Pio is celebrating his 75th birthday on May 31st and raising funds to buy backpacks for needy youth. You know we've been living in Saltillo and we're members of the Austin-Saltillo Sister Cities Association (ASSCA). We are members of the Education Committee of ASSCA and for the past 3 years, we've been asking our friends and family on our birthdays to donate funds to buy school supplies and backpacks for needy children who live near the Universidad Carolina, our primary educational exchange partner. This year, we're also collecting jewelry and jewelry making items to donate to a parent's entrepreneurship program operated by the Universidad Carolina. Please bring broken jewelry that the parents can reuse to make jewelry the parents sell at mercados.

Last year, we raised $1,300 and were able to donate 34 filled, sturdy backpacks. This year, we're shooting to raise enough to donate 50 backpacks which will cost about $2,000. When we donated to the youth last year, I asked how many backpacks they need, and the Distrito de Universidad de Carolina said about 700 youth.

I hope you will attend Pio's 75th Birthday Party on Saturday, May 31st from 5 pm to 9 pm at our house in Austin. Please - if you can afford it - gift Pio on GoFundMe or consider giving cash or checks made payable to Friends of the MACC instead of gifts. We also hope you bring to the party any unused or broken jewelry or any type of jewelry making items to donate .

Thank you for considering a gift and - regardless of your ability to contribute to our Annual Birthday Backpack Campaign, please drop by my party for a spaghetti dinner and a drink!

Hasta la vista, amigos! Pio