TV room at the Jinotepe Senior Center, 2009

We’re excited to announce a new collaborative fundraising effort we’ve begun – with our partners Three Americas, Inc. and Global Elder Project. It’s on Crowdrise, a website for charitable giving and crowd-sourced fundraising.

We have raised $500 for computers, software, and art supplies for two senior care facilities serving low income residents. One is in Jinotepe, Nicaragua, and the other is here in Santa Cruz, California. The computers and software are going to be a crucial part of a larger program for art and cultural exchange between the seniors at the Santa Cruz Skilled Nursing Facility and those at the Jinotepe Senior Center (el Hogar de Ancianos Dr. Agustín Sánchez Vigil) in Jinotepe, Nicaragua (a Sister City to Santa Cruz). The seniors in Santa Cruz came up with the name for the program: Puente de la Esperanza, a Bridge of Hope, which we think is very clever.

Santa Cruz Skilled Nursing Facility 2012

We’ve heard great things about how Crowdrise makes grassroots fundraising easy and successful, so head on over (here’s the link again), read all about it, donate, and please share our page with your friends!

Even a small donation will help us build this bridge, so don’t hesitate!