Dear Family, Friends and Associates:
This is the 7th year for my wife and I to sponsor a classroom for christmas at the Children First Academy (Former Thomas J Pappas School). There are 23 kids in the class and with your help we plan on giving these children a wonderful Christmas! For many of these kids it will be the only one they have.
These children are so amazing and grateful and show it every year! This year Mrs Jeters and the kids have requested to take time during their Christmas party to make crafts for Ryan's House (for terminally ill children). When we heard that these kids who have nothing, wanted to spend time at their christmas party to help other kids, it brought tears to our eyes.
It also makes us want to give them the best christmas we can! So here is the setup, we (Michelle and I, volunteers) go into the classroom and give them presents, food, and play games with them. We help them decorate the tree and this year we will also help them make decorations for the kids at Ryan's House. This party means so much because all their challenges go away and for a moment, they are in bliss. It is amazing to see how kind, loving, and grateful they are to us and each other. Sometimes the reality of them having nothing still sets in because there will be children who save their presents to open on Christmas day as they will be the only ones they will get. Some will even ask us permission to save a present or their goodie bag for the sibling and every year it blows us away to see their overwhelming love.
To sponsor a child it cost about $40 dollars and it entails a gift they have selected, a hoodie/sweatshirt, and a book. The spreadsheet attached has the names of the kids and what they want. If you would rather just donate money you can do that as well via the web at
(it is a secure company paypal account and 100% of your money will go to the school)
You can donate any amount of money you want from a small amount to a large amount. With the extra money we hope to buy the classroom a much needed learning tool from the Lakeshore Learning Store (Force and Motion Book and Library Set and a Classroom Rock Fossil and Mineral Set). Plus food and other goodies for there party.
If you choose a child or more than one, email us (both Michelle and I) right away the name of the child/children. Then go shopping and purchase the presents (Please wrap each gift, book and article of clothing separately) by Friday December 9th. Please know we can wrap presents too if you don't have time or prefer not to.
If you want to join us for all the fun at the Christmas party, it will be Wednesday December 14th from 11:00am - 12:30am. It is a blast! We think us volunteers get way more out of it than the kids do! Check out the collage we made of last years party below!
If you are not familiar with Children's First Academy, it is the Nation's Largest School for Homeless Children that Offers More than a Quality Education. The students who enroll in Children First Academy - Phoenix are not typical public school students. Many of the children routinely go without life's basic necessities - food, clothing, air conditioning, water, and most importantly a stable home life. Although many of the students never spend more than one night in the same place, they always have their school to attend each day. It fulfills much more than the typical school's role; it is the sense of stability these children so desperately need.
We trust you will have a wonderful holiday season!!
With Love and Light,
Al and Michelle Fuentes
PS. if you select a child put your name on the sheet and email it back to us. The deadline for buying gifts and getting them to us (we will meet you) is FRIDAY DECEMBER 9TH.
