2006 NEWS RELEASES

December 19, 2006
Marsh Children attend the Christmas Fair at the Acapulco Convention Center.

With the Christmas Season near, the ACAPULCO CONVENTION CENTER hosts a fair and carnival. Lots of booths selling crafts, gifts and more! Both tourists and locals come and spend time with their family and children at this event that lasts a whole week.

Thanks to Jean Paul Valtorta who promoted this, and Lic. Farfan, Operations Director for the Convention Center, we obtained free of charge a booth where we sold raffle tickets for various prizes. This helps generate income for the Marsh Children's Home. One of the fringe benefits: The kids got to enjoy the fair with all its rides and attractions.

The Marsh children themselves set up and tended to the stand. They looked very good wearing with pride the Marsh Children’s Home uniform. They kept busy inviting everybody to participate. Our star organizer was Ramiro, a very outgoing boy from the outskirts of Acapulco, who when just arrived would cling to Mama Jovita. Today he is outgoing and one of our shining stars. Our special thanks to Lic. Farfan as well as Ing. Alejandro Monroy, who helped us out with special name tags for our kids to access the installations. Without their support we would have not been able to venture in this fun and rewarding project. Thanks to All!

September ????, 2006
Capt. Steve Wilson & Robin Blackwood visit the Marsh Children's Home.

A very special thanks to Capt. Steve Wilson, US Navy (Retired) and wife Robin Blackwood, from Phoenix, Arizona. They have now set up US nonprofit corporation to help generate funds for the Marsh Home in Acapulco. Steve and Robin are both retired US Navy Officers. Steve was Naval Attaché to Mexico at the US Embassy in Mexico City. In the course of his duties in the U.S. Navy, Steve became acquainted with the Marsh Home while he was bringing them donations and volunteers.

As many of us have, the Wilsons fell in love with the Marsh Children's Home, the children and with Jovita Godínez. Both serve on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Corporation named MARSH CHILDREN’S HOME ACAPULCO, INC.; Steve is serving as President and his wife, Robin Blackwood, serves as Treasurer.

Steve and Robin have generously sponsored Rubi, on of the young girls at the Marsh Children's Home.

July 24th, 2006
Opening of the Marsh Computer School & Theatre

Captain Stuart Markey, U.S. Navy (Retired) presently working at the National University of San Diego donated 25 computers. Special thanks to Jim Evans for his technical prowess who built our computer network, connected us to the internet and who generously donated a 30 port Ethernet hub and surround sound stereo speakers for the theatre.

Captain Steve Wilson, U.S. Navy (Retired), former Naval Attaché to Mexico, and his wife, Robin, were honored guests at the event and created the name for the computer school - calling it “CRECE” - an acronym in honor of our dedicated key associate, Señor Ricardo Irvine, whose selfless dedication of time, loving care and money, this fine center could not have been built! “CRECE” stands for “Centro Ricardeño Educativo de Cómputo con Excelencia": The word “crece”, in Spanish, means “grow”…and that is the business of the Marsh Children’s Home. We GROW great children to become meaningful and productive members of our society!

Special thanks to Carnival Cruise Lines who transported the 25 computers to Acapulco from San Diego in coordination with Sunny Irvine and the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association.

Special thanks also go to Arq. Eduardo Castañon who helped design and coordinate the construction details of the computer room installations. Thank you Cesar and Vicki at Surnets for their support in getting the computers ready for the classroom and helping us to install our “Computer Blackboard” that projects the teachers computer screen onto a large blackboard for use during computer lessons

All this was made possible by generous donations from:

National University – San Diego (Capt. Stuart Markey)
Amigos de Acapulco & Ron Lavender
Harley Davidson Motorcycles of Mexico
Lina Martin del Campo & family
Bob & Judy Hill
Jim Evans & Jan Waring
Techo-Alert
Carnival Cruise Lines
Sunny Irvine & Florida Caribbean Cruise Association
Arq. Eduardo Castañon
Cesar & Vicky with Surnets (www.surnets.com)
Jason Sturgis

May 21st, 2006
A day of fun in the sun at CiCi's Waterpark

The Marsh Children's Home visited CiCi's waterpark for a day of food, fun and sun - tickets donated by the "Friends of Acapulco". The children enjoyed waterslides, pools and a show with the dolphins at one of Acapulco's most beloved tourist attractions. Two of the young boys from the Marsh Home were chosen to swim with the Dolphins. They could hardly contain their exhuberance. Their expressions were priceless!

Special thanks to Ron Lavender and Amigos de Acapulco for sponsoring this special event!

April 30th, 2006
Dia de los Niños celebration at the Galerías Diana in Acapulco

The Marsh Children's Home gathered with three other orphanages in Acapulco to celebrate the "Dia de los Niños" (Day of the Child) at the new Galerias Diana in Acapulco. This event was sponsored by the "Friends of Acapulco" - an Acapulco-based non-profit organization which assists the major orphanages in Acapulco and the surrounding area. The children were treated to a special day of games, gifts, food and movies at Cinépolis.