Social Responsibility

Ecuador

Helping out along the way.

-0.466292,-80.456089,Canoa LZ,+Ecuador

Ricker Goldsborough <GCI@charter.net> writes:

This short film by Jeff O'Brien is sure to explain further what is difficult to put into words:

http://vimeo.com/7092548

I am pleased to announce that Jeff O'Brien, Kent, myself and a few others are going to Ecuador to fly in the Canoa Open Hang Gliding Race. Our trip begins with a departure from Miami, FL. On 10/23/09. This trip will be full of media attention, racing, road trips and lots of fun.

In addition to the hang gliding fun, Jeff O'Brien has committed to helping the children in the very poor areas that we will be traveling through. As a result of many deep conversations with Jeff, I have decided to assist him in raising money and forming a new non profit organization that will gathering goods to distribute to the children every where we go to fly. This upcoming trip will be the first of many attempts to help the less fortunate around the world.

To this end I humbly ask for your assistance. We are currently taking pledges for monetary donations to support this upcoming trip's goals. All funds will go towards the purchase of school supplies, shoes, medical items and life necessities. It is difficult to carry the needed items to Ecuador so our plan is to purchase them at the local stores and markets then hand carry them to the mission, schools and homes for the children. Please keep in mind that these children have very little and even a $10 dollar donation goes a long way. To date I have raised a total of $1,350.00.

If you would please contact me directly. We will share with you where your money was spent when we return. Jeff and I will be documenting our purchases and distribution of items on film so that you can see the good you've helped make possible, first hand our efforts.

Please Please Please do what you can to support our efforts and keep in mind that we will be doing this every where we go to fly. This will also help to establish our good reputation at home and abroad.

Thank you all for your financial support to date in our effort to help the children in Ecuador.

We have been working hard to coordinate efforts and to insure that we provide the children with what they most need. To this end I have received a list of items to purchase and bring with us. Some of these items will be purchased here and then hand carried to the children. We really need your help in doing this so please make a donation now. 100% of all donations will be used for the benefit of the children, their church, and their school.

Very soon we will have a PayPal account that donations can be made directly and our formal non-profit organization information will be available so that the proper tax documents can be provided. Until then we will need your cash contributions ASAP. You can make your donation via Paypal at: Rgg1@charter.net.

I am going to go shopping for some of the needed items today. Among other needed items, the school has asked for children's educational and recreational DVD's. These DVD's will be going to the school for the younger children. If you have any to donate please send to me at the following address along with your monetary contribution ASAP : Ricker Goldsborough 4066 Willow Lane Madisonville, LA 70447.

We are scheduled to depart for Ecuador the morning of 10/22/09. The time is short and the need is great. Please help today!

We have raised a total $1,700.00 of the desired $10,000.00 for this trip.

Keith Atkins <bluemonkeyglider@gmail.com> writes:

Everyone who has not yet done so: Please consider supporting this laudable charity project by Jeff O'Brien, Ricker Goldsborough, and their South American contingent.

Ricker's paypal account is: Rgg1@charter.net You can make an immediate contribution quickly and easily.

For those of you have already contributed and those who may decide to do so, please post something on Flymail and the Oz Report forum about your contribution, your reasons for doing so, and why others should, too. This is a great opportunity to help people in real need and, at the same time, generate priceless good will for hang gliding and those of us who are so very fortunate to have discovered the sublime experience of soaring like a raptor. The more people who donate and talk about it on Flymail and the Oz Report forum, the more likely others will do the same.

This project gives each of us the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people without the basics we take for granted everyday and promote a positive impression of hang gliding and hang glider pilots. It's being delivered and monitored by people you know and trust, you can be a part of this for a mere monetary donation of any size you're comfortable with, and it feels good to give and to help others less fortunate than ourselves. Everybody wins!

If you think this is a worthy cause, please mass mail this message to all your hang gliding buddies and ask them to consider offering their financial support. Ricker, Jeff, and the others will be leaving for Ecuador on October 22, so they need your contributions ASAP.

Ricker and Jeff: I am sending you an additional $200 to go towards the expenses of your group. This will at least buy you all a few meals.

Ecuador

Good works and good hang gliding together

-0.466292,-80.456089,Canoa LZ,+Ecuador

Jeff O'Brien <jeffobrien4@yahoo.com> writes:

I've made some key contacts down in Ecuador. I'm hooked up with a priest named Father Frank who does a very small donation by donation supply buy to supply some of the poorest in the slums around Guayaquil. Medicine, diapers, food, and helps locals get work documents, visas, etc.

Then there's a school in Canoa funded by the James Byrd Foundation. http://www.jamesdeanbyrdfoundation.org/

The working budget for the school per month is $2500. They bring in about $1000 and have a $1500 dollar deficit that's made up by donors. I've made a couple of contacts within the school. We're bringing down basic supplies like printer toner cartridges, white erase board markers, workbooks, etc.

You can make your donation via Paypal at: Rgg1@charter.net

http://vimeo.com/7092548

More on the James Dean Byrd school

Educating children in Canoa on an incredibly low budget

-0.466292,-80.456089,Canoa LZ,+Ecuador

http://vimeo.com/7092548

Alicia Harmon, a paraglider pilot, sends:

A man named Jim Byrd, started the school just over a year ago because he wanted to give something to the people here after living here ten years. He bought the land and paid for the construction last year. My good friend Moya got roped in and has been acting as the administrative director since last June or July. She is someone I trust totally and when she wrote me asking for help I agreed to return and spend a month volunteering. I also carried down fifty pounds of school supplies that I either purchased or were donated by friends. I have already agreed to return again next summer and every summer. The school, as I see it, is a success which is emphasized every time I hear "Good Morning Teacher, today is Wednesday"...and such with beatific faces full of pride.

The school year here runs from April til January. They started with 2 kindergarten classes and one first grade, with 2 Ecuadorian teachers and 2 Americans. The tuition is minimal – $25.00 a month, and about 40% of the kids are on full scholarship, sponsored by donors. The teachers made $120.00 a month last year, not enough to live on, even here, this year they make $250 a month thanks to donations.

It was a very “challenging” first year but they somehow got by on a shoestring budget. They couldn’t afford glue or construction paper until a donation of $100.00 arrived out of the blue in July. They have constructed two new classrooms and have renovated an existing one so that they have an office, library and computer room and also a classroom for the second graders and two rooms that are strictly for English.

Apart from the $375.00 that they collected monthly in tuition, all of this was paid for by donations to the foundation from very kind people. It is a school for the poorer kids of Canoa and what is most exciting about the project is that the school really is bilingual and if these kids learn English they will be able to break out of the cycle of poverty.

I know that it has been a dreadful year for everyone financially and we are looking for funding at a terrible time, but even $20.00 makes a difference. They are also looking for volunteer teachers, with or without training; so anyone with any degree, lots of patience and a desire to teach little ones would be welcome. If you know of anyone, please ask him or her to email Moya at moyasol@yahoo.com.

If you know of any websites where they might find volunteers - or funding - please let Moya know about them.

There is a website, www.jamesdeanbyrdfoundation.org where you can check it out and get lots more information about the school and the foundation and how you can donate if you are able. Please do not send me money directly but donate through the website and you will get both an acknowledgment thank you and a tax deduction if you want.

Moya's contact information is: My phone is 593 9 453 4419 Mailing address: A.P. 13-02-06, Bahia de Caraquez, Manabi, Ecuador.

The Ecuadorian Foundation, Fundación para el Desarollo Comunitario James Dean Byrd, was legally established on June 27, 2008, with approval from the Ministerio de Inclusion Económica y Social, Acuerdo Ministerial #0193. The Board of Directors, also approved by the MIES, is as follows: Presidente: James Dean Byrd Vice-Presidente: Moya Foley Director Ejecutivo: Arturo Servidiio Rubio Secretaria: Christine Michelet Hauptfeld

The school was legally approved by the Dirección de Educación in Portoviejo on August 4, 2008, under document #096. Our R.U.C. # is 139175249, Escuela Bilingue Los Algarrobos.

There is also a foundation in the U.S., The James Dean Byrd Foundation, legally established in the State of Florida, document number N07000008943 in December 2007. Ken Wilson is the president. The U.S. Foundation’s only purpose is to raise funds. All donations are tax deductible. Given the current economic climate, you can imagine how donations have dwindled since we first began.

The two main goals of the school are to provide an affordable education of a better quality than the public schools, and to give the children an opportunity to learn English from native speakers and thus hopefully improve their possibilities for the future. Enrollment is presently 41 students, with one Kinder class, 2 First Grades and 1 Second Grade. Twelve of the forty-one students pay a monthly tuition of $25.00. The remaining 29 students are scholarship kids, 15 of these have sponsors here and in the U.S. The remaining 11 students pay nothing.

Our monthly operating expenses are as follows:

Salaries:

* 4 teachers @ $250.00/mo. $1,000.00
* 1 principal @ $400.00/mo. 400.00
* 1 guard @ $100.00/mo. 100.00
* 1 cook @ $100.00/mo. 100.00
* Accountant $30.00/mo. 30.00
* Food (breakfast and snack) for children 400.00
* Electricity 20.00
* School Supplies (paper, tape, folders, staples, Glue, clips, crayons, pencils, etc.) 60.00
* Maintenance 10.00
* Special Events (Mother’s Day, Dia del Niño, etc) 25.00

Total $2,145.00

* We do not pay Social Security due to lack of funds.

Monthly Income:

12 paying students @ $25.00 $300.00
15 sponsored students @ $25.00 $375.00
Total $675.00

To cover the monthly deficit of $1,470.00, we depend mainly on the goodwill of donors, both here and in the States. We also hold fundraisers.

We could function much better with the following equipment:

5 desks (for teachers and principal)
2 filing cabinets
4 computers (we have one and a half!)
Internet for the school
26 pairs of kids’ jeans for scholarship kids
26 pairs of sneakers for scholarship kids
4 new classrooms (we are approved for K-6 and hope to continue building so that we can offer all these grade levels)
Materials and labor costs to convert existing bodega to a bunkhouse for foreign volunteers.

During our vacation months from January to April of this year, we built two new classrooms (two rooms under one roof.) I will attach the cost sheet below.

A donation of $5,000.00 approximately covers the cost of one classroom and entitles the donor to have the room named for him or her, or in memory of someone. (For example, we have a “Railroad Bob Room.”)

A lot of people have helped make the school, Jim Byrd, of course, Railroad Bob, Phil Laxton, Christine and Arturo Servidio who are on the board. Christine has raised 8 scholarships among her Ecuadorian friends. Kathy Capello came down as a professional consultant for a week last year and wrote up a 10 page report with recommendations that we are implementing as we go along.

I am the administrator of the school and Ken Wilson pays me $140.00 a month out of his pocket. We all do what we can and it is a success. The kids are learning and happy to be there. Your help would make such a difference.

If we could just breathe easy for a while and not struggle every month to make ends meet, well, it would be a great thing. If you need any more information please let me know. My numbers are 09453-4419 (home) and 09591-7791 (mobile). I am not easy to reach mainly because the signal at my house is not dependable, but please keep trying. Otherwise you can email me at moyasol@yahoo.com. I try to check email every other day. Our website is www.jamesdeanbyrdfoundation.org.

Ecuador

Hang gliding as an opportunity to help locally

-0.466292,-80.456089,Canoa LZ,+Ecuador

http://vimeo.com/7092548

http://www.millhillmissionariesecuador.blogspot.com/

Fausto <faustoarcos@aol.com> writes:

Tonight I was deeply moved with Jeff's and some other US pilots initiative to lend a helping hand to those in need down here.

In the early 90's when my brother and I return to our homeland after a few years going to college in Brazil, we found a country deep into economic slump (once again!) Which drove poverty further down than today!.

We also found a troubled hang gliding community (the same one we grew with during the 70 and 80's) flying rag wings from 10 or 15 years back (imagine what gliders in those years!). We decided that we needed to do something to revitalize the sport that we love so much which was dying at a fast pace.

We flew to California and met the Wills Wing gang (thanks WW for your support!!). We became dealers for them and since then we have been distributing WW gliders and products at dealer's price. (please don't get mad Mike!).

At the same time with a small group of pilots we discovered the wonderful flying that Canoa can offer. We establish the first races in the mid 90's among friends and slowly brought in new and old pilots to participate.

Today the Ecuadorian hang gliding community is growing slowly but healthy thanks to Canoa. During the past years we have seen the participation of many foreign pilots who have come and help us make this fun race even bigger and funnier. Most local pilots fly up to date wings while the rags have been left aside.

And now it is to my humble surprise that I read of Jeff's initiative. I am thankful to god that the revival of the hang gliding activity in Ecuador today can reach our needy children as well. So again many thanks Jeff et all. I am proud to have the opportunity to fly with gentlemen of your caliber. Once again welcome to Ecuador.

Social responsibility

Our crew visits the poor areas

-2.237209,-79.902878,Guayaquil,+Ecuador

Hang glider pilots around the world have helped out those who work with the poor here. Jeff O'Brien reports on the trip that five of our pilots made into the poor area here.

The mission compound has a daycare that houses 65 children from age 0 to 4.5. The cost for the daycare is $4 per month. Most of the babies come from single mother homes.

Social responsibility

We visited the James Dean Byrd foundation-supported school

-0.466292,-80.456089,Canoa LZ,+Ecuador

Belinda and I walked through the town this morning and it was pleasant enough with lots of school kids and small businesses. Asking directions at the cyber cafe we found our way to the English school that we (all of you hang glider and paraglider pilots) are supporting (PayPal here rgg1@charter.net) . The owner of the cyber cafe (I think he may have been the owner) had his little girl at the school (paying the $25/month tuition).

We had a great visit and everyone is going over to the school on Friday morning. The school is lovely with beautiful bamboo walled classrooms with concrete foundations and thatched roofs. There have been many donations and they have the money to build the next classroom (one for each year as the students progress). They teach kindergarten through the second grade now. They have some donated lap tops and there were high school students working in the office as interns using them.

There is a government school just a block away and of course most of the kids in town go to that school, but this is a school where the kids that go there learn English. It costs about as much to attend the government supported school as it does to attend the English school. Kids who attend the government school have to buy three uniforms (even if their parents are poor). The yellow shirts for the students at the English school are donated.

I visited all the classrooms and had fun with one class where I threw the small students in the air if they said to me "I want to fly." An extra English lesson.

I am very excited about the possibility that the world wide hang gliding and paragliding community (it was a paraglider pilot who knew about this school and told Jeff O'Brien about it) could have a huge impact on a school that is doing great work in the community. These kids are lovely and they appreciate the attention that they get in a loving school. If our community really takes on this project it will help out those in great need as well as show that our community really does have a sense of social responsibility and can focus that in areas where we are having an impact with our flying.

Social responsibility

La Escuela Abbrogado

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All the pilots visited the school today to see how they can help and where any of the donations that we have given and received (PayPal here rgg1@charter.net) can be used to help out with paying for a teacher ($3000/year - total salary) or for two to four new classrooms.

Jamie Shelden

We will make a contribution of $2,800 to the school for a designated use in the next few days (and tell you what your money went for). Also, $2,000 total is going to Father Frank for medicines at his clinic in Guayaquil, a four month supply.

Pilots seem to think that it would be a great idea to focus on this school in this flying area and make a statement about how much pilots care about their responsibilities in their local communities. This appears to be an excellent cause.

Social responsibility

Presentation at the hotel

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All the pilots here had a presentation today at our hotel to give $2,900 from monies received from pilots around the world to the English school. The money will go toward building a classroom (the total required for one classroom is $6,000) and paying the yearly salary for one teacher ($3,000). Obviously we haven't collected enough to pay for either of those two goals yet.

We envision a classroom with the sign on it saying: Donated by Hombres Pajaro (Birdmen). We need to raise an additional $6,000 to be able to have that sign and pay for the teacher for a year. We are hoping that hang glider and paraglider pilots will reach out to others to help these children and their school.

The women in blue on the left is Moya, administrator, $150/month part time salary. Ricker is shaking hands with James Dean Byrd, who started the foundation that supports the school. He has paid most of the teacher's salaries for two years. Jeff O'Brien is standing next to Ricker. The man in the white shirt next to Moya is Victor, the principal. He was working in the state school system for $600 as a principal (he is a Canoa native) but hadn't been paid in four months, so he quit. He never got his back pay. He works for $400/month at the school.

James Dean Byrd with the money from Jeff O'Brien. Moya reaching out to Ricker.

You can donate by clicking here: rgg1@charter.net with a credit card or PayPal.

Social responsibility

Ricker writes to his friends

-0.466292,-80.456089,Canoa LZ,+Ecuador

Ricker Goldsborough <gci@charter.net> writes:

It is departure day from Ecuador today and I have to say that I have strong and mixed emotions this morning. A good part of me wants to get home to what my brain thinks is normal life, but the other part is compelled to stay in Ecuador. The flying in Canoa is just that good. Not to mention that ridge racing is so much fun. However, the major emotional pull is on my heart as a result of being with the children. To be a part of such a wonderful thing is an honor and gives a new meaning to my life.

It is difficult to put to words the effects that we had on the school and mission here in Ecuador. To say the least would be to say we made a difference. But in fact we did so much more. You and some friends of mine that are outside the hang gliding and paragliding community donated over $4,500.00 allowing us to give both the Mission and the School hope. Our ongoing commitment will require your continued support and will constantly remind the public of our good nature.

Jeff O'Brien, Davis and Belinda, myself and others have decided to continue to support the Mission (Father Frank) by giving $500 each month to go towards medical supplies. In addition to this, we committed to give the school in Canoa $2900 now and an additional $3,100.00 by March of 2010 to build a new class room that will be named and labeled after hang glider (and paraglider) pilots. Additionally, we will provide them with one year's pay to staff this new class room of $3,000.00. A total of $5,900.00 is needed by March 2010 to meet our commitment.

Belinda Boulter had the opportunity and took the time to further develop a very close and personal relationship with the school officials in Canoa resulting in our ability to qualify what we are doing. Many tears were shed when we announced to them our plan and handed them what money we had to offer at the time. Davis Straub (Oz Report) will be assisting in many ways and adds more to this than I can explain at this time. The mix of people and supporters is simply amazing.

James Dean Byrd crying as he receives the money from Ricker and Jeff.

The results of the commitment will raise the awareness of hang glider pilots around the world and set a good example for others to follow. However, the primary reason we are doing this is because it needs to be done and our hearts are drawn to do so.

I ask that you continue to support these commitments, but not by donating your own money. It is very important that you go to family and friends that are outside of the hang gliding community and ask for support. Let your hearts guide you along the way as we develop a new organization of hang glider pilots supporting children everywhere we fly. Please help us meet and exceed our commitments.

You can donate by clicking here: rgg1@charter.net with a credit card or PayPal.

I would love to see wide distribution of Jeff's video:

Jeff's video on YouTube.

http://vimeo.com/7092548

Jeff will be working on another video to document what we have done here in Ecuador. Jeff's first video is very powerful. It would be fantastic if it went viral. It is a great video to watch, very beautiful and moving. If these video links got passed around that would help. Accompanied by the link to the donations above. It would be great if you could help out by passing along this article.

Thanks to contributors

For Jeff and Ricker's efforts to help in Ecuador

-0.466292,-80.456089,Canoa LZ,+Ecuador

http://ozreport.com/contributors.php