This is to report A GREAT ROTARY DAY on 14 December 1996, that was very rewarding. The details of this rewarding International Rotary project follows:
Being close to the International Border between the United States and Mexico, lends itself to International Projects across the border. Members from Club Rotario de Tijuana Rio, Tijuana, Mexico; the Rotary Club of San Ysidro, Ca., USA; and the Rotary Club of National City, USA hosted and participated in a Christmas Party for an Orphanage, La Casa Infantil La Gloria, located in Mexico close to Tijuana, Mexico.
The approximately 60 orphans wrote letters to Santa Claus with their gift desires. These letters were then presented to various Rotarians. Dr. Christine Aranda Smith, principal of SouthWest High School, a member of the Rotary Club of San Ysidro, posted these letters in her school for the students to see. The students reacted wonderfully by purchasing gifts for the orphans. In addition Christine arranged bus transportation for approximately 50 students to attend the Christmas party at the orphanage in Mexico. The SouthWest High School Band, Choir, and Ballet Folk Lorico teams were in attendance to provide entertainment for the orphans. A great meal was served, a Christmas Pinata Party held, entertainment provided by the students from SouthWest High School Band, Choir, and Ballet Folklorico teams, coupled with the love and caring affection shown by the Rotarian families in attendance, which all made for a great and rewarding day for the orphans.
Rotarians and spouses contributed greatly also. A special thanks goes out to the Club Rotario de Tijuana Rio for inviting our participation in this project; Dr. Christine Aranda Smith for arranging the students participation, their purchasing gifts for the orphans, arranging the band, choir, and Ballet Folk Lorico participation, and bus transportation for the students; Marvin Carpenter, President Rotary Club of San Ysidro, for handling the punch preparation and delivery, as well as providing additional presents for the orphans and orphanage; my lovely wife Lilley, who baked a hundred or so cupcakes with Christmas decorations for the orphans to have a special desert, and the boxes of oranges we provided for the orphans in the orphanage; as well as the countless other Rotarians and families from both sides of the border, who all contributed to make this day an outstanding success.
Playing with the orphans, showing them love and affection, as well as holding some of the younger orphans really was emotionally rewarding to the participants as well as really being enjoyed by the residents of the orphanage. The ages of the orphans ranged from a few months to the teen age years. This orphanage is totally funded by private charitable groups, and it was very rewarding to see Rotary and Rotarians helping participate in such a worthy project. By the end of the day, Lilley and I were both quite tired, but feeling very rewarded emotionally by being able to help bring a few rays of sunshine into the orphans' lives, who live so close to us, residents of the USA, the land of plenty. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive.
During this holiday season, let's not forget to thank God for all the blessings we have, and to realize that Rotarians helping in such projects will help further International Peace, Understanding, and Cooperation, making this world a better place to live in.
God Bless You & Merry Christmas to All,
--Billo--
If you would like more information on helping this orphanage in Mexico, you can email "billo@home.com"You can learn more about the Mailing Lists for Rotarians here. To become a member of this Prodigy sponsored 
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