Evelin and Kendra are the oldest of three children, raised by a single mother. They live in Chapala, in a shack with no electricity or running water.
They had no money to pay for all the costs of going to school, so the girls stayed home.
Their mother heard about the Save a Future with Education (SAFE) scholarship program from a relative whose children were in the program. SAFE provides funds to qualified needy students to cover the costs of registration, fees, uniforms and school supplies, and enables children to get an education from kindergarten through college.
Evelin and Kendra got on the waiting list, but it was over a year until a sponsor could be found. Richy and Claudia Umbarger attended a SAFE fundraiser hosted by the Chapala Sunrise Rotary Club and were so moved by the difficulty of indigent Mexican children in getting an education that they offered to sponsor one child. When the couple met Evelin and Kendra, they decided to help both girls and they’ve now been in the program one year. Evelin is nine years old and in her fourth year of primary school, while Kendra is seven and in her third year.
The SAFE program is a project the Chapala Sunrise Rotary Club supports with an annual gala: the SAFE Scholarship Fundraiser Dinner. This year’s gala will be held on Saturday, October 6, 5:30 p.m., at the beautiful lakeview home of Blair Ferguson. The menu includes a selection of fine wines, hors d’oeuvres, a choice of Chicken Cordon Bleu or Burgundy Shrimp and dessert. There will be a silent auction and a live auction featuring a “Dream Week Vacation” to a choice of hotels around the world. Tickets are 750 pesos and reservations can be made by contacting Ginger Gonzales at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 333-677-4455 or John Gonzales at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 333-171-7457. Seating is limited to 70 persons.
You can learn more about SAFE on their Web site, www.saveafuturewitheducation.com, and listen to the stories of some of the scholarship recipients in the 20-minute documentary, “Fighting to Dream,” available on YouTube.