Community

Education Projects abound in Zihuatanejo, here’s a few philanthropic endeavors that are showing results (1).

Zihuatanejo’s SailFest 2006
By Michel Janicot

For the fifth consecutive year, Zihuatanejo will be host of the annual SailFest Regatta, an event whereby sailors (cruisers), locals and tourists participate in a fun-filled week of races, raffles, auctions and sailing-related activities designed to benefit the city’s poorest schools.

The fun begins February 1st at Rick’s Bar on Cuauhtemoc Street, home of the cruisers’ watering hole, with a kick-off party, a live auction and a raffle drawing for gifts and services donated by more than 200 local businesses. On February 2nd, a beach party and games day at La Madera’s MJ & Richie’s restaurant will feature a second raffle drawing. A pursuit sail race will take place on February 3rd, followed by a dinghy poker chase on February 4th and a chili cook-off and street fair. A silent auction and raffle drawing are also scheduled for that afternoon. Sunday, February 5th, will be the highlight of the event as the sailboats invite tourists onboard for a colorful procession around the bay and Ixtapa island. Later that afternoon, at MJ & Richie’s, a wrap-up barbeque, beach party, awards and a final raffle drawing will end the festivities.

Weekend work parties—composed of cruisers, parents, neighborhood volunteers, gringo expatriates and tourists—gather to repair, build, plant trees or repaint school structures. Volunteers may sign up at Rick’s Bar.

Each year, the amount of money raised is matched by the Bellack and Underwood Foundations, who have founded a Mexican non-profit corporation, Por Los Niños de Zihuatanejo, AC, to administrate and distribute the funds raised by SailFest activities. Last year’s proceeds, more than 40,000 dollars, were dedicated to six schools, as well as for student and teacher scholarships. Por Los Niños’ nine-member advisory committee, composed of both international and bilingual Mexican residents, has distributed over 230,000 pesos to various educational projects and has pledged an additional 200,000 pesos to future projects.

In addition, five other schools have approached the organization for funding, which according to Lawrence “Lorenzo” Marbut, the general administrator for Por Los Ninos, will be based on a clearly defined need and availability of funds. Furthermore, requests that include supplementary funds from other sources, and parent-provided labor when appropriate, will generally receive a higher priority.

Por Los Niños de Zihuatanejo, in partnership with SailFest, the city of Zihuatanejo and the Zihua Rotary Club International, has established the “Nueva Creación Building Fund” to help build a new, permanent primary school for 152 of our poorest children on 5,000 square meters of land donated by the city. And only two months ago, Por Los Niños, in association with the Zihuatanejo Rotary International Club, held a benefit concert at the Blue Mamou Blues Club that raised an additional 2,500 dollars for the Fund. Compassionate local residents chipped in 2,000 dollars more.

So, dear readers, we count on you to support SailFest to help with whatever monetary means you can afford—even a ten peso raffle ticket—for those children in need. They’ll thank you.

Additional info: the bulletin board at Rick’s Bar; www.zihuasailfest.com; lorenzo@porlosninos.info; www.losninos.us

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