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Orphanage News:
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Stars of the Month – October 2007
- Jim and Mary Nelson
- Peter Wege
- Frances S. Daugherty
- The Hickey Foundation
- St. John Student Parish in East Lansing Michigan
- Lions of Michigan Foundation
- Joe and Gerri DeLamielleure
- Christ’s Harbor Church in Laguna Vista Texas
- Commercial Investments – South Padre Island Texas
- Kahiki Foods in Gahanna Ohio
- Richard Lilly
- Ray Buffmeyer
- Patricia Murray
- Barry and Ellen Tudelson
- Craig Murray
- Jim Nicholson
- East Lansing Michigan Rotary Club
- Tony and Sharon Conti
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Building Update - October 2007
As of October 2007, we have almost completed 5 buildings. The buildings that have been constructed include Ciudad Central, our largest building at 8,000. square feet. The Medical building, Director’s home, a Boy’s home, and a Girl’s home. We are now beginning building 6. When the initial 6 buildings are completed, there will be over 17,000. square feet of living space out of the total of 33,000 square feet for the total project. We expect to have the 6 buildings completed by March 2008 and begin to serve 40 children at that time. The orphanage will eventually serve 120 children once the 12 buildings are completed. The number of buildings and children served will expand from 6 to 12 as we can demonstrate our ability to fully fund the project each year.
In March of 2008, we expect that $550,000. will be expended on the project with $450,000. in cash and $100,000. of donated materials and in-kind gifts. Once the initial 6 buildings are completed and the facility is open, it will take $250,000. to operate the orphanage each year and an additional $450,000. to complete the additional 6 buildings to reach the total of 12 buildings. The entire orphanage made up of 12 buildings and 33,000. square feet will be built at $30.00 per square foot. 100% of all donations made to the orphanage are put directly into the project. No board member or leader of the project receives any donated monies for compensation for their work on this project. It is important to emphasize that the orphanage is being built to not only house and feed the children, but provide them with spirituality, education, vocational and bilingual training so the children will be employable and contributing citizens of the Matamoros community, who can ultimately give back to the orphanage and sustain our efforts in perpetuity. Individuals interested in making donations, building a home for the children and having the opportunity to name the building after their family, etc. can do so by contacting John Shinsky directly at 517.881.2426. It is important to note that all donations go directly to the Capital Region Community Foundation (CRCF) 6035 Executive Drive, Suite 104, Lansing, MI 48911
Phone: 517.272.2870, which is a tax exempt [501 (c) (3) ] for charitable gift purposes, and provided tax receipts for all donations.
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Stars of the Month - May 2007
Stars of the month is a special recognition of individuals, businesses, organizations, etc. that have provided support for The City of Children of Matamoros project. The stars of the month of May 2007 include: - Joe and Geri Delamielleure
- Dick Idzkowski
- Ilene Ingram
- Art & Tracy Kelly
- Rick Lilly
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Building Update
Damon Nolan, the Building Supervisor, has been working very hard at leading the building effort to ensure that we meet our timeline of opening the orphanage by May 1, 2007. The current status of building efforts as of November 2006 include the following. Two septic systems have been completed along with sewer lines placed around the entire project. The cement pads and block work for the walls for Ciudad Central and the Director’s home have been completed. We are currently waiting for the trusses for both of the buildings to be delivered within the next two weeks. We are beginning the ground preparation for laying cement pads for the boy’s dorm, the girl’s dorm, and the medical building. Windows and doors with be installed in Ciudad Central and the Director’s home as soon as we receive and put the trusses in place.
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Stars of the Month - November 2006
Stars of the month is a special recognition of individuals, businesses, organizations, etc. that have provided support for The City of Children of Matamoros project. The stars of the month of November 2006 include: - Joe and Geri DeLamielleure
- Kellie and Marylin Dean
- Mark Rutledge
- St. John’s Student Parish in East Lansing Michigan
- St. John’s Rotary Club
- East Lansing Rotary Club
- Grand Rapids Rotary Club
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Financial Donations Needed to Meet Grant Timeline
In March 2006, a Foundation informed our board that they will award us $100,000. toward the building of The City of Children of Matamoros Orphanage project if we spend $440,000. on the project by March 2007. This is a tremendous gift from a very generous foundation that has a successful business in the Matamoros Community. Our board is working diligently to raise the appropriate funds to access this grant. While this grant is a tremendous support, we still need $200,000. to complete the first phase of the orphanage. We prayerfully encourage anyone who has the heart to donate, to do so prior to March 2007 so that we can access the Foundation donation. If we cannot match the funds by March 2007, we will loose the opportunity to obtain the grant. Please help us reach our goal by making a donation online at www.shinskyorphanage.com or by writing a check to CRCF City of Children of Matamoros Mexico and sending it to the Capital Region Community Foundation 6035 Executive Drive • Suite 104 • Lansing, MI 48911 517.272.2870. CRCF is tax exempt [501(c) (3)] for charitable gift purposes.
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Tony Hernandez from the Maestro Turgin Group Donates Publicity Folder
Tony Hernandez, owner of the Maestro Turgin Group, in Madison Heights Michigan, donated his and his staff’s time to create a beautiful folder that highlights The City of Children Orphanage project. The folder highlights numerous pictures of children and their needs in the Matamoros Mexico community. The folder is very professionally done as serves as an excellent communication tool for information and fundraising activities. A special thanks is extended to Mr. Tony Hernandez and his staff for this outstanding resource.
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Detroit Lions National Football League Alumni Golf Outing a Success
The Detroit Lions National Football League Alumni Golf Outing held on June 5, 2006 at the Plum Hollow Country Club in Southfield Michigan, generated $13,900. for The City of Children of Matamoros Mexico Orphanage project. The golf outing recognized Michigan State players from the past with NFL Hall of Fame member Joe DeLamielleure serving as the Honorary Chairman of the event. Several former NFL players and coaches attended the event. Some of the key football players and coaches present included: Brad VanPelt, George Perles, Al Dorrow, Hank Bullough, Reggie McKinsey, Kellie Dean, Brian McConnell, Bob Saleh, Mike Danielewicz, Dean Look, and many others. John Shinsky, Project Leader and Dr. James Matthews, Board member, represented The City of Children of Matamoros Mexico Orphanage project at the event. We extend our appreciation to Tom Nowatski, Mark Lewis, and David Helmer for their leadership in organizing this event. We are deeply grateful to the Detroit Lions National Football League Alumni group for selecting our project as the beneficiary of their 2006 golf outing fundraiser.
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Study Reveals a Large Number of Children in Matamoros Mexico in Dire Need of Food, Shelter, Safety, Education, Employment, and Emotional Counseling
A study of the various communities in Matamoros was completed by a Public Attorney from Victoria Tamaulipas, Mexico, to determine the potential need for a facility like The City of Children. It was clearly evident that there is a significant number of children living in poverty with limited educational and vocational opportunities. A number of children are also exposed to alcoholism, abuse, and neglect. The study concluded that a facility like The City of Children is needed and would be very helpful in offering a safe, nurturing, healthy environment for children who are currently living in poor conditions. In addition, providing children with educational and vocational opportunities along with emotional counseling to guide them through their past experiences would be beneficial.
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Official Groundbreaking
The official groundbreaking ceremony for the building of Ciudad De Los Niños De Matamoros A.C. – The City of Children of Matamoros A.C. took place on Wednesday, September 28, 2005. A significant number of people participated in the official groundbreaking of the orphanage. Members or our Board of Directors joined parents and children from the local community, members the Matamoros Community Foundation, Presidenta Honoraria del DIF - Marcela Ronquillo de Hinojosa, Joe DeLamielleure, National Football League Hall of Fame member and many others joined together to lay the first block of the new orphanage. Damon and June Nolan along with John and Cindy Shinsky joined hands in recognizing the work of the entire Board and many supporters in making this dream takes its first step toward reality. Special recognition was made for Mr. Antonio del Pozo and his staff at the Matamoros Community Foundation for taking the lead in organizing the successful groundbreaking event.
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