Heart 2 Heart – 100 in 100 Club-to-Club Projects

On April 1, 2021, Mexico celebrated 100 years of Rotary service in Mexico. The Ciudad de Mexico club was chartered on that day 100 years ago and was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Dallas, Texas. This anniversary creates opportunities for Rotarians in both countries. For Mexico, it is a chance to spotlight Rotary all over Mexico and to engage more of their clubs with the US and perhaps in some cases even more with their communities. For the US partners, it is a chance to get more clubs (and hopefully more districts) directly involved on the club to club level.

The celebration project is designed to engage at least 100 different US clubs to do service projects in Mexico during 2020-21 and 2021-22 (the “100 in 100” Program). These service projects range in size from approximately $500 to $10,000 USD, with a shopping list of opportunities for US clubs, depending upon their interest and funding options. US district grants could be used where available.

What this concept will also do is help the US clubs get more directly connected with Mexico club partners. Once this is done, more projects of all sizes can be done moving forward on a club to club level. Everybody wins, and most importantly, more people in need in Mexico will benefit from Rotary’s service.

The program is led by a US Rotarian team (headed by DGE Ron Appuhn, D6780 TN) working with a Mexico Rotarian team (headed by Reiner Jahn, D4170) that represents their entire country and works closely with FURMEX. Past District Governor Roger Sims (D6540 IN) organized and started the processes in the beginning and was serving as the US coordinator until his sudden death in late October 2019. Rotarians in both countries have lost a great friend, and we all have made even stronger commitments to make this program a success to honor Roger and his family.

Mexico clubs prepared project proposals from July 1, 2019 through late October 2019 for review by the 100 in 100 teams. Project selection by US clubs and districts began in 2020 and is on-going. The COVID-19 pandemic challenges has altered the timing and implementation of the projects, but we are continuing to move forward.

Rotarians in Mexico and the US continue to work on compiling all the potential partnering opportunities. The lists of projects will be updated from time to time, so we encourage interested clubs to review the lists periodically.

Thank you for your interest in the 100 in 100 program and in helping to make a difference for those in need in Mexico!

Questions or comments about the 100 in 100 program (and any of the project opportunities listed below) can be addressed to Ron Appuhn (rappuhn53@yahoo.com).

Updated May 20, 2023

100 in 100 Club-to-Club Project Opportunities                                                          May 20, 2023

Projects ready for immediate funding

1 Tlalpan Golf – Empowering Girls book – $5,900 US (still needs about $1,500)

As presented to the Heart 2 Heart travel team in November 2022, the Tlalpan Golf club (D4170) is beginning its pilot project to create and print 1,000 copies of the first book that empower girls through a regional story. The books are written and designed by local authors and artists for the target age range of 3 to 6, but the age range will increase with different books and with trial readings. Over time the goal is to create and print 8 different books and expand from club distribution to district distribution to national distribution.

2 Guadalajara Colomos – Robin library project at cancer center- $7,000 US needed

In honor of the sudden passing of club president Heron Rodriquez (known as “Robin”), the Guadalajara Colomos club (D4140) worked with Robin’s widow and created a project to start a small library in the child cancer center at Hospital Civil. The hospital has provided the space and the program is being managed by a local non-profit. The US partners are asked to supply funds for books and materials for this library.

3 Puerto Vallarta Sur – Repair and install AC equipment for Volcanes program facility – $4,300 US (still needs about $1,500)

The Puerto Vallarta Sur club (D4140) is a leading supporter of the Volcanes Community Education Program which provides additional education free of charge to students from local marginalized communities. (This education is outside of the public funded school system). This program gives these children an additional opportunity to learn in order to enhance their chances for better employment and to allow them to work towards breaking the cycle of poverty. This project would provide needed AC equipment and repairs for the program facility.

4 Puerto Vallarta Sur – Classroom repair & maintenance and equipment replacement for Volcanes program facility – $2,200 US needed

A second project would attend to some additional facility needs for the Volcanes program facility.

5 Tlaquepaque Industrial – Computers for CRES Estipac school supporting indigenous students – $10,500 US needed

The Tlaquepaque Industrial Club (D4140) seeks to purchase an additional 30 laptop computers for the library in the CRES Estipac school that supports 480 indigenous students with lodging, food, medical, school and extra-curricular activities. Fourteen computers were provided in January 2023 by the Heart 2 Heart service trip team to begin the project. The cost per computer is $350 each. Some assistance is expected from a California partner.

6 Santiago de la Monclova – Water purification maintenance in schools – $9,200 US needed

The Santiago de la Monclova club (D4110) has worked on water purification systems in public schools in its community for many years. This project would provide maintenance to the systems and provide additional training and educational materials.

Projects that can be promoted:

1 Puerto Vallarta Sur club – Volcanes program school supplies for the fall $4,400

2 Tlalpan Golf club – scholarship for La Quinta (Unnido Foundation) children to attend Montessori school – $1,200 annual or $100 per month per student

3 Tlalpan Golf club – support for programs for La Quinta (Unnido Foundation) children (food, medicines and medical support, education and personal development, general support) – any financial support helps

4 Addressing disabilities (wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches, mobility carts, prosthetic hands)

a. World Access Project (Richard St, Denis) – non-profit that serves the disabled with refurbished and personalized wheelchairs and some additional devices for the disabled

• Transportation costs for a container of used and refurbished wheelchairs, crutches, walkers and canes – up to $13,000 per container
• Annual Amigs Verdados camp for wheelchair users to learn how to maneuver through obstacles, play sports, do crafts, and give motivational presentations – $5,000
• Annual international wheelchair tennis tournament in Mazatlan – $5,000
• Tires, armrests, seats and back upholstery, cushions, and other parts needed to refurbish wheelchairs – $8,000 annually

b. Mobility Worldwide (Wayne Beare, Gary Moreau) – non-profit that provides mobility carts for people in places where wheelchairs are ineffective – $350 per mobility cart

c. Aztec Ministry (Tami Beller Gaddis) – non-profit that serves indigenous Aztec communities through various programs including medical brigades, optometry brigades, mobility carts, and literacy materials – any financial support helps (specific project list and costs are available)

Projects Under Development

Refurbished ambulances – One World Medics (Bryan Peterson)

Refurbished fire trucks – Baja Bridges (Katherine Turner)

Wheelchair Foundation – FURMEX (Reiner Jahn)

Project CURE container of repurposed medical equipment and supplies – Curando Mexico and FURMEX (Ron Appuhn)

Biology/chemistry lab classroom – Bajamar Satellite club (Bob MacDonald, Katherine Turner)

Devlyn Foundation – mass vision assessments (possible hands-on project for Spanish speaking Rotarians – FURMEX (Reiner Jahn)