Pedro Zaragoza Fuentes Helps Rehabilitate Community Center

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The Francisco I. Modero Community Center has recently been rehabilitated in Juarez, Mexico with three million square feet of construction and an area of one thousand meters square.  The center was redone with an investment of 29 million pesos for infrastructure and 19 million for equipment.

The new center was inaugurated on Friday with a long list of important government officials.  The opening saw Secretary of Social Development Heriberto Felix Guerra, Governor Cesar Duarte, Mayor Hector Murguia, businessman Pedro Zaragoza and Magdy Martinez of the United Nations Organization present.

The center teaches more than 30 workshops such as carpentry, cooking, sewing and pastries, computer classes, English, sports and more.  There are also art workshops sponsored by the Federal Government that include drama, music and dance.  This is the only community center in Juarez of the 41 that has a pool, two soccer fields, two basketball courts and a dome.

Here is an example of the many charitable activities that the Pedro Zaragoza Vizcarra Foundation does.

 

Cellphones for Soldiers

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Connecting to Soldiers to Their Loved Ones

In 2004, Brittany and Robbie Bergquist set up Cellphones for Soldiers using a mere $21 from their own pockets.  At the time, the siblings were 13 and 12 respectively.  Today, the worthy charitable organization has raised more than $7m in donations.  As a result, more than 500,000 pre-paid calling cards have been sent to American soldiers overseas, which equals 114 million minutes of free talk time.  Now the plan is to convert old cellular phones into around 12 million minutes of prepaid calling cards for these soldiers.  To make this happen, the charity needs to collect 50,000 old cellphones every month.

Through its incredible work, Cell Phones for Soldiers has enhanced the lives of soldiers and their loved ones, by facilitating their communication connectivity through otherwise impossible circumstances. These soldiers – working for all of America – receive free communication tools wherever they are stationed.  Anything that is donated that equals $5 (a used phone or a monetary contribution) results in 2.5 hours of free talk time for soldiers.

According to Bob Bergquist, Brittany and Robbie’s father, “Cell Phones for Soldiers started as a small way to show our family's appreciation for the men and women who have sacrificed the day-to-day contact with their own families to serve in the U.S. armed forces.  Over the past few years, we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of others. But, we have also seen the need to support our troops continue to grow as more troops are sent overseas for longer assignments.”

 

Giving Hope to Cancer Patients

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All cancer patients need hope. No matter what their prognosis, feeling some kind of hope is the only way they can carry on.  Thus the City of Hope – nearly 100 years old – is a phenomenal charitable organization that helps these patients live with a little hope.  The organization is recognized around the globe for how compassionate it is toward patient care.  As well City of Hope is a leader in biomedical research and treatment and education institution, engaging in innovative scientific projects, and developing breakthroughs in the world of cancer research that ultimately result in new therapies, which have led to the improvement of the patients’ quality of life and have thus again given more hope to these patients.  Indeed, some of the biggest advances in modern medicine have come from the organization’s physicians and scientists who have “offered insights that have reshaped the world's understanding of diseases.”

The City of Hope is located near LA, California.  Director of the Beckman Research Institute of the organization is Dr. Richard Jove, who is also a professor of Molecular Medicine.  He studied at Columbia University, Rockefeller University and the State University of New York, Buffalo.

Pedro Clean Up

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Drinking Water Distributed – Free for the Southeast and West

Pedro Zaragoza Vizcarra Foundation, Lucerne Milk BipGas, will join the Board of Municipal Water and Sanitation (JMAS) to distribute free water in the southern colonies (east and west of the city) that are currently not connected to such a facility.

Veronica Jimenez, director of the Foundation, said two trucks belonging to the enterprise will be distributed, on a schedule, as of today in 22 colonies.  She said that around 6,000 families will benefit from this, being the recipients of 800 liters of water on each distribution day.

Tankers have a capacity to charge between 15 thousand liters of water per trip. According to the schedule in the division, every Monday the trucks will go to Plazuela de Acuña, San Rafael, Plazuelita and Tarahumara. On Tuesday they will go to Golden Valley, Desert Farms and Eye of God. By Wednesday, the tour begins in Loma Blanca, then  Emiliano Zapata and will end in in San Isidro Extension. Thursday’s schedule will be in Lomas de Poleo Alto, Lomas de Poleo Low, Santa Elena Farm and New Millennium.  On Friday it will go to Polo Gamboa, Peasant, Villa Esperanza, United Farm Bello Horizonte.  The schedule will begin daily, at 10 am prompt.

The families concerned will be contacted by the Foundation which will also be in touch with the Bipgas and Lucerne Group to provide trucks, drivers’ salaries and water transfer.  It was also indicated that over the hot summer months, the high temperatures that affect our city impacts everyone but it is the children and low-income seniors who do not have the basic service of water in their homes, so are more exposed to health problems who are the most vulnerable.  Jimenez also pointed out that this program is activated each year by the Foundation and the Zaragoza group, generating very good results.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

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The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation seeks to “help all people lead healthy, productive lives.”  It firmly believes all lives have “equal value” and thus tries to provide the resources people are lacking to ensure they have enough food and live above the poverty line.  Health and (adequate) wealth are the foundation’s main aims.  In America, the charitable organization (headquartered in Seattle, Washington) works toward facilitating and enabling access to educational opportunities for all, leading to a greater chance of being successful in life. The foundation’s co-chair is William H. Gates Sr., CEO Jeff Raikes, and directed by Bill and Melinda Gates as well as Warren Buffet.  Their mission is to “increase opportunities for people in developing countries to overcome hunger and poverty.”

The three main areas the foundation works in are: Global Development, Global Health, and United States.  In the first, work is done to reach as many people as possible in the areas that have the most potential for “high-impact, sustainable solutions”; in the second, attempts are made for progression in science and technology to save lives in poor countries, focusing on health issues and in the third, the  United States Program work, is geared towards citizens achieving the best – and most – education possible.

Central Neighbourhood House

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The Central Neighbourhood House, is Toronto, Canada’s second oldest settlement house. For the past century, both staff and volunteers have been working together with the neighbourhood to find out what is missing in their lives and what the House can offer.  It has been working for this goal since 1911.  There are many gaps in society unfortunately, and this is what the CNH recognizes through its efforts. 

Therefore, we offer: childcare services; a variety of programs for children and youth; special club for women; stroke survivors club; in-home services; a program for vulnerable seniors; a community development program; a supportive housing initiative; street survivors initiative and more.

The CNH has been located in various different neighbourhoods throughout the last century due to economic concerns or to move to a bigger place so it could develop and offer more services.  Today the CNH can be found at 349 Ontario Street, where it has been for more than 40 years.

The House tries very hard to provide much needed services, but at the same time to offer extra-curricular activities for children so that it’s not all just about need, but fun too.  For example, there has been a music school; a dressmaking course and more.  The idea is that those in need should get more than just what they need; they should get what they want and enjoy too.

The Valerie Fund

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When nine-year old Valerie Goldstein passed away after a battle against cancer, her parents Ed and Sue didn’t want her death to be forgotten.  They thus established the Valerie Fund, back in 1976, in her memory.  The fund’s aim is to “provide support for the comprehensive health care of children with cancer and blood disorders.”

Thirty-five years after its founding, there are today, seven Valerie Fund Children’s Centers for Cancer and Blood Disorders located in tri-state hospitals which offer comprehensive health care to over five thousand children and their families every single year.  This makes up the biggest network of healthcare facilities for children with cancer and blood disorders throughout New Jersey, making it one of the largest in the country, with more than 25,000 patient visits annually.

The Valerie Fund seeks to treat the “whole patient” and the “whole family.”  This means that it focuses not just on the physical needs of the individual, but also their emotional needs.  And since cancer impacts the entire family as well, the Valerie Fund notes that and provides support and counseling for siblings and parents as well.

ThanksUSA Helps Military Families

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ThanksUSA evolved in quite an interesting way.  Two sisters, Rachel and Kelsi, were on a family vacation in August 2005 when they got the idea to help families of military troops.  While participating in a treasure hunt, they were inspired to think of creating some type of a treasure hunt program for soldiers.  ThanksUSA is short for “Treasure Hunt Aiding Needs of Kids and Spouses of those serving the United States of America.”

ThanksUSA is a non-partisan, charitable organization that mobilizes Americans to thank those in the armed forces.  They have two interconnected programs.  They have a national treasure hunt that raises awareness and funds for scholarship programs.  They use the money raised to provide need-based college, technical and vocational school scholarships for children and spouses of those who are serving.

This year, the 2011 Stephen Curry ThanksUSA Charity Golf Tournament will focus on ThanksUSA and benefit the organization.  Participants will include NBA star Stephen Curry and other sports and entertainment VIPs, local community leaders, military people and more.  The event will take place on September 26, 2011 at the Presidio Golf Club in San Francisco, California.

AmeriCaresHelps Disaster Victims Around The World

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AmeriCares is a disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization which gives immediate response to emergency medical needs. It also supports long-term health care projects for people in the United States and around the world.

One of the projects AmeriCares has been focusing on is  helping victims and refugees from the Darfur conflict. After the expulsion of aid organizations from Darfur, Sudan in March 2009, a massive group of refugees fled for safety to the neighboring country Chad. Families searched everywhere for water and food. They had no medical supplies or care.

In response to this continuing humanitarian crisis, AmeriCares continues its long-standing commitment to Darfur refugees and continues to deliver emergency aid valued at $800,000 per airlift. Americares’ supplies hospitals and clinics serving Darfur refugees in Chad desperately needed medical supplies.

The airlifts contain lifesaving medical supplies, including antibiotics and medicines to treat wide spread post-traumatic stress and depression. Sea shipments follow the airlifts. It supplies humanitarian relief and first aid items, such as blankets, bandages and ointment to treat wounds.

The supplies help care workers on the ground to provide immunizations, doctor’s visits, maternity care, children’s health services and emergency surgeries for victims of violence. Over 65,000 patients were helped in the last quarter of 2009.

After years of turmoil and war, refugees continue to suffer. During the last 3 months in 2009, nearly 100 babies were born in the Guereda Hospital which helps refugees in Chad. AmeriCares’ regularly sends prenatal vitamins to both Sudan and Chad to help moms-to-be and their unborn children. These airlifts contain approximately $150,000 worth of the critical vitamins to help improve the mothers’ and babies’ health.

Since 2004, AmeriCares has sent medicines, supplies and equipment to Darfur, Sudan and neighboring Chad. AmeriCares has undertaken 11 airlifts to Darfur, delivering over 175 tons of help valued at more than $6 million. By the end of 2009, AmeriCares had delivered seven shipments to Chad. These included over 50 tons of supplies and medicines valued at more than $4.4 million. The shipments of help bring AmeriCares’ total medical support for Darfur refugees to over $11.2 million.

Enterprise Community Partners

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Enterprise Community Partners assists in building and/or repairing affordable housing for low income families. They work to assist communities or to build new communities so that families can have the security and peace of mind. All of the units that they build are green, making sure to use water and electricity effectively and the additional costs of green construction are made up in cost savings in future years.

An example of Enterprise Community Partners in action followed the three hurricanes that swept the gulf coast. The levees along the coast line gave way and many homes along the shore were destroyed. These were mainly low income families’ homes. The main possession of these people was their homes. People had lived there for generations in these houses and now entire communities were destroyed.

Enterprise Community Partners (ECP) came in with four pronged strategy to save the situation.

First, ECP worked with all levels of government to support polices that would help recovery and would make building a priority.

Second, they formed partnerships to strengthen local organizations to help in the immediate recovery work and to steer ongoing building activities.

Third, ECP designed innovative housing designs and construction methods that would be appropriate for that region.

Fourth, ECP gave and raised capital for ongoing construction work that would be sustained after the initial emergency relief ended.  They committed to give up to 200 million dollars to repair and build up to 10,000 homes.

So far, ECP has invested $135 million and has repaired or built over 5,000 homes.

Enterprise Community Partners (ECP) helps in the following ten locations: Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, the Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, New York, Northern California, Ohio, The Pacific Northwest, and Washington D.C.

Thanks to ECP, many low income families have the peace of mind of living in decent homes.