www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I appreciate all of the input.

Part of the problem is that I have been very concerned about giving up your hard earned money when it did not "feel" right. It would have been easier to just give Johanna the money last year, and have the lunch room TI accomplished. Most would have felt good about it, although I didn't feel like we weren't going to pay Gringo prices. To me, it just seemed like way to much money for what was proposed. In discussing this with other CRT members at the time, they concurred. Maybe my conservative nature, with others money, was not a good thing, and an actual hinderance to helping the K*ds.

When this money is disbursed, I hope that someone will pick up the ball and run with it, whatever orgainization is deemed fit, or whatever form that takes. I will offer time & money, but no longer wish to be "in charge" (not that I ever felt that way). I believe that I have actually hurt the cause.

With the help of those who actually live in CR this process of finding a worthy cause will go much smoother. It is very hard for me to get things done when I am in country once a year.

Happy holidays to you and yours.....

Steve - Santas Bro

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It's not the size of the wand that put the rabbit in the hat, it's the magic in it!!!

Nothing against any one person, but I'm against just hanging over the cash to anybody and hope they actually follow through with it. I'd be more comfortable if we pay a contractor directly. Or we decide to buy new furniture/desks/etc, that one of us goes and pays the store in person.


No, you haven't. Everybody knows your commitment level and appreciates what you started.

i am the other brother who requested return of donation.
and did not do so publicly because i had a brief involvement with the "orphanage" and the lady involved over there so i did not feel right questioning anything not knowing the history.
but i did have a lot of concerns regarding where exactly the money would go and who was getting it.
i also knew of the request of this "orphanage" to have a new roof. something far beyond our means. i took pictures of the building while there. and while it had maintenance issues it was very far from a shambles type of a dwelling. the place is also quite massive.
i had just imagined something far different. and while i was willing to go along with this cause it did seem like people were not getting along at some level preventing a smooth relationship difficult.
i sensed a strong distrust of us as people for the same reasons a lot of people don't like seeing us there in the first place. our hobby.
in TJ they do a once a year donation drive and Ch*ldren are sponsored and gifts are provided for individual Ch*ldren.
over the course of the year donations can be made and you are able to visit the place. it is just a simple thing to help improve the quality of life for those less fortunate.
i am not suggesting to anyone that this is the way to do it or that santas bro and the others involved have anything but honorable intentions. because although i have never met sb i have met several of the others and can vouch for their integrity and intentions.
for me personally it is not about the money as anyone who knows me would vouch. i was hoping for a little more hands on type thing and will be the first to offer my assistance to this cause should a direction evolve that can be seen.
merry christmas and happy holidays to all

Since LaDiablo mentioned he was the other person requesting a return of his donation, it was put in the mail this morning. He made his request yesterday. IMHO, it is not necessary for those wishing their donations returned to name themselves, although both have chosen to do so. I do the best I can to send these requests ASAP. Again, it is from my personal account, when I could have credited his money from the PayPal account. I am still very committed to helping some Ch*ldren in CR if even if it costs me personally the total $3,300.00. I have never failed at anything in my life, and this will not be the first.

I have PM'd both ElCiego & LaDiablo with the check numbers, amounts, and addresses that they have given me. Both were sent the day after their requests, and they have agreed with the amounts as listed on PayPal, prior to my sending the checks. I have also asked that they PM me upon receipt, so I will be able to rest better knowing that they have received the money. I will not feel right until I know that they have the money they requested back.

In both the cases of the return it was mentioned because of not feeling right about the "orphanage" by the SL. This is precisely why it has taken so long, neither did I, nor the others that have been a part of this. As I have been posting recently this is changing. For those of you who still have confidence about your money not being wasted. Currently, DiegoC has been a huge help in finding a true orphanage to help. He also mentioned helping Ch*ldren from killed police officers. Pac55 has offered help. I greatly appreciate both of their offers, and support.

I need your help. If you live in CR, know much about CR, or have donated, what Ch*ldren's causes would you support? ID, you are usually a wealth of knowledge about CR, any that you know of?

I my sincerest apologies to all, I feel terrible about this!

Happy Holidays to you & yours....

Steve - Santas Bro

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It's not the size of the wand that put the rabbit in the hat, it's the magic in it!!!

I have never really looked into finding a charity to support because the American Legion post, of which I am a member, helps support 3 different charities. An orphanage in Atenas, a school for the handicapped in San Joaquin de Flores and a home for the elderly in Heredia.

You might want to broaden your search to include some schools in the various low income barios. They are always seeking funds for supplies and uniforms for K*ds whose parents do not have enough money to buy them. In Costa Rica K*ds are required to wear uniforms and if the parents can not purchase them or get them donated the Ch*ld does not go to school.

The new school year starts in February so there is almost an immediate need in some schools for outside assistance. Just a thought. Perhaps some brothers here know of such schools.

This is not meant to knock the Toys for Tots box in the SL idea but toys are nice and certainly it makes you feel good when you see the smile on the face of a youngster who would not have gotten a Christmas present without the good will of others. Their joy is short lived however compared to helping a Ch*ld receive an education. Education lasts a lifetime.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

If you live in Costa Rica help Santas Bro out! Integrity is his middle name.......Happy Holidays a todos!

I have not contributed any money to the CRT Fund but as an individual I currently help support five Ch*ldren. Much of that support is by doing what Irish Drifter suggested: purchasing uniforms and school supplies for the K*ds as well as giving gifts at Christmas.

However, since I am helping Santa’s Bro work toward helping to create something to which we should all feel comfortable contributing, please consider some ideas. Those of you who have contributed should put in your two cents worth.

My guess is that most guys who come here stay primarily in and around the Gulch with some side trips to places like Jaco.

If that is true and you want to be able to see where your contributions are going, then it would be wise to make the contributions to those who live in the central valley. Moreover, based on the above comments by others, my guess is that most of you are interested in helping K*ds.

As a starting point, please consider the following as a purpose statement:

To help provide for the educational needs of Ch*ldren in the Central Plateau of Costa Rica who cannot afford schooling.

This is just a starting point to stimulate ideas and meaningful conversation.

After re-reading the above and thinking about it, let me be critical of the suggested statement above: To help provide for the educational needs of Ch*ldren in the Central Plateau of Costa Rica who cannot afford schooling.

There is nothing in that statement which makes gift giving at Christmas time or other holidays a focus of the CRT Fund. It is pretty limited in scope. But, narrow scope helps to better define actions and outcomes.

In considering the advancement of the CRT Fund, there are lots of questions that we have to ask. For example, what do you want out of giving?

Is it just the simple joy of giving or is it something more personal? In other words, as a goal of giving, do you want to improve the image of “uniformed mongers”: e.g., slightly overweight middle aged to middle aged plus men who wear blue jeans, aloha shirts, white tennis and frequent casas de las citas?

There is nothing wrong with wanting specific outcomes. As I said in a previous post, philanthropists want to see some good for their investments. No one wants to be thought of as wasting hard earned money. We want our money used for good and generally for specific purposes. But what purposes?

What are the purposes you want your money used for?

What do you want this CRT Fund to be?

What do you want to achieve?

What are the ultimate goals?

Who do you want to do the work and how will you empower them?

All of these things are fundamental in order to do something meaningful.

Again, these are just ideas to simulate conversation. Be happy!

Just a thought, but a K*D who is hungry and does not have clothes to wear is probably not so much interested in his education.

I am more concerned with the Ch*ldren's overall welfare, including just knowing that somebody cares. Just a thought.

_________________
"Your love gives me such a thrill
but your love don't pay my bills,
I NEED THE MONEY!" - John Lee Hooker

Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
Your mileage may vary. https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewto ... 978#206978

Most orphanages in Costa Rica have sufficient resources or sponsors to provide basic food, shelter and clothing. I doubt you will find many, if any, where the Ch*ldren lack food and clothing.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I like where this is going
Here is my two cent
this may become two things
#1 a monitary fund that has a target of some type of brick and mortar objectives( to help out the less fortunate get schooling) great idea
#2 a goodwill box at the SL or other places A quick feel good thing for those who do not wish to give money but serves the same charity
I know this is the hollidays and people want to be generous but the underprivlaged need help year round

I know there is lots of work to be do and a real game plan to be made
I would like to offer to do more but feel it is best left to those on the ground in SJ

I just read a post I had missed
Granted the SL has enough going on to have to look after the goodwill box
there should be some way small donations of needed items to be gathered up and doled out
How about an old mail box Iknow it is CR do they have them

Mailbox? They have mail service in CR?

I agree would with ID. From my observations, the little K*ds of Costa Rica have their very basic needs filled - food or basic clothing. But Pac55 has always been very knowledgable in his posts, maybe he knows something I don’t. I am open for suggestions.

This is the basic statement of purpose so far: To help provide for the educational needs of Ch*ldren in the Central Plateau of Costa Rica who need assistance with expenses for schooling.

Some ideas for consideration to add in to the existing statement:

- Help the Ch*ldren living in the central plateau of Costa Rica (Keeper)

- With toys and gifts at Christmas time (What do you think? Keep or discard)

- With assistance for uniforms, books and materials at the beginning of school (What do you think? Keep or discard)

- Help with maintenance costs of buildings. (What do you think? Keep or discard)

- Work only with legitimate, licensed and recognized institutions

What works and what doesn't work for you?

Please put in your comments.

Yes they do

I get mailed delivered to my casa, from both the U.S. and CR, using the CR geographical address system.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine