A sponsor is someone who makes a commitment to provide scholarship (beca) money to one or more students. Sponsors are encouraged to commit to sponsoring the same child for up to six years, through high school. This provides much needed continuity and security for the child and his or her family and has proven to be beneficial and rewarding for students, their families and sponsors.

Students greatly appreciate receiving letters from their sponsors,  either by utilizing e-mail via the Niños Adelante internet mail box (ninosadelante@prodigy.net.mx) or simply dropping a letter in the mail:  , Niños Adelante, #20 Antonia Nava, Int.7, Colonia Centro, Zihuatanejo, Gro., Mexico.   (Unfortunately, snail mail really earns its new name.  It is both slow and sometimes unreliable in Mexico.)

Sponsors are expected to maintain periodic contact with their students to encourage them in their studies respond to their correspondence and provide a source of support for both the student and the family.  All sponsors are also encouraged, but not required, to visit Zihuatanejo annually to see their student, his or her family and the executive director. Students highly value meeting and spending time with their sponsors. We also believe that such visits reinforce for the students and their parents the importance of education and the value of the program.

Sponsorship of a student involves a commitment to make an annual scholarship or beca  contribution  (currently US $300) to assist families who would otherwise be unable to support their child's continuing education.  Sponsors also commit to have periodic contact with their student via e-mail or snail mail. If you are interested in becoming a Sponsor download the following Ninos Active Sponsor Registration Form

Effective with the 2005-06 school year, Friends of Niños Adelante has establish a Special College Scholarship Fund to support those Niños Adelante students who have the interest and ability to continue their education at a local Federal collage after high school graduation.  Friends of Niños Adelante has encouraged Niños Adelante to establish a college scholarship program.  For a more complete picture on the exciting new development, go to Special College Scholarship Fund.

Students and their families value the annual breakfasts with students and their families held in Ixtapa and in Zihuatanejo.  To accommodate the maximum number of visiting sponsors, who host these breakfasts, one is held in January and two are held in February.  Click on the Niños News page for information about the 2008 breakfast and the 2009 breakfast dates. The breakfasts offer an opportunity for students, their families and sponsors to become better acquainted. 

All non-profit organizations require continuing fundraising activities and, although Friends of Niños Adelante is largely funded by  beca payments from sponsors, the organization does hold two annual fund raising events to provide funding for student special needs and for modest local administrative expenses.

For some time, a high percentage of sponsors and organization leadership came from the Minneapolis-St.Paul area.  As a result, it was only natural to organize a fundraising event in the area.   The 2008 fundraising event will feature a dinner and auction to be held at the Sheraton Ridgedale, Minnetonka, MN on September 26. Check back in a month for details about the event.

Sponsors and Friends of Niños Adelante who visit Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa during February have an opportunity to attend a fundraising dinner at Villa de Roca overlooking beautiful bay at Zihuatanejo.  Friends have found this to be a perfect opportunity to spend time with board members and others who are active in maintaining and building the organization.  Tickets for this event are typically about $85.  Although we can only accommodate 60 people, net proceeds from the evening are usually just under $2,000.  The 2008 event was again sold out to an enthusiastic and happy group of sponsors.  The 2009 dinner will be held during the third week of February.  Click on Niños News page for more information.

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