There are many things I love about life. One of them is nonprofit work. It is definitely one of the benefits of becoming Miss Latina World. I learned in one year just how much I love to help others and give back.

This Saturday I am honored to be the Master of Ceremonies for the amazing event you see right above this post. Rita Verreos is a wonderful woman who not only inspires me, but is a great friend and someone I aspire to be like one day. Unfortunately, she is now unable to emcee the event, so I will be filling in for her. VOS is a nonprofit that began in Latin America and helps underprivileged children by supplying them with flip flops. This Saturday VOS will introduce their organization to the United States, right here in San Antonio, by donating 1,000 flip flops (their largest donation to date)!

Tonight I will meet with both Rita and VOS and we will discuss Saturday’s event on Longhorn Live Radio between 7 and 8 pm. If you have a moment please tune in and listen to the show, so you can learn more about Saturday and how you can help.

Click here for the website to Longhorn Live Radio where you can listen to the show live online.

It may be REALLY late, but here is the link for the school district article on me. There was also one done by the Lion’s Roar, which is the local newspaper, however that article is in a PDF file only and not an internet link I can post.

Click here for the NISD newsletter article on page 5.

Saturday August 22, 2009 from 11:00am – 3:00pm, I will be helping at the Ed White Inaugural Back to School Event. This event has been organized in hopes of helping the economically disadvantaged school children. If you are interested in helping, please e-mail Cristina Bazaldua at cbazal1@neisd.net.

In partnership with Councilwoman Ivy R. Taylor, City of San Antonio District 2 & Rackspace, Ed White Middle School, would like to reach out to our San Antonio community and begin a successful collaboration between health agencies, state agencies, non-profits, corporate sponsors, volunteers, and private citizens.

With your help, we can reach out to our economically disadvantaged school children in our area with free school supplies, immunizations, haircuts, uniforms, and other resources necessary to help ensure their academic success. Due to the existing economic conditions, it is almost certain that there will be a great number of families participating in our inaugural Back to School Fair.

We would like to enlist your financial support and or assistance in making the free school supplies available to the children of families who fall below the 2009 Poverty Level Guidelines and also reside in the City of San Antonio – District 2.

Please join me in helping the children in our Ed White Middle School area with a simple, yet great resource – the supplies they need to go back to school.

• Review our levels of sponsorship – see below.

There are several ways in which you can support this event, either as a company or as an individual. You can:

• make your check payable to Ed White Middle School Family Resource Center – Back to School Fair.

• school supplies and or monetary donations can be mailed or dropped off at Ed White Middle School, 7800 Midcrown Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78218

• donate as an individual or host a donation drive and collect school supplies and or uniforms at your business, place of worship, book club etc. We can provide you with the essential materials.

• contact Cristina J. Bazaldúa at cbazal1@neisd.net or at 210-313-0410 regarding specific sponsorship opportunities

This Saturday, August 15th I will take part in Senator Carlos Uresti’s Back to School event. It will be from 10am – 2pm at Palo Alto College Gymnasium. There will be free backpacks and immunizations for children Kinder through 5th grade. And of course, some wonderful live music and entertainment!

In an economic slump, when everyone can use a little extra help, it’s nice to see the Senator donate his time for something like this. I’m proud to be a part of it. Hope to see you there!