Giving a Smile

How to Help

2010-07-18T18:41:00.000-07:00

Bring on the Toys & Supplies if you are coming to Guatemala!

The items we are looking for are just the same as kids anywhere would love with a few exceptions. Battery operated toys are not requested (batteries are expensive and are unlikely to be replaced )The kids we are aiming to help may not have electricity and may not even know what a PlayStation is, so toys that depend on electricity are also not required. Simple toys such as, but not limited to, hair ribbons, coloring books, crayons, stuffed animals, balls, bats, spinning tops, sports balls (football, basketball, soccer) for older boys. Even maybe some of the models (car and airplane models) that the boys glue together and paint, nail polish, make-up kits, perfume, a diary, a small pocketbook, crafty things, inexpensive jewelry (Dollar store type), hair ribbons, things like that.

School supplies, such as; backpacks, backpacks, and more backpacks, calculators, markers, English/Spanish dictionaries, binders, notepads, lunchboxes, pens, pencils, erasers, rulers, & anything else that would be appropriate for school aged children would be great! I am sure you get the idea.

We DO ask that it is NEW, no second hand items please. We also ask that the toys be unwrapped so they can be

sorted and given to a suitable child.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR NAME GOES IN EVERY

PACKAGE SO THAT WE CAN THANK YOU ON OUR LIST OF SUPPORTERS!

Financial Donation via Paypal

If you are not visiting Guatemala soon you can still help by making a donation via Paypal. Please note, you do not need to have a Paypal acount, any credit or debit card will be OK. Any amount is fine, whether it be $5, $10 or $100. This money will be pooled together and the organizers will buy items on your behalf.

All donations will be personally delivered and all financial donations will be spent by the organizers on the purchase of gifts for the children. There will be no cash passed on to ensure that the aims of the project are met. All funds may be periodically audited by an independent 3rd party.

Get the Word Out

Let everyone know about Giving a Smile. The more publicity the better! With your help we can make the lives of these children a little bit brighter and brings smiles to their faces....

Our Mission

2010-07-18T18:40:00.000-07:00

Our mission is to give a smile to children living in extreme poverty. It can be done with your generous contribution.

Giving A Smile is a small group whose aim is to improve the lives of the less fortunate children in and around San Andres Xecul, Totonicapan Guatemala.

We simply ask for a small donation or if anyone who is coming to vacation in Guatemala to bring with them, some toys, school supplies, or other appropriate gifts for these children.

After our successful 2007, 2008, 2009 drives, that resulted in more than 1000 donated items, we are continuing our efforts in 2010 with collections for, "back-to-school", the Christmas holidays and any other opportunities that present themselves throughout the year.

Who We Are

2010-07-18T18:39:00.009-07:00

Giving a Smile is a non-profit young group of humanitarian dedicated to give a smile to the less fortunate children, their families and their communities. We accomplish our goals primarily through financial support. Our work currently benefits more than 1,000 poor children.

The aid began in 2005 with providing water, food and clothing to the homeless and immigrants living in the canyons of San Diego County. After seeing the great need of many people in the area of San Diego it was decided to form a small group and help the needy in and around San Andrés Xecul, Guatemala.

Image Gallery

2010-07-17T22:20:00.015-07:00

Giving a Smile 2010

Previous Years

Videos

2010-07-17T22:20:00.013-07:00

Our Brief History

2010-07-17T22:20:00.011-07:00

The "Giving A Smile" program was initiated by Juan Martin Sajche, Julio Cesar Mazariegos, Rene Francisco Xum, Francisco Hernandez, Martin Vasquez and Cecilia Vazquez.

Juan Martin is a credentialed teacher that has been actively involved in community service projects since 2005 in San Diego, California.

Julio Cesar and Rene Francisco have also been involved in various projects in San Andres Xecul, Guatemala.

Francisco Hernandez, Martin Vasquez and Cecilia Vasquez have been dedicated to fund-raising for this project. The Giving A Smile program is design to have people donate toys, school supplies for the less fortunate children in Guatemala.

Along with the support of local businesses in Guatemala and volunteers, we are set to continue growing in our efforts to GIVE A SMILE on more and more of the less fortunate children in the area.

Children We Serve

2010-07-17T22:20:00.009-07:00

Poverty is a place where there is a scarcity of hope, and an excess of fear.

With parents struggling to make ends meet on a few dollars a day, it is all too common for impoverished children to never get a new toy.

Their bare, calloused feet, dirt-caked faces and tattered clothes tell their story of struggle.

For many, education is considered a luxury. Lacking such things as school supplies or uniforms can keep a poor child from attending school. We wish to provide them with school materials in the future.

The children we serve live in Nimasa, Palomora, Chajabal, San Andres Xecul, Guatemala.

backgrounds

2010-07-17T22:20:00.007-07:00

Smiling Contributors

2010-07-17T22:20:00.005-07:00

If you've donated and don't see your name LET US KNOW!!!


Isabel Chan Julia Chan Familia Paxtor Andres Juan Saquic Pedro Chan Ramon Vasquez Tomás Nora Muñoz Apolinario Chan Ricardo Vasquez Jonathan Mimi Pollack James MacKenzie Juan Cux Russell	Lorenzo Cux D. Saquic Juan Chuc Alberto Chuc Pedro Chuc Juan Santay Juan y Janet Chuc Julio Chan Agustin Alvarez Francisco Hernandez Pedro Hernandez Fernando Loranca Martin Cux Martin Vasquez Ramona Cux

A BIG THANK YOU TO

Julio Mazariegos,
Francisco Xum
Mateo Can
For coordinating the event in San Andres Xecul, Guatemala.

A big thanks to Cooperativa Xecul for their support in 2008.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO

Juan Mazariegos

For raising funds in New Jersey

A VERY SPECIALTHANK YOU TO

Martin Saquic
For his dedication and time in raising funds in San Diego.

Thanks All of our Supporters Past and Present

Big THANKS to all of you for your donations!!!

Donate

2010-07-17T22:20:00.003-07:00

Financial responsibility is something of utmost importance to us in. We have set strict financial and accounting procedures to ensure that funds and goods we ship to XeculUnido.org are used properly.

$5.00

$10.00

$20.00

$30.00

$40.00

$50.00

$100.00

Selection Criteria

2010-07-17T22:20:00.001-07:00

The children we serve live in a poor condition. However, they must meet some requirements:
1. Be in a state of economic deprivation
2. Live in areas covered by Giving a Smile

In addition to these criteria, we depend on something much more abstract ... the ability of volunteers to identify children who live with greater needs. This helps the selection process to be fair, ensuring that the support goes to those who need it the most.

We Never discriminate any race, religion, social status or any other factor. Our objective is to help as many children as possible, reaching the poorest people first.

The beneficiaries are children with families without the ability to buy new toys due to lack of economic resources.

To date we have given over 1000 toys to children who live in different parts of the municipality of San Andres Xecul, Guatemala