This is one of the several reasons I’m proud to now be part of the Danilo’s Cares board and excited to be part of the work being done to improve the lives of children in some of the poorest areas of Honduras. I’d like to share some important lessons I’ve learned over the years about charitable giving and knowing where to make your charitable gifts for the best impact, and then invite you to join me in being part of this amazing effort.
Giving That Makes a Difference
There are several key factors that make Danilo’s Cares a different kind of organization. First, it is a native organization – from Honduras for Honduras. The Martinez family has been investing in their home country of Honduras through Entrepreneurship, on-the-job-training, and more for over 40 years. And now, more recently, by founding Danilo’sCares, a properly established 501 (c)(3) corporation under IRS regulations, you now have the opportunity to be part of this amazing effort.
But that’s not all. Everyone serving on the Danilo’s Cares leadership team and board is a volunteer. No one draws a salary. And to ensure the lowest overhead possible, volunteers and staff work on a co-located basis (from their homes, or from the Danilo’s corporate office in San Pedro Sula, Honduras). This means that 100% of your donations will go directly towards the cost of materials and the care of a needy child.
The Opportunity
Danilo’s Cares is our organization’s name, and it is because the people investing their time, money and efforts truly care about the people of Honduras. To ensure our work is truly making a long-term difference in Honduras, Danilo’s Cares partnered in 2012 with Central American Medical Outreach (CAMO) to facilitate dental health programs designed to increase public awareness in some of the poorest areas of Honduras. This effort has organized several events that have provided essential oral hygiene treatments every six months to children in the public school system of San Pedro Sula, Honduras. These treatments include essential procedures we take for granted such as fluoride application, tooth extractions, general cleanings, and cavity fillings. In addition to the dental care, these children are also provided with oral hygiene instruction on how to properly maintain their teeth and gums.
To be sure, this isn’t the first time we’ve done this. Danilo’s Cares has been doing this every six month for the last three years! Our last “dental brigade” was held on May 27th and 28th of last year and was a complete success.
Through last year’s effort, Danilo’s Cares and CAMO reached more than 250 suffering children. The truth is we have only managed to serve a fraction of the need!! But that will not stop us or discourage us from continuing the work. We’re going to do it again.
This coming July 26th & 27th we’re partnering with CAMO once again. We’ll be bringing a team of dental care workers and will be providing dental treatments to needy children in the Raissa Vanessa Castro school in San Pedro Sula Honduras. That’s how change happens: one child at a time.
What Is My Part… and Yours!
I’m excited to be on board – not to be a nameless board member giving advice, but to roll up my sleeves and get to work along with the entire Danilo’s Cares team. I’ll be writing blog posts like this one. I’ll also be inviting others to follow us on Facebook through email and personally written letters to local businesses.
This is where you come in: will you join me in being a part of this effort? These projects are not funded by a few large donors; our success comes from individuals like yourself that want to make a difference.
History proves that it only takes one person willing to step up to make a difference. The fact is your one-time or recurring donations will make the life of a child better.
That’s not something you’ll want to pass up!
Josue Sierra