A new bus is on its way!
We made it to Cerro de la Cruz! Our microbus completed its symbolic journey from the school, to the market, the Central Park, the Santa Catalina Arch, and Cerro de la Cruz, marking the end of the fundraising campaign to purchase a new bus!
With your support, we raised more than $53,000, which will allow us to purchase a new microbus for GRACES. At press time, the total raised was $28,000 in individual donations and a match of $25,720 from an anonymous donor. Both individuals and our anonymous donor supported this initiative with more than we originally hoped for!
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making this a possibility,” said Hannah Nadeau Girón, executive director of GRACES. “The new bus will allow us to serve more people on Vision Trips, support the school with additional needs and continue our mission of providing food for families.”
Our staff are researching the best bus option and are hoping to purchase the bus by November. Keep an eye on our Facebook page and Instagram account to see the big reveal when we have a new bus! And start thinking of names… We want your creativity to help us name the new bus!
Guatemala is turning 204 years old
Every year on September 15 Guatemala celebrates its own Independence Day. Schools and businesses are closed and festivals of every kind can be found to honor the day Guatemala earned its independence from Spain. Homes are decorated with the colors of the Guatemalan flag, with the white a symbol of peace and the blue a symbol of unity.
For the students at Escuela Integrada, the annual celebration also includes a day of civic action on Thursday, Sept.11, where the students will present information, songs, poems and dances about Guatemala for their families. On Friday, the entire school will go on a field trip to participate in a national celebration, and Monday, Sept. 15 is a day off of school.
We invite you to celebrate Guatemala Independence Day with us from your home in whatever way you choose! Consider making a Guatemalan dish like Pepían, enjoy an agua fresca (horchata or jamaica), learn a traditional Guatemalan dance or wear your favorite souvenir shirt from Guatemala. Want to share your experience? Send us a photo or video! Email it to info@wearegraces.org.
Thank you, sponsors!
We just wrapped up Sponsor Appreciation Week! From September 1-5 sponsors received postcards and video messages from their sponsor kids at Escuela Integrada. It’s a special time for us to celebrate everything sponsors do for the kids and families at the school.
Thank you to all of our sponsors for your financial support and for being champions for our students! Your prayers and love truly makes a difference in these kids’ lives!