Rotary International is the world’s largest service organization with over 1.2 million members and 32,000 clubs globally. The humanitarian work they collectively initiate world-wide is humbling. From the eradication of Polio across the earth to digging water wells in parched lands, Rotary is there. In 2005, Rotary celebrated its 100th anniversary, to celebrate the milestone, Rotary International asked local clubs and districts to continue their tradition of service through the adoption of an international project.

Rotary District 6670 is located in the southwest corner of Ohio and made up of 54 local clubs and 3,400 members. Katy Errington was elected Governor to serve during the 2004-2005 Centennial Year. Her vision for the “Centennial Project” was to aid needy children somewhere in the world. Through a personal connection with Dan and Sandie Bloomfield of Cincinnati, Ohio, the discussion moved to the impoverished “Children of the Dump” area of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. These are literally the families who live and subsist in and around the actual regional refuse dump area in Puerto Vallarta. Sandie and Dan are leaders of the Hispanic Mission in Cincinnati and also winter in the Puerto Vallarta area and do mission work in and around the dump. In this region, it is a world of “haves and have nots”. From cruise ships off shore to quaint old town shopping to families living in total poverty with little hope for the future.

District 6670 connected with the local Rotary Club in Puerto Vallarta and identified the need that Sandie and Dan witnessed. In fact, the Puerto Vallarta club had already been doing work within the dump itself. The members had built and are sustaining a feeding station for the local families, as well as providing BECA scholarships. BECA’s are local scholarships that provide the funds to keep children in school by purchasing text books, meals, uniforms, shoes, and tuition. In Mexico, schooling is only guaranteed through age 12 (roughly 5th grade).

Rotary District 6670 adopted the project of funding and delivering 100 BECA scholarships as the chosen Centennial Project. This has become much more than just helping children, it is a way to break the cycle of poverty. These scholarships provide the on-going knowledge needed to give a child an opportunity to better themselves and their families.

Under the leadership of Centennial Project Chair Dave Hafenbrack, this worthwhile cause continues to live. Dave is himself a long time Rotarian and knows the value of the extension and continuation of this program. He personally visits, delivers and monitors the distribution of these funds. “We are teaching children to fish,” he states. It is imperative that we see the continuation of this program to ensure that this cycle of poverty has every chance of being broken.

Now that the Rotary based project was completed in early 2008, Children Without™ is stepping forward to sustain and deliver funds to keep the BECA’s program alive for the children who live in the garbage dump and whose families are unable to finance their children’s education. Children Without™ has made a commitment through Imagination Education to deliver and sustain funds to keep the BECA's program alive. 

Fight Poverty Through Imagination Education
Donate to help educate a child or children who live in a garbage dump in Mexico. Through the Children Without™ Imagination Education Program, a $250 gift provides the following for a child for one year:
one hot meal a day, a new pair of shoes, a school uniform, textbooks, and tuition. You will be given a certificate including a photograph of the child that you sponsored. The certificate can be personalized
as a gift in honor or memory of a special person in your life, or to mark a special occasion. 
You can make a difference in a child's life!  And a provide a way to a better life through education!

Please accept my gift to Fight Poverty Through
Imagination Education
in Mexico:

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