Supporters go beyond the typical monthly check or online donation and find innovative ways to support AMIGOS' programs
Two International Board members and an alumnus have found creative ways to give back to AMIGOS.
Walking for AMIGOS
Ed Cazier, a long-time supporter of AMIGOS, recently walked the final 110 km of the 1000-year-old Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in northwest Spain with several family members. Ed said that part of the reason for the journey was to connect with family and escape from the daily grind, but he also generously used the opportunity to raise money for AMIGOS.
Ed asked friends and family to support the trek, which lasted April 26 to May 3, through online donations to AMIGOS.
On his web page, Ed shared his reason for supporting AMIGOS, “For those of you who are unfamiliar with AMIGOS…I believe that it is the premier youth leadership program in existence, as well as a great example of North American sharing and collaboration to help build civil society in Latin America. I now serve on the Amigos Board of Directors, but was a Volunteer and staff member during 1976 - 1981, and I consider it one of the greatest experiences of my life.”
Ed’s daughter, Maria Isabella, was also an AMIGOS Volunteer.
You can read details about the trip on Ed’s web page.
A Twist on a Wedding Gift Registry
Diane Lorence and her fiancé, Steve Wight, will be married in June, and they have sent invitations asking guests to make a donation to AMIGOS in lieu of a gift.
“We decided we absolutely do not want presents — we have all we need. We had to combine two 20-year-old households and purge a lot, and we also felt that we are blessed and would like to defer material gain to make a difference in the world,” Diane explained.
Lorence, winner of the 2007 Philip C. Johnson III Veteran Service Award, volunteered with AMIGOS in 1976 as a 20-year-old college student. She is the current AMIGOS medical director and has two sons, Dominic and Alex Dabrowiecki, who also participated in AMIGOS.
Steve is a middle school teacher and Diane is a Family Practice doctor in the San Francisco Bay area.
“I support AMIGOS because of the incredible and indelible lifelong impact it makes on every single Volunteer and family, host family and community that AMIGOS goes to, and I have had AMIGOS in my life in many renditions since 1976.”
NCAA Tournament Winnings
Alex Mazerov, a 2004 Volunteer in Mexico, thought of AMIGOS when he recently won an NCAA tournament pool. He finished third overall and his prize was $150 to donate to a charity of his choice.
"When I found out I had won, AMIGOS was the first organization to come to mind," Alex explained. "I had a great experience in Guanajuato in the summer of 2004, and I helped out the Washington D.C. Chapter as a veteran trainer the year after."
Alex said that he hopes to return to AMIGOS on Project Staff during a future summer.
"Donating my winnings seemed to be the perfect way to contribute until I get a chance to volunteer again," he said.
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