Iris is our success story.  She originally joined the scholarship program in 2014. She went unsponsored until Jim & Sue Baillon stepped up to the plate and sponsored both her and Teresita, who remains in University. Teresita is now sponsored by Bonnie McGuire Wreschner and she is set to graduate next year. Iris has been sponsored by Dick & Kris Mcguire since 2016. Although Iris has struggled in her academic career (she went on probation at least twice) but each time, she pulled her grades up to again qualify for the program. In the interim, she has matured in a beautiful young woman with goals and aspirations. Her scholarship will continue for another year as she serves her year internship in physical therapy.

Iris, a student sponsored by Jim & Susan Baillon for the academic year 2014-2015.

Iris & her proud father at her University graduation ceremony. He is a long-time EDM employee. Dick & Kris Mcguire are her proud sponsors.

To all,

Our charitable organization, Friends of Barron (FOB CANAM INC) has sponsored medical clinics in the small rural community of Barron, Sinaloa, Mexico since 2015.  Dr Bonnie McGuire and her team of volunteer doctors and nurses have performed three week-long, free clinics thus far.  Each annual clinic has treated between 200-300 patients.  The objective of these clinics has not only been to provide vital medical services but to demonstrate the need for a permanent clinic to the townspeople and the government of the state of Sinaloa.

The people of Barron have recently petitioned their government to build, staff and equip a new permanent clinic.  Recently, the government has committed to do so.  The community of Barron has donated the land for the project and FOB and Barron have raised $20,000 USD.  We hope to have a clinic operational by this time next year.

Once operational, FOB and our volunteer doctors and nurses will resume annual intensive clinics in cooperation with local doctors.  We anticipate our focus to be more on medical staff training and education as well as patient treatment.  We would be pleased and grateful for volunteers for these future clinics.  Meanwhile, check out our blog site fobnews.org and feel free to contact Dr. McGuire directly for additional information.

The long-awaited medical/dental clinic for the town of Barrón is glimmering with renewed hope. Historically, an objective of the three “Pilot Clinics” that were pioneered by Dr. Bonnie McGuire, Dr. Rod Kassa and Dr. Ben Kaasa was to evaluate the need and desire of the community to have a permanent clinic with a doctor, full time nurse and part-time dentist.  The community response was overwhelmingly positive. Friends of Barrón presented the idea of building a permanent clinic to the Ejido president and he invited us to present it to the Ejido general assembly on two occasions.  The assembly unanimously voted to donate the land for the clinic.  They then appointed a committee of four local women, plus the Ejido president and FOB to move the program forward.  Over the last three years, the committee and FOB raised $400,000 pesos for the project.

In March 2018, Barrón solicited the help of the Mazatlan government to build, equip and staff the clinic.  The committee and FOB were invited to present the project to the MZT president and his staff.  They approved the project and within three months provided plans and budget.  Then the president lost the election in July.  The committee presented the project to the new administration and they rejected it due to lack of funds.  At that point, we thought it was dead.  The committee decided that the only option was to solicit Sinaloan state government help.  Luckily, the Barrón Ejido president had a good contact in Culiacán who scheduled an audience with the governor’s Chief of Staff and the Secretary of Health and Social Development.

A delegation drove to Culiacán and presented the project. Surprisingly,  they approved it and said they had the budget to build, equip and staff the clinic.  A week later the Secretary and his entourage of 10 people came to Barron to see the site for the clinic and discuss further details.  During the meetings the Secretary of Health was texting the Governor, explaining the project to him.  Before the meeting was over, the governor called to approve the project.  That was early March.

Three weeks later the Ejido Assembly met and signed over title to the land to the state of Sinaloa.  The Medical Clinic project is now in the hands of the State.  Friends of Barrón feels that the clinic will be built but, as always in Mexico, we will believe it when we see it.  We have their promise, let’s celebrate when they break ground.

Friends of Barron would like to thank Estrella del Mar, Señor Carranza and Jorge Corral for their donation of $50,000 pesos. These funds will go a long way to fulfill the committment that Friends of Barron has made to the people of Barron. In the past eleven years, we have augmented school infrastructure, aided students in their pursuit of higher education, provided micro-financing for upstart businesses, installed computer labs at the primary, secondary and prep schools and provided medical and dental clinics to bring the wonders of modern medicine to this tiny agricultural outpost. Please remember that it is due to the efforts of a gardening staff made up primarily of Barron residents that make this golf course so attractive. Friends of Barron would also like to thank the following Estrella del Mar residents who have selflessly participated in the achievement of the lofty goals set forth by Friends of Barron:  Dale Lyster, Richard McGuire, Claire Silk, Margaret Perez, Jeremy Kennell, those who support our 33 scholarship students and all the people who assist with the clinics. Thank you, players, for coming out to the charity golf tournament every year. I guaratee the money will be put to good use.

The Barron Ejido president, Jorge Hilario Espinosa formed a committee of four Barron leaders to solicit local government (municipality of Mazatlan) support and funding for the project. The committee has raised $50,000 pesos in Barron for the project so far.

The Ejido of Barron has donated the land for the new clinic and has transferred title to the municipality of Mazatlan.

FOB CANAM INC has committed $400,000 pesos to the project.  We have also offered to help equip it once built.  We have raised $300,000 pesos to date.

The government has agreed to build and staff the clinic and has produced plans and budgets.  They estimate a $1,600,000 peso construction project.

Elections were in July and a new municipal president will take power this month.  So far his administration has verbally agreed to pursue the project.  Obviously, this participation is key to success.  We have been told that nothing will happen until the new administration takes control. We will routinely advise you of progress.