I’d like to thank a great friend of mine, Jorge Preble, for his pro-bono work designing the new website.  As you might guess from how stunning the new site looks, it was no little task. In addition to the bright, well-organized, and overall pleasing appearance of the interface, it has several features that we didn’t have before. First, and most noticeable is the slider banner on the main page, where the promo video is embedded as the first slide. Another great feature is the gallery feature, where we will use to present slideshows of our scholarship recipients, among other things.

Jorge and I were classmates at the University of Dallas and have been great friends ever since. In fact, he was my best man at my wedding. If you or anyone you know is searching for a web designer, feel free to contact him at ajjpreble@ajjpreble.com. Please join me in thanking him for his generous contribution of time and talent!

The Least Among Us from Johnny Nelson on Vimeo.

I went down to El Salvador November 3-17 for a little R&R and to check on our scholarship students who were getting ready to finish up their academic year which runs from January to November.  Everyone is doing great and we are proud to say that three of our college students (pictured at left on a day trip to the Basilica of Esquipulas, Guatemala) are now done with their studies and will be receiving their degrees in May or June.  One of them, Mirian Elizabeth Clavel Vásquez, is an orphan who we have taken under our wing and she is now ready to give back what she has received by becoming a school teacher.  Perhaps our proudest moment will be to see Jorge Elias Pérez receive his college degree after being in our program for the past 8 years.  Jorge was 13 years old when he began 1^st Grade in the Catholic School that we built in Santo Domingo de Guzmán.  He was 16 in the 4^th Grade and year after year would keep coming back to learn more, even though he had to walk 45 minutes each way to get to school.  He lives with his elderly parents in a very humble house with no electricity or water.  Most other kids with his background would have not gone to school or would have dropped out after a few years in order to work in the fields.  Jorge is a model of patience and perseverance who literally has stood head and shoulders above his peers but now he gives hope and inspiration to all of the poor.  I had lunch with all of our scholarship students and I expressed how important it is for them to make the most of the opportunity that they have received through the generosity of you our donors.  I wish that you could hear their words of thanksgiving for this opportunity to secure a higher education.  In 2012 we hope to continue with construction of new classrooms and facilities for schools in El Salvador.  On behalf of the thousands of children that together we have helped over the past eight years, “Gracias por su apoyo – Thanks for your help.”

Father Keane

The World Series of Uno, live from El Salvador.