News from GRACES

From now through Dec. 31, we’ll be tallying donations in our year-end campaign to see A) which state has the most individual donors, and B) which state donates the largest total amount to help us feed the future in Guatemala! At press time, Pennsylvania was in the lead for the total amount given and there was a six-way tie for individual donors. Don’t see your state on the map yet?…

Help us feed the future in Guatemala Today is #GivingTuesday! Did you know that the families GRACES serves have an average household income of $240 per month? As you can imagine, the daily necessities are difficult to obtain with such limited resources. Food is precious and not taken for granted. When children receive breakfast and lunch at school five days per week not only does it have a dramatic impact…

Entire class graduates from Escuela Integrada for first time since 2019 On Thursday, Nov. 9, every student from the 9th grade class at Escuela Integrada graduated. The class was one of the biggest in program history with 18 students, all of whom will receive a scholarship to continue their studies in a vocational or college-prep program next year. The graduation rates for the previous three years were 93% in 2022,…

English opportunities expand for students through GRACES and partnerships GRACES continues to seek opportunities to support the expansion of English language learning programs in Guatemala. This year, Escuela Integrada began a Saturday English program for two groups of 15 students each. The students practice English through dialogue, songs, games, flash cards, stories and prayers. The leadership of Escuela Integrada hopes to expand the program next year to continue equipping students…

This week, 181 students at Escuela Integrada received a new pair of shoes! Each pair of quality tennis shoes gave the students supportive footwear. Many of the students walk long distances to and from school and having supportive shoes makes a big difference. A special thanks to all of the sponsors and Northview Bible Church who provided the funding for every child to receive a new pair of shoes!

Did you know that GRACES receives 80 percent of its funding from individual donors? The remaining 20 percent comes from a combination of foundations, businesses and churches. Eighty percent of the funding GRACES receives goes directly to program support in Guatemala. Financial accountability is a key priority for GRACES. In April, GRACES obtained ECFA Accreditation, which required an external, independent compilation. To maintain this accreditation, GRACES will undergo an independent…