FROM A SANTA TOY… TO A KID IN YALE!

Like my father before me, I love doing Santa. 25 years ago we began bringing toys to thousands of children in La Misión, Mexico.

The smiles were unforgettable.

My wife and I soon realized that a toy could brighten a day.

But an education could change a life!

I'm going to tell you an amazing story that proves it.

My story about Dario starts before he was born. In the year 2000 we moved into the home we built by the beach in Beautiful La Mision south of Rosarito in Mexico.

We hired two fabulous people -- Vita to clean our home and Lupe to be our handyman. On Fridays we would have brunch with them, enjoying their stories and learning about life in their nearby Pueblo, Santa Anita.

We learned that many families could not afford to give their children Christmas presents, so I became the Santa -- giving away thousands of donated toys, going to their home’s, schools and nearby orphanages.

It was such a joy to see how that toy lit up their faces -- often their only Christmas present.

Vita’s daughter Jessica recalls: “Meeting a real Santa for us children in La Misión was a dream, because he was just like the images you saw on television. Being with him made my childhood very happy. Later, when I was older and knew what was going on, I was a Santa's helper, and it was very fun helping Santa.”

At the time, La Misión had no high school. Young people saw their education—and their dreams—end after 9th grade.

Here's Molly telling the story at our Fandango fundraiser:

(Sorry it's a little shaky} As Molly explained, she and her friends, local families, and volunteers helped get a high school built -- and created BECA scholarships, first to provide books, uniforms and other costs so they could attend the high school -- and then to go to Universities!

Jessica became one of the first students to get a scholarship -- and graduate university!

She taught her children to love to read and learn -- and to dance!

Dario Lara, Jessica’s oldest child, became one of La Mision’s best folkloric dancers. So good that he was invited to dance at Disneyland!

And now Dario, an outstanding student, has taken another extraordinary leap:

DARIO IS GOING TO YALE

ON A FULL SCHOLARSHIP!

From a community that once had no high school… Look what happened.

Today, more than 150 local students have graduated from university.

And a young man has gone to Yale!

That’s the power of education.

That’s the power of a scholarship.

That’s MULTI-GENERATIONAL IMPACT.

But our job is not over. Even with a scholarship there are many other essential costs like winter clothes, costly textbooks, a laptop, a good cell phone and cross-country flights. Things his family cannot afford.

And Yale is excited to have him bring LaMision’s folklórico dancing to Yale to teach it to their dancers to carry on this authentic Mexican cultural tradition! That will incurr even more costs!

Now, please, help us take this story one step further and join us in making sure Dario has what he needs to thrive at Yale.

Please click the donate button and give what you can -- whether its $5. $50, $500 or whatever.

Every amount helps—and every gift tells Dario and his family that a whole community is cheering him on.

Every gift inspires other students to follow their dreams!

Warmly,

Arthur Kanegis

If you have questions or want more ways to donate just send an email to my full name at gmail.com