Administration. He has a family and two kids of his own.
Going forward, FOB CANAM will continue
to include EDM employees as well as Barrón Secondary School graduates for
available scholarships. Of the 35 students on scholarship, donors have adopted
15 individually. Each donor has been initially introduced to his or her student
via written correspondence. Donors who adopt students are encouraged to
personally connect with their adopted student and his/her family while the
donor is in residence at EDM. FOB CANAM AC facilitates this process by making
the initial contact and assisting with one-on-one donor/student (and family)
communication. It is the goal of FOB CANAM AC to have each scholarship student
adopted and financially supported by his/her adopted parent throughout his/her
high school years. Twenty scholarship
winners are available for adoption and these qualified students are hoping for
your continuing support. Please go to http://www.FOBNews.org/p/adopt-student.html
to review the biographical information and photos for all our scholarship
winners and to choose your student.
Scholarship
Program Description & Rules
Value of Each Scholarship; $6,000 pesos for the 2012-2013 school year; thirty-five scholarships
are current as of December 31, 2012.
·
The scholarship
funds are paid to the parents of the students three times beginning November
15, 2012; parents of each student receive 3 payments of $2000 pesos each; 15
Nov 2012, 15 Feb 2013 and 15 May 2013.
·
Continuation
of the scholarships and payments throughout the school year depend on the
students’ attendance and grades during the previous months. Students must
maintain at least an 8.0 (“B”) grade average and a 90% attendance record.
·
To
receive scholarship payments, the parents of the student are required to present
proof of attendance and grades to the Committee.
Qualifications and Selection of Winners
·
To be
eligible to apply for a scholarship, the applicant must have a minimum grade
average of 8.0 and an attendance of at least 90% for his/her last year of
secondary school.
·
Candidates
who meet eligibility requirements must complete an application. Aside from good
grades and attendance records, candidates are judged on the quality of their
applications and the required essay (no less than 300 words) explaining why
they want to further their education and what they plan to accomplish after
graduation.
·
No Selection
Committee member can have a son/daughter that is eligible for a scholarship.
Award of scholarships is based strictly upon merit. Financial need and/or “connections”
are not considerations.
Fund
Raising
Currently, FOB CANAM AC raises money five
different ways:
· Adopt-a-Student - To
support our scholarship program we encourage EDM residents and their friends to
adopt an individual student. There is a possibility that the sponsors and the
student can establish a personal relationship that will persevere beyond the
scope of this program. It is our desire to increase the opportunity for donors
and students to meet to enhance this relationship.
· Individual
donations - For the past three years, a third to a half of all FOB CANAM AC donations
have come from generous EDM residents and their friends and families. Many of
these donors know EDM employees and their families and many of our donors also have
relationships with Barrón residents who are not associated with EDM.
Most EDM residents have been to Barrón many times, have seen the schools and
understand the importance of their contributions to the kids of that community
and to the kids of EDM employees.
· Gala
Fiesta and Silent Auction –This
annual event provides significant revenue for FOB CANAM AC. Last year a wonderful evening with fine dining,
live music and dancing was hosted in March at the beautiful Las Villas Patio. The
highlight of the evening (and the biggest cash producer) is always the Silent
Auction where many valuable items donated by EDM residents and others are up
for bid. Participants compete for weekend getaways, local art, boat cruises and
a wide variety of other valuable items. If you are interested in volunteering
to help organize this Gala Event, please contact Dale Lyster at dlyster@shaw.ca or Dick McGuire at
richardmcg@aol.com
· 50/50 Draw - We also organize a 50/50 Draw during Super Bowl Sunday. This is really
just a bet. You chip in $50 pesos and bet that your number will be drawn out of
a hat. If it is, you get 50% of the pool. Half the time, the whole pool gets
donated back to FOB CANAM AC and half the time it’s not. Either way, we come
out winners.
· EDM
Charity Golf Tournament - The final
and important source of past revenue has been the EDM Charity Golf Tournament. Tournament
proceeds are used to support scholarship and school programs throughout the
Mazatlan School District. In 2010 and 2012, EDM generously donated to FOB CANAM
AC schools and scholarship programs.
Other
FOB CANAM AC Programs for 2013 and Beyond
Microfinancing is the
provision of financial services to low-income clients in poor communities who traditionally lack access to banking and related services. By providing clients access
to the capital they need for micro-loans to develop or expand a small business,
families in many of the poorest regions in the world can escape poverty and
build a better future for their children.
As
clients repay their micro-loans, the funds are recycled into new loans, thus
multiplying the number of poor people who can begin their journey out of
poverty. No project or endeavor is too small.
To test this idea, four projects were financed by a private donor in 2012. The projects were as follows.
·
One was helping to establish a small abarrote (grocery store)
·
Another was to finance a local artisan to fabricate bags and
purses from recycled plastic.
·
The third was to expand an agricultural activity to increase
citrus and mango production.
·
The last was to finance a small hog production operation.
Two
projects are now successful business and have paid back their loans in full.
One project failed and did not pay back the money and the last has paid back
half the money and is ongoing. This
positive success rate has encouraged FOB CANAM AC to pursue additional projects
FOB
CANAM AC is interested in further exploring microfinancing by working with consultant,
Lourdes Arellano, a Mexican government employee based in Mazatlán, to help entrepreneurs access government programs that support
such initiatives. As this activity evolves, our key components will be
the application process, educational programs and evaluation of business plans.
We will keep your apprised of progress with regular posts on FOBNews.org.
Financial
Report and Projections
General financial information concerning
total inflows from donations and other sources and uses of the money (outflows)
is routinely updated and published on the web site (www.FOBNews.org). Detailed financial information itemizing
each FOB CANAM AC financial transaction by date is made available to donors
upon request. The following tables present financial information for 2012 and
projections for 2013:
· Table
1 – Income, 2012 - Sources of Revenue by Category.
· Table
2 – Expenses, 2012 – Uses of Income.
· Table
3 - Summary of Financial Position as of December 31, 2012.
· Table
4 - Projected 2013 Expenses.
· Table
5 – Cash on Hand and Potential Other Sources of Revenue for 2013.
NOTE: All revenue
shown in Tables 1 – 5 is in Mexican pesos
Table 1
Income, 2012
Sources of Revenue by Category
2012 %
of
Total
1. Individual Donations
a.
EDM
Residents $103,399 26%
b.
Others
12,500 3%
2.
Fiesta
& Silent Auction 171,630 44%
3.
EDM
Charity Golf Tournament 80,000 21%
4.
Loans
& Returns 24,872 6%
TOTAL INCOME FOR 2012 $392,401 100%
Table 2
Expenses, 2012
Uses of Income
School
Construction Projects $40,944 Scholarships 154,000
Loan Paybacks
22,632
Fiesta & Silent Auction
Expenses 101,368
General Fund [1]
Expenses 9,275
TOTAL EXPENSES for
2012 $328,219
Table 3
Summary of Financial Position as of December
31, 2012
Cash Balance forward
from 2011 $
105,638
Total Income Jan 1 – Dec
31, 2012 392,401
Total Expenses Jan 1
– Dec 31, 2012 <328>
Cash available at Dec 31, 2012 $169,820
Table 4
Projected Expenses for 2013
·
Infrastructure
Projects
o Primary School electrical
$35,000
·
Scholarships
o 35 existing students (last half of current
school year) 140,000
o 26 existing students (first half of new
school year) 54,000
o 10 new students (first half of new school
year) 20,000
· Adult School teacher salary; 12 mo @ $2500/mo 30,000
· Micro-financing projects
60,000
·
General
Fund (miscellaneous expenses) 10,000
TOTAL $349,000
Table 5
Cash on Hand and Potential Other
Sources of Revenue for 2013
Cash balance forward
from 2012 $169,820
Individual donations
(estimate based on 2012 results)
115,000
Dinner & Silent
Auction (estimate based on 2012 results)
70,000
50/50 Draw (estimate
based on 2011 results) 10,000
EDM Charity Golf
Tournament (estimate based on 2012 results)
80,000
TOTAL $444,820
Other FOB CANAM AC Business
FOB
CANAM AC is registered as a non-profit “Civil Association” (AC) under Mexican
law. We have had our operating agreement prepared by a notario and registered
under the name FOB CANAM AC (all
caps). All transactions as of Jan 1, 2013 will be by check and all checks
written as donations are to be made out exactly in the name above. We have hired
an accounting firm to prepare the required submittals to the Mexican Government
and to account for all our financial transactions. Our accountant tells us that
Mexico, the USA and Canada have reciprocal agreements making charitable
contributions in any of these three countries tax deductible in the donors’
country of residence. We recommend that
donors check with their tax accountants to verify this. From now on, FOB CANAM
AC will provide each donor with an official receipt, which will include our
registration number identifying FOB CANAM AC as a charitable organization in
Mexico. FOB CANAM AC holds all funds in a business account at Bancomer, Golden
Zone, Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico.
We
are pleased to inform our donors that Aida Alvarado assisted us pro bono to get FOB CANAM AC registered
and set up with the Kelly accounting firm. Our accountant, Rudolfo Kelly has
also agreed to do all our accounting work pro
bono.
FOB CANAM AC Management
Team
Contact
any team member for information concerning project activities, updates,
questions, ideas and suggestions on how you can help.
[1]
The General Fund provides ready cash to cover administrative expenses and
support miscellaneous school projects that arise on short notice.
ANNUAL REPORT 2011
Meet Our Neighbors
Friends
of Barrón is a community out-reach program dedicated to improving the
educational environment for the children of our neighbors in Barrón, Sinaloa,
Mexico. We have capital projects as well as scholarship programs. Annual fund
raisers are staged at Estrella del Mar (an adjacent 4 Star Golf & Beach
Resort) and include a 50/50 Draw, a Fiesta Gala and a Silent Auction. FOB
derives almost half of its revenue from generous individual donations of EDM
residents, their families and their friends.
Barrón, Sinaloa is
a small town located 30 minutes from the city of Mazatlan and 5 km from the
community of Estrella del Mar (EDM). EDM is a luxurious residential
community with over 500 hotel rooms/condos and a Robert Trent Jones 18
Hole golf course. Many of the staff that work at Estrella del Mar live in Barrón
so there has always been a close connection with the town and Estrella.
Barrón has about
400 families and 3,000 people and approximately 100 people of that population work
at Estrella del Mar. The majority of Barrón citizens earn their income from
agriculture although some do commute into Mazatlan to work. There is a decided
lack of services in Barrón - there is no doctor, no dentist and no pharmacy.
The water tower pump is turned off at 7 am so the only water available during
the day is that which is stored in rooftop or underground cisterns.
There are a few
amenities ... a personal favorite is the “panaderia”, the bakery. There
are many small family stores, called "abarrotes", that sell some
fruits and vegetables, canned goods, candy and snacks. There are two
"depositos" for beer purchases. There are even a few “cantinas”
scattered about, although they are hard to find. There is a small Catholic Church, which gives
mass at 7:00 a.m. on Sundays. Mass is
totally in Spanish and lasts about an hour. Afterwards, you can find the fruit
truck and buy really fresh produce.
There have been
communication problems between the “ejideros” of Barrón (coop farmers) and EDM
management. There is an ongoing lawsuit involving the EDM entranceway land that
has yet to be resolved and yes, negotiations have been difficult, at times
unreasonable. But the majority of the citizens of Barron are not involved nor
do they have any say in this dispute.
Friends of Barrón
is exclusively involved with the kids and their schools. We are not currently
involved in Barrón projects outside of the schools. The pertinent fact is that
many of these kids want to come back to Barrón to help their community. Most
Mexicans come home to stay and work and raise their families where they grew
up. From reading our scholarship applicants’ essays, we know the majority wants
to return to Barrón after they complete their education. We believe that a
proper education will allow these future leaders of Barrón to make decisions
that will benefit everyone involved.
About the Schools
There
are three levels of education in Barrón, Kindergarten, Primary School
(Grades 1-6), and Secondary school (Grades 7-9); Barrón has no high school (preparatory
school, Grades 10-12) and high school is not mandatory in Mexico so kids
wanting to go to high school have to travel by local bus to Mazatlan or Villa
Union where they pay increased tuition fees and buy their own books and
uniforms.
Kindergarten: Escuela Estella Ortiz de Toledo (9:00am –
12:00pm). There
is a principal, three teachers and about 150 four and five year old students.
In 2011, Friends of Barrón (FOB) helped the school to add another classroom to
accommodate an increasing enrollment. FOB has been very active in helping the
kindergarten furnish the new classroom and has assisted in electrical work and
a new water system with functioning bathrooms.
Recently we helped repair a classroom that was gutted by fire and reroofed
part of the school. Equipping the new
classroom with shelves, chairs and desks is our priority for 2012.
Primary School (Grades 1 - 6): Escuela Josefa Ortiz de Domiguez
(8:00am – 12:00pm). The primary school has a new principal, nine teachers and an
enrollment of approximately 300 kids. In past years, FOB has helped complete
many projects at the primary school, including a new computer classroom,
library, bathrooms and air conditioning for several of the classrooms. Small
projects including exterior paint and new desks for one classroom are
contemplated for the 2012 school year at the primary school.
Barron, it's a real town, with real people... who just need a little help.........
The Barrón schools
employ 3 principals, about 20 teachers and a few supporting staff. There
are also a number of parent volunteers that assist with various tasks in and
around the schools. The Barrón schools have a total enrollment of about 600
students aged 5 to 15 years.
 |
| Estella Ortiz |
 |
| Primary School Classroom |
Secondary School: (Grades 7-9): Escuela Profr. Juan Rodolfo
Lopez Monroy (1pm-7pm). The present secondary school principal started in
September 2009. There are three teachers who teach seven periods daily. Subjects range from computer technology to
English, history, science and math. For the past two years, FOB has matched
funds raised by the community to build a new computer classroom at the
secondary school. Hopefully this project will be completed in 2012. In the
interim, there are now 17 functioning, Internet connected computers in an air
conditioned, electrically safe classroom thanks to our efforts.
High School: (Grades 10-12) (7:00 am –
1:00pm) The reality of Barrón is that it is a real sacrifice for families to
maintain the children’s education past the 9th grade due to the
increasing travel, book and tuition fees. Plus, kids are regularly needed to
work in the fields to augment the family income. To help offset the cost of
continuing education, FOB has designed a scholarship program, open to all 9th grade graduates, that
offsets approximately half of the expenses associated with attending high
school. This program is unique to Barrón in that it offers a hand up, instead
of a hand out and that students are selected based on their academic
achievements. The ongoing achievements
of the scholarship recipients are monitored over the school year to maintain
their eligibility for these scholarships.
FOB
Activities
Construction
Projects
 |
| THE NEW KINDERGARTEN CISTERN |
Kindergarten: FOB donated 48,000 pesos to complete various
construction and repair projects at the kindergarten during 2011. Most of the cash was provided as matching
funds to build and furnish a new classroom for the growing student body. Other
funds were used to repair a leaky roof, fix a broken water pump and repair a
classroom that had been damaged by an electrical fire. We do not anticipate major new construction
projects during the upcoming year, although we do have a request to help with
the installation of an air conditioning system at a total cost of 34,000 MN. We do not consider this request to be a
priority and probably will not respond to this request this year. Instead we
will match their funds to finish the new classroom as a library with bookshelves,
tables and chairs.
Elementary School: In 2011, the school
was in a state of transition with a new administration and we did not
participate in any projects. This year, we have already met with the new
principal and have been approached with new projects, such as new exterior
paint and new classroom furniture.
Secondary School: The project to build a new computer classroom
for the secondary school started in 2010 with FOB helping the school to raise
$25,000 MN to obtain a government match of $25,000 MN to begin the project. By
August of 2010, the foundation and walls of the classroom were up. The 2011
fund raising effort to complete the roof raised another $25,000 MN ($15,000 MN were
raised by student families in Barrón and $10,000 MN contributed by FOB). The
money was deposited with the Mexican government, which provided a $25,000 MN
match. With the $50,000 new construction pesos, the families of Barrón saw the
computer classroom project take another step toward completion. The secondary
school hopes to raise sufficient funds in 2012 to install doors, windows and a
tile floor to make the building useable for the 2012 – 2013 school year. FOB
will participate in this ongoing project on a fund-matching basis as we have in
past years except that this year, the cost to complete the project will be
considerably higher than the basic masonry construction completed to date.
Scholarship Program
2010 - 2011 School Year Scholarship Winners (the original group)
In May of
2010, scholarships were awarded to 15 Barrón secondary school graduates.
The scholarships each amounted to $10,000 MN and were to provide support
for these students to attend high school in Mazatlan. Five payments of $2,000
MN each were to be made to the parents of these students at regular intervals
throughout the school year. Students had to present acceptable grades and
attendance records to receive payments. Of the original 15, two students were
dropped from the program in November 2010 for lack of adequate grades. At the
end of 2010 - 2011 school year, nine of the 13 remaining, original students
were selected, based on grades and attendance, to continue on the scholarship
program for the 2011 - 2012 school year.
Scholarships
for this group have been reduced for the 2011-2012 school year and are now
worth $6,000 pesos MN, paid in three installments (Nov 15, 2011, Feb 15, 2012,
and May 15, 2012). As always, the Scholarship Committee will approve each
payment based upon grades and attendance records.
2011 - 2012 School Year Scholarship Winners
In May
2011, the Scholarship Committee received 29 applications from the secondary
school graduates. Eight students were selected for scholarships based on their
grades, attendance records and the quality of their application and essay. The
value, payment procedures and schedules for these scholarships are the same as
for the original students, described above.
Scholarship
donors adopted all students from the original group. Each donor has been
initially introduced to his or her student via written correspondence. Donors
who adopt students are encouraged to personally connect with their adopted
student and his/her family while the donor is in residence at EDM. FOB
facilitates this process by making the initial contact and assisting with
one-on-one donor/ student (and family) communication. It is the goal of FOB to
have each scholarship student adopted and financially supported by his/her
adopted parent throughout his/her high school years. The eight new scholarship
winners are now available for adoption and are hoping for your continuing
support. Please go to http://www.FOBNews.org/p/adopt-student.html
to review the biographical information for our new scholarship winners.
Scholarship Program Description & Rules
Value
of Each Scholarship; $6,000 MN for
the 2011-2012 school year; Seventeen scholarships were current as of December
31, 2011.
- The scholarship funds are paid to the parents of the students three times beginning November 15, 2011; parents of each student receive 3 payments of $2000 pesos each; 15 Nov 2011, 15 Feb 2012 and 15 May 2012.
- Continuation of the scholarships and payments throughout the school year depends on the students’ attendance and grades during the previous months. Students must maintain at least an 8.0 (“B”) grade average and a 90% attendance record.
- To receive scholarship payments, the parents of the student are required to present proof of attendance and grades to the Committee.
Qualifications and Selection of Winners
- To be eligible to apply for a scholarship, the applicant must have a minimum grade average of 8.0 ("B") and an attendance of at least 90% for his/her last year of secondary school.
- Candidates who meet eligibility requirements must submit an application. Aside from good grades and attendance records, candidates are judged on the quality of their applications and the required essay (no less than 300 words) explaining why they want to further their education and what they plan to accomplish after graduation.
- The Selection Committee consists of the secondary school Principal, one teacher and one parent. No selection committee member can have a son/daughter that is eligible for a scholarship. Award of scholarships is based strictly upon merit. Financial need or connections with EDM staff or residents are not considerations.
Fund Raising
Currently, FOB raises money five different ways:
- Adopt-a-Student - To support our scholarship program we encourage EDM residents and their friends to adopt an individual student. This way, there is a possibility that the sponsors and the student can establish a personal relationship that will persevere beyond the scope of this program. Individual relationships are very important in Mexican culture.
- Individual donations - For the past two years, almost half of all FOB donations have come from generous EDM residents and their friends and families. Many of these donors know people in Barrón, have been to the small town many times, have seen the schools and understand the importance of their contributions to the kids of the community.
- Gala Fiesta and Silent Auction – This annual event provided a significant FOB revenue in 2011. The date for 2012 has not yet been set, but in the past we have selected a warm evening in March and put on a wonderful meal with dining, live music and dancing by the pool. The highlight of the evening (and the biggest cash producer) is always the Silent Auction where many valuable items donated by EDM residents and others are up for bid. Participants compete for weekend getaways, local art, delicious baked goods, boat cruises and a wide variety of other valuable items.· . To see a list of last years’ donated items
go to http://laslagunitas.wordpress.com/fiesta-silent-auction/.
If you are interested
in volunteering to help organize this Gala Event, please contact Dale Lyster at dlyster@shaw.ca or Dick/Kris McGuire at krisvadale@aol.com.
- 50/50 Draw - We also organize a 50/50 Draw during Super Bowl Sunday. This is really just a bet. You chip in $50 pesos and bet that your number will be drawn out of a hat. If it is…you get 50% of the pool. Half the time, the whole pool gets donated back to FOB and half the time it’s not. Either way, we come out winners.
- EDM Charity Golf Tournament - The final source of past revenue has been the EDM Charity Golf Tournament. Tournament proceeds are used to support scholarship and school programs throughout the Mazatlan School District. In 2010, EDM generously donated to FOB school programs. In 2011, this was not the case but we hope that in 2012, EDM will again list FOB amongst its charity recipients.
New FOB Programs for 2012 and Beyond
Micro finance is the
provision of financial services to low-income clients in poor communities who traditionally lack access to banking and related services. By providing clients access
to the capital they need for micro-loans to develop or expand a small business,
families in many of the poorest regions in the world can escape poverty and
build a better future for their children.
As
clients repay their micro-loans, the funds are recycled into new loans, thus
multiplying the number of poor people who can begin their journey out of
poverty. No project or endeavor is too small. FOB is actively studying the feasibility of
becoming involved in micro financing. We are currently evaluating the
feasibility of several small projects proposed by would-be Barrón
entrepreneurs. As this activity evolves, our key components will be the
application process, educational programs and evaluation of business plans. We
will keep your apprised of progress with regular posts on FOBNews.org.
Financial
Report and Projections
General financial information concerning
total inflows from donations and other sources and uses of the money (outflows)
is routinely updated and published on the web site (www.FOBNews.org). Detailed financial information itemizing
each FOB financial transaction by date is made available to donors upon
request. The following tables present financial information for 2011 and
projections for 2012:
· Table
1 – Income, 2011 - Other Sources of Revenue by Category.
· Table
2 – Expenses, 2011 – Uses of Income
· Table
3 - Summary of Financial Position as of December 31, 2011.
· Table
4 - Projected 2012 Expenses
· Table
5 – Cash on Hand and Potential Other Sources of Revenue for 2012
NOTE: All revenue shown in Tables 1 – 5 is in Mexican pesos
Table 1
Income, 2011
Other Sources of Revenue by Category
2011 %
of
Total
1. Individual Donations
a.
EDM
Residents $86,875 31%
b.
Others
30,825 11%
2.
Fiesta
& Silent Auction 101,850 36%
3.
50/50
Draw 8000 3%
4.
Other
Sources
a.
Returns 22,200 8%
b.
Exchange
rate adjustments 13,210 5%
c.
Loans
18 ,535 6%
TOTAL INCOME FOR 2011 $281,495 100%
Table 2
Expenses,
2011
Uses
of Income
Construction
projects
Kindergarten
$48,022
Secondary School 13,241
Scholarships
112,469
Loan Paybacks 18,535
General Fund [1]
Expenses 9,668
TOTAL EXPENSES
for 2011 $201,935
[1]
The General Fund provides ready cash to support miscellaneous school projects
that arise on short notice (e.g.: the Kindergarten fire that required immediate
matching funding for repairs)
Table 3
Summary
of Financial Position as of December 31, 2011
Cash Balance forward from 2010 $ 26,078
Total Income Jan 1 – Dec 31,
2011 281,495
Total Expenses Jan 1
– Dec 31, 2011 <201,935 >
Cash available at Dec 31, 2011 $105,638
Table 4
Projected
Expenses for 2012
·
Construction
Projects
o
Secondary
School computer classroom)
$80,000
o
Primary
School exterior paint and
classroom furniture 20,000
·
Scholarships
o
17 existing
students (last half of current school year)
68,000
o
17
existing students (first half of new school year) 34,000
o
15 new
students (first half of new school year) 30,000
·
Micro-financing
projects 100,000
·
General
Fund (miscellaneous expenses) 20,000
TOTAL $352,000
Table 5
Cash on Hand and Potential Other
Sources of Revenue for 2012
Cash balance forward
from 2011 (actual) $105,638
Individual donations
(estimate based on 2011 results) 110,000
Dinner & Silent Auction
(estimate based on 2011 results) 100,000
50/50 Draw (estimate
based on 2011 results) 10,000
EDM Charity Golf
Tournament (estimate based on 2010*) 80,000
TOTAL $405,638
* No contribution was provided by EDM in 2011
Other FOB Business
FOB
Management is currently evaluating the benefits and costs associated with
registering FOB as a non-profit “Civil Association” under Mexican law. We have
had two meetings with a “notario” and one with an accountant to help us
understand the process, benefits and costs. We expect to make a final decision
as to whether or not to proceed by January 15, 2012. Our decision will be
communicated by post at www.FOBNews.org. We are hoping that one of the major benefits
will be tax-deductible receipts for American and Canadian donors.
FOB Management Team
· Dick McGuire of Virginia Dale,
Colorado. krisvadale@aol.com
Condo 105, EDM, Mexico
Contact
any team member for information concerning project activities, updates,
questions and ways that you can help.
