The House of Hope Correspondence Project

The Casa de la Esperanza House of Hope project recently embarked on an international journey across the Atlantic to Namibia. Under the direction of Spirit of Casa Board Member, David Cohn III, more than seventy Casa orphans created extraordinary individualized drawings for the children at the St. Mary’s Anglican Mission in Odibo, Namibia.

David delivered the beautiful pictures to the eagerly awaiting Namibian school children, many of whom are orphans themselves. David remarked, “The children at the St. Mary’s Mission loved receiving these heartfelt gifts from across the globe. Their curiosity was immediately sparked, as they wanted to know everything about their new global friends.”

In return, the Namibian children joyfully made their own hand-crafted works of art for the Casa orphans. At each point in this international expedition, David gave the children in Mexico and Namibia a geography lesson utilizing a world map. Like their counterparts in Namibia, the Casa orphans especially enjoyed examining the world map and plotting out the vast distance between Tijuana, Mexico and Odibo, Namibia.

Spirit of Casa, Inc. would like to extend their sincerest appreciation to Dr. Melanie Parker for her steadfast commitment to help educate Tijuana’s disadvantaged children. This year, Dr. Parker will generously fund educational sponsorships for six Casa orphans. Please join Dr. Parker and change the life of a Casa child by becoming an educational sponsor. To give a gift of education, please contact us at www.spiritofcasa.org.

Community Service at its Best: Spirit of Casa Salutes The Bishop's School for Supporting Casa's Kids

House of Hope Correspondence Project

Senora Sutherland, Senora Torres-Worstell, and the students from the Spanish III Honors and AP Spanish Language classes composed more than seventy-five personalized letters that were recently delivered to the orphanage. In turn, the orphans eagerly sent return letters and drawings to their special Bishop's pen pals.

Bishop's Casa Toy Chest Project

In honor of Bishop's faculty member Mr. James Updegraff's leap year birthday, Ms. Heylman, Spirit of Casa Board Member David Cohn, and the Community Serivce Incorporated Club (CSI), worked hand-in-hand in organizing and coordinating the Bishop's Casa Toy Chest Community Service Project. Bishop's advisories, faculty, and staff generously provided toys and clothing for over sixty-three children at the Casa de la Esperanza orphanage. With the assistance of Spirit of Casa, Inc., David Cohn distributed the gifts to anxiously awaiting Casa orphans. In return, the orphans signed a giant Casa thank you card for the entire Bishop's community. Muchas gracias, Bishop's!

Operation: Adopt an Orphan for the Holidays
By Andrea Shearer

Even though 2008 was a tough year in the financial world, San Diegans pulled together once again to help those less fortunate. In Operation: Adopt an Orphan for the Holidays, each child at Casa de la Esperanza was successfully adopted by students from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, staff and attorneys from the San Diego County District Attorney's Office, and a variety of other San Diego locals. Each adopted child prepared a wish list of things he or she wanted and needed. Each adopted parent then purchased and wrapped the items on their child's wish list, giving their adopted child a Christmas.

Many of the children prayed for peace and an end to the violence in Tijuana, while others prayed for happiness for their family members and a better future. Adopted parents were often touched by the children and went above and beyond the children's wish lists to help provide them with a Christmas. Thank you San Diego for giving a Christmas to a beautiful group of children. To read more, click here.

2008 Spirit of Casa Gala: Benefiting Casa's Kids

Our first ever Spirit of Casa Gala was held on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at Mr. Taco in La Jolla. The event included Mexican Cuisine, live music, featured vocalist, Mary Heineman, photos by Lew Merrim, door prizes, crafts hand-made by the Casa Kids, a silent auction of goods and services donated by the community, and of course......a piñata.

Event efforts were under the direction of CEO Claire Summer. The fundraiser was a success. Proceeds will go toward building a transition facility on campus for the teen-age boys. Thanks to all who donated, participated and attended.

History in the Making: Casa de la Esperanza Celebrates Three University Graduates

Spirit of Casa proudly congratulates Jesús Irais Patiño Díaz and Simon Patiño Díaz who both recently graduated from Universidad Tecnológica de Tijuana with degrees in Electro-Mechanical Engineering. Spirit of Casa also applauds Sarai Rebecca Lara Rivera who graduated and titled in the field of Architecture from C.U.T. University.

Students Helping Students: The Casa de la Esperanza (House of Hope) Correspondence Project is a Huge Success

In turn, the three schools have sent return letters or handmade journals to the Casa children. "The students were very excited about the project and enjoyed corresponding with fellow students from another country," remarked David Cohn. To learn more, click here.

Dr. Melanie Parker Gives Her Heart to Casa's Kids

Dr. Parker, a founding member of the "Flying Doctors" San Francisco chapter, has historically participated in cross-border trips to rural Mexico, providing free dental care to Mexico's poor. Locally, she volunteers her time to the UCSD dental outreach program to provide care to homeless and low income families in San Diego. To learn more about Dr. Parker, visit www.drparkerortho.com To read more, click here.