Mission Language & Vocational School (MLVS) is a fiscal sponsor of Maria's Regalitos, a project led by the Madrina's committee, a volunteer group working with the Mission Education Center (MEC).

October - 2023

Dear Friends of Maria’s Regalitos,

The Madrinas Committee of MARIA'S REGALITOS is proud to launch our 5th Annual fundraiser for MARIA’S REGALITOS! We invite you to support our December holiday fundraiser for newcomer students attending the Mission Education Center (MEC) School of San Francisco. Your support makes the upcoming holiday season (AND beyond) a joyful time for MEC children and their families! We also want to share a few exciting updates about how your donations keep important MEC projects going year-round! Please read on for all the details! And please don’t forget to make your donation!

A little background…

Starting in 2018, through the support of your generous donations, MARIA’S REGALITOS provided holiday toys for MEC students, warm winter wear, shoes, gift cards for families, and a holiday party for MEC children and their families. Each year, the support for our students continues to grow!! We are excited to celebrate our 5th anniversary.

About Madrina Maria…

Maria X. Martinez heard from Mission community leader Tracy Brown-Gallardo that newly arrived MEC students and their families urgently needed additional support. Maria formed the Madrinas Committee and established the REGALITOS fund as a special holiday project for MEC. MARIA'S REGALITOS now provides programs year-round! Our beloved founding Madrina, Maria X. Martinez, passed away in 2020 but her vision for REGALITOS continues. We hope you'll join us in continuing to support the children and families of the Mission Education Center (MEC)!

AUTHOR SERIES - Investment in literacy

This donor-supported project makes it possible for us to bring local and nationally recognized writers into MEC classrooms and allows us to purchase books for students and MEC classroom libraries! Our in-person Author Series events provide a memorable experience for the MEC students and teachers! The authors chosen to participate will bring a bilingual and bicultural perspective with themes and stories that reflect cultural and life experiences shared with many of the MEC’s newcomer students. The lasting goal of the REGALITOS AUTHOR SERIES PROJECT is to encourage MEC students to build on their love of reading, explore self-expression through writing, and begin building their home libraries! We hope you will join us on this exciting journey by donating here, to our Regalitos GoFundMe campaign! More updates to come!

EMERGENCY FUNDS + FAMILY CELEBRATIONS

Funds provided by Maria’s Regalitos are used year-round to respond to MEC families’ immediate needs, including providing funds for groceries, shoes, clothing, and other basic living necessities. We provide funds for school year celebrations, including MEC student graduations and Mother’s Day!

How Will Your 2023 GoFundMe Donations Be Used For Our December Holiday Event?

Funds donated to MARIA’S REGALITOS in 2023, will directly support the purchase of warm outerwear, books, and gift cards for families and the hardworking MEC teachers and staff. Your donated funds will also provide toys, family gift cards, shoes, and winter wear to those children who enroll at the MEC after the holidays. Children often continue to arrive during the winter session and beyond.

PLUS, YOUR DONATIONS SUPPORT MEC STUDENTS AND FAMILIES YEAR-ROUND...

Your donations continue to make a difference after our December holiday event!

Your generous donations allow for MEC families to continue receiving support year-round from MARIA'S REGALITOS and participate in special family events, including Mother’s Day event, and student graduation celebrations, as well as help fund the critical MEC emergency fund to respond to families’ immediate needs (groceries, clothing and other basic living needs).

Muchas Gracias, querida comunidad,

MARIA'S REGALITOS Madrinas