Leaders2Give at UCLA
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Have you ever overheard or have you been part of a conversation about the next generation and someone comments that we are in so much trouble imagining the next generation running things?
I have and I always found it puzzling.
Whether it’s within my role as the CEO of where I have the privilege of working with emerging & developing talent…
Whether it was in my capacity as a mentor at Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University…
Or whether it’s within my capacity as the President and Founder of Leaders2Give….. I strongly believe the opposite is true.
This feeling has now been reinforced after signing an agreement with an incredible group of students at UCLA and I’m immensely proud to announce the official launch of ‘Leaders2Give at UCLA!’
This student group approached Leaders2Give after hearing about the work that our all volunteer board does to protect vulnerable children with a focus on leadership development and they took the initiative to lean in and create a formal structure to help fulfill and advance our important mission.
They are tasked with raising funds, raising awareness, learning about how to solve the problems facing society and how to apply the skills they are learning through school and other hands on work to improve lives to help developing communities run better.
It is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to the team of…
Brea Brodoski is the President and Founder of the UCLA chapter of Leaders2Give.
Brea is a currently a junior at UCLA where she is studying cognitive science and hoping to pursue a career in pediatric oncology. Brea speaks Spanish fluently and is eager to lean into her new responsibilities leading the Leaders2Give at UCLA Board in raising awareness and funds in support of protecting vulnerable children in developing communities and communities in crisis.
Brea has also spent many years in the area where we are building the John Gullo Home for Children - a temporary shelter to protect kids who are at risk of abandonment because of a family medical crisis.
Kelly McFarlane is in her third year at UCLA and joins the Board as Corporate Secretary.
At university she is majoring in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics as well as minoring in Spanish Linguistics and is planning a career in the medical field!
Amy Leang will help us to protect vulnerable children by serving as the the Vice President of Leaders2Give at UCLA.
Amy is currently a junior at university studying microbiology with the hopes of going to PA school.
Her interests outside of school include surfing and she enjoys playing Catan with her friends.
(Good news Amy… there is world-class surfing about an hour or so away from the new children’s home you will help us build and sustain 🏄♀️)
Arely Teran Martinez is a third-year Biology major at UCLA and joins the student chapter of Leaders2Give as Treasurer.
She is a pre-med student and wants to pursue a career in pediatrics.
I know I speak on behalf of our entire Board, our donor and volunteer community, as well as the vulnerable children we help protect when I say how lucky we are to have these four students bring their dedication, love, and ambition to the work we do.
So… please know that our collective future is in the very best of hands. The next generation is capable, compassionate, intelligent, inclusive, ambitious, and savvy and I can’t wait to see what the future brings!
PS: I heard that there may a contest that includes a trip to Cabo? 🤷♂️ 🇲🇽
Stay tuned…
JJJ
Now, let's turn our attention to the incredible work our partners have been doing.
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PARTNER UPDATES
Líderes Para Dar / John Gullo Home for Children
We are thrilled to share an exciting update on the construction of the John Gullo Home for Children, a project made possible by your incredible generosity and unwavering support.
Phase 1 is Almost Complete!
Phase 1 of this meaningful project, which encompassed the construction of foundations, walls, and roofing for all four buildings – the girls' dormitory, boys' dormitory, common areas, and staff quarters – is almost finished. This significant milestone brings us one step closer to providing a safe and nurturing environment for the children who will call this place home.
Phase 2 is on the Horizon!
Now, we are gearing up for Phase 2, which includes critical components like masonry and finishes, doors and windows, septic systems, perimeter fencing, painting, and more. Your continued support is invaluable as we embark on this next stage of the project.
What Lies Ahead …Phase 3
After Phase 2, we'll move on to the creation of a shade pavilion, landscaping, and adding those special finishing touches that will make this home a haven for children in need.
Operational Sustainment
Beyond construction, we'll focus on raising funds for the ongoing operation of the home, ensuring it remains a place of love and care.
Naming Rights Opportunities Still Available!
For those who wish to leave a lasting mark on this project, naming rights are still available for visible areas within the facility. Your name or the name of a loved one can be forever associated with the care and support provided to these deserving children.
Stay tuned for updates on the progress here and across our social channels. Together, we are making a significant difference in the lives of those who need it most.
New Creation Kids (NCK) Children’s Home
We are thrilled to share an update on one of the remarkable individuals at New Creation Kids. Recently, Joselin, who has been a part of the New Creation Kids family for five years, celebrated her quinceañera. This significant event not only marks her transition into womanhood but also signifies the love, care, and opportunities that your continued support has provided.
Their mission at New Creation Kids is to help children like Joselin lead normal lives filled with love and support.
They believe that every child deserves a nurturing environment that fosters growth and empowers them to reach their full potential. Your contributions have played a pivotal role in making this mission a reality.
Leaders2Give is proud to cover the financial operations of New Creation Kids, ensuring that the children receive the care and resources they need. We understand that these children deserve the chance to thrive, and we are committed to helping provide them with a stable and loving home.
Currently, we are facing a financial shortfall in the New Creation Kids' account. While we do not often make direct requests for donations, we kindly ask for your help in topping up the funds necessary to continue providing the care, education, and opportunities that these children deserve.
The East Cape Health Center
The East Cape Health Center prides itself on having the highest medical and dental care standards in the East Cape. The quality of their client’s experience is their first and highest priority. This drives the various clinics to partner with specialists in medicine and dentistry which have a sense of pride helping those most vulnerable.
They offers daily primary care in their two locations, Los Barriles and La Ribera.
Dr Cardenas, an Orthopedic Surgeon comes weekly to provide surgical evaluations and consultations. Dr Cardenas also provides post-surgical Physical Therapy and other PT programs, including strength training for elderly, family dementia training, and children with problems with their gait and scoliosis.
Radiologist Dra Ileana Ortiz comes each Saturday providing General Ultrasounds focusing on specific problems that need identification.
Dr Octavio Contreas, their new OBGYN offers multiple speciality procedures such as at-risk pregnancies, education and prevention of STDs, Gynecological & Obstetric ultrasounds, cervical cancer prevention, diagnosis, and management of tumours of the uterine and ovaries, urinary incontinence treatment and menopause testing. Those are just a few procedures they can perform in the new Women's Health section of the clinic. They also try to bring in young teens for education.
Dr Carlos Lopez specializes in Urology and uses his time in the clinic for all urological issues.
Lic Rosalva Marquez, Licensed Psychologist, uses the telemedicine area, a private room for counseling visits.
Soon to partner with them is a Board-Certified Nutritionist, who will help those patients with Diabetes, obesity, malnutrition, care for cancer survivors and much more.
Dental specialists offer oral hygiene and restoration. They provide the services vulnerable children need including braces to those in the community that otherwise cannot afford it.
Please follow them on Facebook to see when other specialists are visiting so you can make an appointment.
Medical devices are hard to find in the area. To bridge that gap, they support locals by researching and providing hard-to-find devices.
One of their young recipients, seen in the image here, accepts quarterly orthopedic devices. Other materials include items for colostomy care, urinary incontinence, diabetes supplies, oxygen, and various other devices in our Almacen. A few recipients receive insulin supplies and testing materials for better control of Diabetes.
When the Clinics were established, the aim was to help the local Mexican population, particularly vulnerable children who need medical and dental attention.
Please consider donating today.
Feeding The Hungry
The small team that sets off now and then in October and November to prepare the trails for the Charity Fun Ride are mostly aged well over 70 years old. They easily run out of breath and crack jokes and tell stories to disguise the fact that they frequently need a rest.
They spend more time leaning on shovels than actually shifting dirt or clipping bushes! However, they have the satisfaction that their efforts are helping to raise money to feed those in our community who are most in need.
For more details about the ride see https://www.AtvFunLosBarriles.com
Do you enjoy the camaraderie of a small group of like-minded folk? Do you enjoy being out in the backcountry? Can you wield a pair of loppers? Can lean on a pickaxe or a shovel? (or, even better, use one!) Would you like to contribute some physical effort to feeding those less fortunate in our community? If so, please contact Gordon Blackie gordonandjoy@gmail.com for more details.
SNAP - Spay, Neuter, and Prevention
S.N.A.P. has been diligently emphasizing the "P" in prevention. Beyond its crucial role in curbing unwanted litters, S.N.A.P. has forged a partnership with Cortez Rescue to introduce a limited time incentive for pet owners to spay and neuter their furry companions—providing tick and flea medication along with their services.
The significance of disease prevention cannot be overstated. In recent years, rising temperatures have exacerbated tick activity, leading to a surge in tick-borne illnesses. As the threat of these diseases continues to grow, more individuals find themselves at risk of tick bites. This concern is particularly pressing for children, who often have close interactions with dogs and are thus more susceptible to tick-related infections, which can progress rapidly and have fatal consequences.
Here's why preventing tick-borne diseases is of paramount importance:
Protecting Our Children: Kids often share close bonds with their four-legged friends and are frequently in direct contact with them. This connection is heartwarming, but it also means that they are more exposed to the risk of tick bites. Tick-borne illnesses can progress rapidly, posing a significant threat to children's health. Prevention measures, such as tick and flea medication, can help keep these young ones safe.
Rising Tick Activity: With temperatures on the rise, tick activity has become more intense. Ticks are expanding their range and becoming more prevalent in areas where they were previously uncommon. This increased tick activity heightens the risk of infection, making prevention even more critical.
Lifesaving Measures: Tick-borne diseases can be severe and, in some cases, deadly. Timely prevention can save lives by reducing the chances of infection and mitigating the impact of these illnesses.
S.N.A.P.'s partnership with Cortez Rescue represents a commendable effort to combat the growing threat of tick-borne diseases. By promoting spaying and neutering and providing tick and flea medication, they are not only reducing the pet population but also taking a significant stride towards protecting our communities from the dangers of tick-borne illnesses. Prevention is the key, and together, we can create a safer and healthier environment for our beloved pets and vulnerable children.
S.N.A.P. continues to grow its Community Outreach Team with the addition of Sahara Ruiz from La Ribera. Transportation can be an obstacle for many of Sahara's neighbors so she contacted S.N.A.P. to ask if she could coordinate with her neighbors to provide transportation to and from the clinic. In a single day, Sahara wrangled 22 dogs and cats into her vehicle. Now that's what we call leadership! The picture is of the animals Sahara brought in waiting for surgery.
To Donate to Leaders2Give and any of our Partners, visit our Donate page.