Ajijic resident Blair Ferguson had an idea – why not get a group of friends together for a great dinner party and help keep some local kids in school at the same time? And that’s just what happened at his Rancho del Oro home last week.
Working with a small group of friends, he put together an evening of great food, wine, live music and fun for over 50 guests, each of whom paid 500 pesos to attend. There was also a silent auction to raise additional funds and two individuals attending made further personal donations to the program. All of the money raised – almost 53,000 pesos – was later presented to the SAFE (Save A Future With Education) Scholarship Program at Lakeside.
The SAFE Program was started in New York State in 2002, and now operates in several locations around the continent, providing scholarships to school-age children from low-income families. Locally, ten of these scholarships are funded by the Chapala Sunrise Rotary Club and nine others by individuals. Dozens more remain on the waiting list, each family desperately hoping for a scholarship. Many low-income families with more than one child are forced to make a terrible choice each year: With money to only fund one child’s school costs, which of their young children will continue in school this fall, and which will be left at home or sent out to find work?
The type of support provided by SAFE varies, and all students have to meet strict eligibility requirements including very low family income and a maintained grade-point average of 80 percent or above.
The scholarships cover most annual school expenses, including registration, school uniforms and P.E. clothes, shoes and all school supplies. Funding levels range from 1,100 pesos per year for primaria students up to 4,200 pesos per year for preparatoria (high-school) students. It’s estimated that the funds raised at the party will provide scholarships for 25 more local students and their families this school season.
For past four years, Ajijic residents Ginger Blalock and Eloy Gonzales have managed the Lakeside SAFE program – collecting and reviewing grades and receipts, dispersing scholarships and sending reports to the SAFE main headquarters in the United States.
For more information or to donate, contact Ginger Blalock at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.saveafuturewitheducation.com.