In this issue...

• Personal Thanks from the Founder & CEO
• Student Events
• Original Art Postcards for Sale!

t’s a huge undertaking to start a non-profit charity; it’s an even bigger task to keep it going … especially in a foreign country. It is a job of the heart, one that you must truly love. It’s a job that never ends, but it’s one that can start to make a difference. It is a job of personal sacrifice and immense dedication.

People who get involved with charities should not expect 9-to-5 hours because helping others has no time limit. They understand that satisfaction is found in the “doing” because the work is never done. They find their rewards in smiles and happiness, not bonuses or raises. They work for the most important reason of all – to make a difference.

I want to thank everyone who has helped Casa de Sara in the past six years. I give my deepest thanks to Oscar Tordoya Parada, who runs Casa de Sara in Bolivia. Without his day-to-day supervision, Casa de Sara could not function. For their hard work and uplifting spirits, I also wish to thank our teachers, Maria Ugenia Mojica Tejada and Arminda Guzman Aualos; our “Saritas,” Irene Moscoso Teran and Mariela Miranda Solares; our doctor, Honorio Edwin Escalante; our cook, Solidad Rocha Flores; and all our summer-school staff, past and present. They are the ones on the “frontline” every day, dealing with the many problems and issues facing our children and their families. Thank you to our board of directors and distinguished advisory board for helping with so many aspects of our organization and staying motivated for our very important cause.

I’ve worked with some of you at 2:00 in the afternoon and some at 2:00 in the morning, but somehow we always manage to get it done!

Thank you to volunteer accountant Missy Sponcia for keeping the financial details of Casa de Sara together and in tip-top shape. A special thanks also goes to Patrice Shallow who was our previous volunteer staff accountant and kept it all running before Missy could take over.