Organizations Our Members Support

Mayan Families

Mayan Families is a group of volunteers living in the highlands of the Lake Atitlan area in Panajachel, Guatemala. They are involved in many projects including student sponsorships, water filters, medical clinics, rebuilding of homes, onil stoves, and food distribution, to name a few. Please see their website, www.mayanfamilies.org, for more details.

Our members have these thoughts to share about their experiences giving to Mayan Families.

"Our family loves the varied giving opportunities Mayan Families has to offer...from $30 to $500 each program provides wonderful benefits for the people in Lake Atitlan and teaches our children about the benefits of giving back! We especially love giving gifts to Mayan Families in honor of loved ones for birthdays, Christmas, and other special occasions."
- Heather S.

"Mayan Families has provided us with a connection to our son's birth country - a connection that we hope will make a difference in this child's life and ours." - Lana K.

"It has been a rewarding experience for our whole family, and we have been sharing the joy of giving to Mayan Families ever since." - Crystal S.

To see more about how LAAF members have supported Mayan Families, check out our Past Projects

This sponsored student shows her report card.	Needy families are provided with fuel-efficient wood stoves that have financial, health, and environmental benefits.	Water filters are provided to schools, families, and individuals.

Hearts In Motion (HIM)

The mission of Hearts In Motion is to provide care and medical treatment for children, families, and communities through its programs and sponsorships in the U.S., and Central and South America. Many of their programs and projects are located in the department of Zapaca, Guatemala.

Kathy Janisch, a volunteer coordinator for Hearts In Motion (HIM), has set up an outreach location at her residence in Mukwonago. Kathy collects donations, stores them in her garage and then ships them to the HIM headquarters in Gualan, Zapaca, Guatemala. She collects donations of clothing, shoes, athletic equipment, household items, personal care items, medical equipment and supplies, vitamins, firefighter equipment and much, much more. For more information about HIM, please see our special Hearts In Motion page.

"Last spring, we spent our spring break collecting items to donate to HIM. Just recently, my son turned to me and said, "Mom, I don't need this toy car anymore. Let's send it to Guatemala for a little boy to play with." We hope that his spirit to give back continues."
- Lana K.

"Our "Gotcha Day" has been made a day to give back. HIM has given us an outlet to teach our daughter at a young age the importance of giving to those in need."
- Nicole C.

Guadalupe Homes*

Opened in 1985 during the civil war Guadalupe Homes Orphanage welcomed many children who had experienced loss and trauma. Since then, other orphaned and abandoned children have come. The orphanage is located in Santa Apolonia, Guatemala and is run by the School Sisters of St. Francis.

Presently over 80 children live in each of six simple homes with foster mothers called "tias." The ages of the children vary from newborn to teens, including several new babies. Recently, the homes refurbished and housing stability has returned. Children attend the town school up to the 9th grade; some continue their education in the city or neighboring towns. All of the children learn a vocational skill, such as carpentry, shoemaking, tailoring, thus helping provide for the needs at the orphanage, as well as preparing for their own future as independent adults. For a look inside the faces at Guadalupe Homes, visit www.loshogareseningles.blogspot.com; for the Spanish version, visit www.loshogares.blogspot.com. For more information about Guadalupe Homes, please see our Ongoing Projects or contact Sr. Marietta Hanus.

Sr. Marietta Hanus
School Sisters of St. Francis
1501 S. Layton Blvd.
Milwaukee, WI 53215
Sr. Marietta Hanus
Web Site

Familias Unidas Liaison
GivingBack@laafwi.org

Our members have these thoughts to share about their experiences giving to Guadalupe Homes.

"We have always contributed to a children's charity at Christmas but now we have a real bond with Guadalupe Homes and have supported them. It's a wonderful way to give thanks for our children."
- Julie F.

We do our best to offer legitimate giving back opportunities to our membership. Please be aware that our promotion of such opportunities for organizations/charities does not imply our endorsement. Before sponsoring a program or project, please take care to research it yourself.

*Notice -- Some of our members choose to support charitable organizations with religious and/or political affiliations, but LAAF-WI does not endorse any religious and/or political activities, viewpoints or advocacy.