News from
December 2003
P.O. Box 30306 • Knoxville, TN, 37930-0306 • p/f: 865.690.3323 • e: [email protected]• www.casadesara.org
Note from the President, Executive Board of Directors
G
reetings! It is an honor to be the newly elected
President of the Executive Board of Directors for
Casa de Sara. I have been serving with the Board of
Directors for nearly two years, and I am very excited to work
for a foundation that is passionate about helping children who
not only need our help, but also deserve the chance to learn
and be healthy.
Many of us are aware of poverty and can see the pictures of
millions of children in need almost any day on our televisions
and in the news media. The strong emotions that such images
convey can be overwhelming and tempt us to feel that it is
hopeless to offer our support. But in truth this is when our help
is most needed and appreciated.
When I first considered volunteering I had to ask, ”why
help children in another part of the world when there are children in our own country in need?” It didn’t take me long to
reach the conclusion that my community is bigger than what
is in my backyard, and helping any child can only serve to
help our world.
This past year has been exciting for Casa de Sara with the
start-up of our escuelita. The children in our program are
learning and gaining in confidence. But there is still so much
work to be done. To secure a well-balanced future for these
children and many others we still need your support.
To our many donors, volunteers and our staff we thank you
for your dedication. Your many hours of time given without
any pay is a wonderful sacrifice that has put the children of
Casa de Sara first. And a special thanks is due to our Executive
Director and Founder, Lori Santoro. Her full-time job as a volunteer and her dream to make the world a more humane
place for children is why Casa de Sara exists today.
As the holiday season is upon us, we at Casa de
Sara wish you and your families happiness and peace. Our
work in Bolivia continues because you choose to be gracious
and caring and for that we cannot thank you enough.
Gracias,
Dan Frye
President, Executive Board
Graduation Day!
Our first year of school has ended
and eleven of the 25 students have
graduated from the Casa de Sara
Escuelita Kindergarten Program.The
remainder of the students will return
in 2004 along with new children.The
Bolivian school year ends in midNovember and begins again in
February.The children have received
a well-rounded early education they
otherwise would not have received.
Their curriculum included language
skills and beginning reading, introductory math, art, social development,
community field trips and healthcare.
Most importantly the children walked
away with a sense of accomplishment,
self-worth, and the importance of
working together and loving each
other. Our goal is to raise more funds to
provide elementary education and
beyond so the children can continue to
learn through Casa de Sara’s program
and not face an uncertain educational
future!
Casa de Sara is a 501(c ) 3 organization. All donations are 100% tax deductible.
Casa de Sara Snapshots
Left : A congratulatory hug given to a
student from the grateful Mother
Superior who oversees the tiny neighborhood where Casa de Sara’s little
school exists.
Right:The students had a unique opportunity for a “science“ field trip! They
learned how vegetable crops are grown
and cultivated.
Bottom: Students visited a local dairy
farm and learned about milk production.
At the end of their big day the students
were treated to a rare and special lunch
of traditional American hamburgers and
french fries!
The Children
Need Your
Support!
Please consider a
monthly donation in any
amount to Casa de Sara.
Here are some ways that you, or your organization or
company, can help through donations and sponsorship:
ESCUELITA
Teacher’s salary for one year:
Approx.
Teachers Assistant for one year:
Teacher supplies for one year:
Monthly expenses for one student:
Medical care for the children in the Escuelita for one year:
Uniforms for one year for all of the children (2 uniforms per child):
Field trips for the students (three per year includes lunch):
Music Program for one year to begin in 2004 (teacher and instruments):
$2800.00
$1400.00
$1500.00
$25.00
$1800.00
$125.00
$450.00
$1800.00
* Your $25.00 a month donation keeps one child in school for one year!
Newsletter Design donated by The Design Lab
Sara, Mexico, 1987
“All kids need is a
little help, a little
hope, and someone
who believes in
them”
Earvin “Magic“
Johnson