The 5th annual ‘Sirena Soirée’ Cocktail Party Fundraiser was a fabulous, grand success! Due to lingering Covid precautions, we hosted three smaller events instead of our usual one. The smaller groupings were extremely enjoyable and made for more intimate conversations and connections. The atmosphere of the rooftop bar of Casa Sirena is an ideal place to enjoy a cocktail and a beautiful Isla Mujeres sunset.

Our guest student for the Friday Happy Hour was Alexis and Tamara joined us on Saturday. Party guests loved meeting the students and hearing them speak a little about how the Scholarship Program has changed their lives. We are so proud of our students who have worked so hard to be awarded these scholarships and Alexis and Tamara represented them well.
 

Guests were invited to purchase tickets to bid on beautiful prize baskets which included locally purchased straw bags and hats, Isla restaurants, a snorkeling trip, colorful sarongs, handmade jewelry, liquor, and more.

Our live events this year raised $2448 US. These funds will go into our General Funds, which pay for new computers for our students, graduation expenses, semester registration fees, and unexpected expenses that pop up. Thank you again to everyone who participated. You are changing lives and making a difference! XOXO Jana
 

A huge and heartfelt THANK YOU goes out to everyone who helped, donated, participated and attended. Steve Broin, Maggie Washa, Jackie Conlon, Pam Baldwin, Kelley Glasner, Deb Landfear, Bev Willard, Robyn Krentz, Carl Krentz, Brent Kraushar, Steve Carlsen Photos, Pat Scully, Rinconcito Kahlo Restaurant, Laura Mapchick and Perry McFarlin, Hortensia and her daughters, Aqua Adventures, North Garden Restaurant, Javi’s Cantina, Sardinian Smile Ristorante, Guru Beach Club, Sonny’s Pizza, DeNuccio’s Restaurant, Olivia Restaurant.
 

Once a year our Students, Sponsors and Families gather for our Family Fiesta at Tom and Maggie Washa’s home. Although our group has grown each year, we were able to add extra seating in the yard to accommodate everyone comfortably.  Ask any sponsor who has attended one of these events and they will tell you that it was the highlight of their trip to Isla. I challenge anyone to attend and listen to the students speak without shedding at least one tear. It’s a very emotional and beautiful thing.

*I love seeing our alumni students, (some who I have known for 15 years and Maggie has known several since childhood!) and catch up with them.
 
*It’s a great opportunity to meet our new students, who I am always excited about.
 
 *It warms my heart to see sponsors connect with their students who are like family or the excitement of the sponsor and student meeting for the first time.  
 
*The Moms of the students cook all of the delicious food for us! These ladies can cook and a special homemade meal is so meaningful.
 
*I really enjoy watching the children running around playing. A plus at any party.
 
Sending out gratitude to Maggie and Tom Washa, our students incredible Moms, students who traveled to attend, and Jim Guy for his photography skills.

Please contact us if you are interested in sponsoring a student!

​Please support the Isla Mujeres Scholarship Program!
​To buy tickets for the drawing:
Paypal.Me/islascholarshipsbeca (Islascholarships@gmail.com). Note that it is for the fundraiser to generate tickets in your name. 
Thanks for your support!

Isabel is a young, single mom who has two children, a daughter who is 5 and a son who is 3 with Down Syndrome. Isabel is a real go-getter and came to us through a referral from LOMI (Lean on Me Isla Mujeres). She impressed us with her tenacity and quick responses in initial communication. Isabel lives with her mother, two brothers and extended family and commutes to classes at University del Sur in Cancun. She will also be attending classes on Saturdays.
With only one year and 8 months left to finish her associates degree in Law (and a GPA of 8.8 out of 10) Isabel has found herself struggling financially due to a difficult year financially for her family and some extraordinary medical expenses for her son. She had to take a year off to save some money and is ready to return in full force.
When she finishes this degree, she plans to continue her education to become a licensed attorney, so she can fulfill her dreams of making a better life for herself and for her young children, and stresses the importance of taking on pro bono cases in her community to help people when she becomes a lawyer. Isabel says, “For me it is important to demonstrate to my mom that these efforts and the efforts of my family bear fruits”.

​Stephanie is one of our new students.

Stephanie will be pursuing a 3-year degree in Accounting and will continue selling her beaded jewelry at the Women’s Bead Coop as well as sell desserts that she makes.  She will attend classes on Saturdays at University del Sur in Cancun.
 
Stephanie has two children, ages 15 and 10 and now that her boys are older, she says that this is her time to finish her degree, which will enable her to make a better future for her family.  We love supporting ‘older’ students and appreciate people who never give up on their dreams to succeed.


​Stephanie is in need of several more sponsors.