Update on School Construction Projects

Posted on April 12, 2011 by The Secret Gardener

Friends of Barron just donated $9500 MX to match kindergarten parents’ work and donations to complete the new classroom at the Barron kindergarten. Funds were used to buy bookshelves, coat racks, teacher’s desk, a whiteboard and a wall-mounted television. The parents painted the classroom, leveled and graveled the ground outside the classroom and donated miscellaneous furniture to finish the job.

The project to build a new computer classroom for the secondary school started in 2010 with FOB helping the school to raise $25,000 MX to obtain a government match of $25,000 MX to begin the project. By August of 2010, foundation and walls were up. The 2011 fund raising effort to complete the computer classroom with roof, doors and windows raised another $25,000 MX ($15,000 MX raised by student families in Barron and $10,000 MX contributed by FOB). The money was deposited with the Mexican government with the expectation of winning another $25,000 MX match. With these $50,000 new construction pesos, the families of Barron hope to see the computer classroom finished before the next school year begins in August 2011. Once the building is complete, the Mexican Government is offering to outfit the classroom with 30 new computers.

Project Update

Posted on February 15, 2011 by The Secret Gardener

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM : The 2010-2011 school year scholarship program to provide 50% of the cost to send 15 Barron kids to preparatory school (high school) in Mazatlan began in August, 2010. Each scholarship is worth $10,000 MX payable in five successive installments throughout the school year. Each successive payment requires students and parents to present grades and attendance records to the parent-teacher committee. We are now half-way through the school year and of the 15 students that started the program in August, 13 remain and are producing good grades and attendance. Two students were dropped from the program in October 2010 because they failed to present grades and attendance records. The parent-teacher committee will evaluate final grades and attendance records at school year end to decide which students are eligible to continue on the program for the next school year. The success of our fund raising efforts will determine whether we will be able to fund the students already in the program and accept new applications from this years’ secondary school graduating class.
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS; Secondary School: Last year, FOB helped the Barron secondary school raise $25,000 MX to build a new computer classroom. The Mexican Government matched the $25,000 pesos for a total of $50,000 MX. Work began in July, 2010. Foundations and walls were completed before the funds ran out. FOB is again helping the secondary school raise another $25,000 MX by March 15, 2011 with the hope of getting another government match. With the next $50,000 MX, we hope to see the roof and floor completed so that the space, although not ready to be a computer classroom, will at least be usable as an instruction classroom in 2012. If fundraising goes as planned, the computer labs will be fully equipped and operational in 2013.
Kindergarten School: The Barron Kindergarten is overcrowded to the point that the principal had to give up her tiny office as a classroom. The principal now conducts her business under a tree in the schoolyard. The parents of the kindergartners raised $22,000 MX in cash and materials to begin construction of a new classroom. This was enough to lay the foundations and put up the walls, but not enough to finish the project to the point where a classroom is usable. The parent-teacher committee appealed to FOB for assistance to finish the project and we agreed to commit $20,000 pesos to the effort. This amount will get them a roof and a floor and make the classroom usable (if it doesn’t rain). Meanwhile, they are looking at ways to raise more money for doors, windows and electrical wiring.
FUNDRAISING: During the period January 2010 – January 2011, FOB raised $322,000 MX from the following sources:
Individual donations : 56%
Charity Golf Tournament: 22%
Dinner & Silent Auction: 17%
50/50 Super Bowl Draw: 5%
Fundraising this year is off to a much slower start with individual donations standing at about $15,000 MX. No commitment yet from the Charity Golf Tournament (we are hopeful that this will surpass last years’ generous donation), $8000 MX from the 50/50 Draw and hopes for a successful Fiesta Dinner and Silent Auction on March 5th, 2011. As always, your generous support of Barron’s kids is greatly appreciated.

50/50 Draw a Success – Bill Foster Wins!!

Posted on February 7, 2011 by The Secret Gardener

The recent 50/50 Draw at the Super Bowl Party can be called a success. Over 100 people bought tickets creating a pot of exactly $8000 pesos. The lucky winning ticket was selected by Los Delfines head waiter, Gabriel and belonged to La Jolla patio home owner Bill Foster. Perhaps ennervated by the impending Green Bay Packer win, Bill generously donated his winnings to the Friends of Barron general fund. This will enable the foundation to continue its scholarship program which helps send 13 Barron youth to high school in Mazatlan as well as helping to complete the secondary school computer lab. Thank you Bill Foster and all of you who bought tickets.

Fall Progress Report

Posted on November 8, 2010 by The Secret Gardener

Scholarship Program
With the recent generous donation of $9600 pesos by Sonny Wong, we have now raised almost $97,000 pesos towards our goal of $150,000 pesos to fund the 2010-2011 scholarship program to send 15 Barron students to preparatory school in Mazatlan. Thanks so much for your generosity.

Each of 15 student parents received scholarship payments of $2,000 pesos in August and October of 2010. Parents are required to present grades and proof of attendance for their students before payments are made. The next payments will be distributed 15 Jan 2011.

Computer Classroom
Friends of Barron donated nearly $24,000 pesos toward construction of a new computer classroom at the secondary school. The total budget for this project is estimated to be around $250,000 pesos. The Barron community (including the FOB contribution) and the Mexican Government match amounted to about $100,000 pesos in funding for this project for 2010. The money was used to complete foundations and walls for the new classroom. Fundraising will continue for this project in 2011.

Library
The library, located in the Barron primary school, opened to the public in March, 2010. FOB funded a 6 month position for a librarian to maintain a regular schedule to keep the library open outside of school hours. In December, we will review the usage and public interest in the library.

Are You Ready to Adopt-A-Student?

Posted on May 14, 2010 by The Secret Gardener

The Friends of Barron Adopt-A-Student Program was initiated on 20 April 2010 with seed money provided by the Fiesta Gala held at Estrella del Mar (EDM), La Lagunita Palapa on 3 March 2010. EDM is a Residential Community on Mexico’s Riviera, just south of Mazatlan, Mexico. Because many of our employees live in the neighboring town of Barron, Friends of Barron was formed to assist in improving the educational status of Barron’s children. Some of the monies raised have gone to establish a Scholarship Program for Junior High School graduates. Applications along with an explanation of the program and its administration were provided to the 40 students who will graduate in June 2010 from the Junior High School in Barron. Each scholarship awarded is for the 2010-2011 school year to attend a preparatory school in Mazatlan. The total cost is estimated to be $1600 USD per student/year. Each scholarship is for 50% of that amount or $800USD.

A committee consisting of the Junior High School principal, teachers and parents was formed to review applications. The application period opened on 20 April 2010 and closed on 1 May 2010. Forty applications were received and of these, 13 were selected as qualified candidates. Two candidates were considered marginal with respect to grades and were awarded probationary status pending their performance on the last 2 academic periods of this school year.

Full funding of the Scholarship Program will depend on additional cash contributions (any amount you are willing to donate) and/or a willingness by donors to Adopt-A-Student for one full or 1/2 school year ($800 or $400 USD). One of the benefits of Adopting a Student could involve a mutually beneficial cross cultural experience with a local family. Friends of Barron will facilitate introductions of Adopters and Adoptees and their families.

Donations need to be received by 15 Jul 2010. Please contact FriendsofBarron@aol.com to receive information on exactly how to contribute. Your donations will be accumulated in a bank in the US and transferred to a bank in Mexico where the school principal and/or the head of the parent committee can access the funds for distribution to each family pursuant to the program rules.

Generally, the rules are as follows:
Scholarship payments will be made to each family every two months beginning 15 Aug 2010. There will be five payments of $2000 pesos each for the 2010-2011 School Year.
Continuation of the scholarship and payments will depend upon attendance and grades of each student during the previous two months.
To receive scholarship payments for the next two months, the parents of the student will be required to present proof of attendance and grades for their student to the Committee.
The program will be administered by the head of the Parent/Teachers Committee and local ranch owner.
Get to know the student candidates!
To see the students and read a brief bio, please click on the header link above “Adopt-A-Student” tab. Then scroll down through the list. If you see someone whom you would like to adopt, send an email to FriendsofBarron@aol.com. Please include the student’s name in the subject line and be sure to identify yourself in the text body. Any comments or questions you have will be welcome. If you would like to donate any other amount of money to the program, simply click on the Chip In.com link on the sidebar.
Thank you for your support!

Scholarship Program Update

Posted on March 29, 2010 by The Secret Gardener

The Friends of Barron Scholarship Committee, in cooperation with the Barron Secondary School, is currently putting the finishing touches on the application form. The baseline survey to establish the degree of need within the community has been completed by Barron parents and scholarship applications will go out on April 12, as soon and the kids return from Easter Break. Completed applications are due April 19 and after that time, the Parent/Teacher Selection Committee will begin to evaluate the applicants. So far, we have four entities willing to either contribute directly to the scholarship fund or to Adopt-A-Student: The Drury College Golf Team, Dave & Lindy Marvin, Marty & Cathie Sattler and Dick & Kris McGuire. We have not yet finalized the numbers, but it looks like the total cost to send a kid from Barron to prep school in Mazatlan is about $1600 USD per year. We plan to offer scholarships for about 70% of this cost. If you would like to participate in this program, please contact Friends of Barron. Details will be posted on the Adopt-A-Student/Scholarship page in the very near future.

Kindergarten Project Update

Posted on March 20, 2010 by The Secret Gardener

The Friends of Barron 2010 project to improve the kindergarten water and electrical systems has been completed. Last week, the “Fathers of the Families” completed the project by clearing away the construction debris, leveling the site and spreading the pea gravel hauled in using Friends of Barron funds. Thank you to the Fathers who contributed their time and effort and thank you to our donors.

Thank You!! Thank You!!! Thank You!!

Posted on March 5, 2010 by The Secret Gardener

Many thanks to all who donated to the auction and participated in the Friends of Barron Fiesta and Fundraiser held at EDM La Lagunita Condo Complex on March 3, 2010.

Proceeds from the auction were $3636 USD and proceeds from the Fiesta ticket sales after expenses were $833 USD. The event also encouraged some who could not attend to donate; Thank you very much Sam Perricone – $250 USD and Tom &; Linda Turner – $250 USD.

Total proceeds from this event = $4969 USD

The money will be put to good use in support of current projects for the three schools in Barron. To see the 2010 Project List, just click on the link to the right, “2010 Wish List”.

What did we buy in 2009?

Posted on December 31, 2009 by The Secret Gardener

2009
The Annual Estrella del Mar Golf Tournament donated $6,000 US to Friends of Barron. The following items were purchased for the schools:

Kindergarten
1 computer
Bookshelves in each of the 3 classrooms
2 TV’s donated by Simon and Lauri Stribling
3 Flip Charts
Retiled one roof because of leaks
Elementary
1 computer
6 tables and 36 chairs (hired local carpenter)
Secondary
Rewiring to bring in 220v electricity to school
1 computer
Cistern and pump for the bathrooms
Town of Barron
In March, 2009, Estrella del Mar sponsored a winning Little League Baseball Team by providing team uniforms.

FOB CANAM INC {501(C)(3)}

We Invest In Human Capital

Tag Archives: Friends of Barron