2023 YE Annual President’s Report
December 31, 2023
Dear Supporters:
Here are some of the highlights of 2023.
- February 11, Valley Presbyterian Church sponsored a breakfast to host Casa Vida Nueva para Niños. It started at 8:30 am with a great breakfast for 130 people. Reed Olson acknowledged the attendance of special groups: New Life Church of God in Tucson with Senior Pastor Francisco Jimenez and his wife; Desert Hills Lutheran Church (DHLC) with Senior Pastor Mike Sager; DHLC Sewing Bee women; DHLC Foundation; Valle Verde Rotary Club of Green Valley; Spinning Web Design; and all other individual supporters of this mission. The morning turned out to be a celebration of “thanks.” Reed presented the Home’s successes and challenges including two special announcements: (1) There are now 4 children attending college and (2) The new Donna Wright “English as a Second Language” program. All children will now be home schooled in English twice per week.
- June 22, Reed Olson received the “Paul Harris Fellow Award” from the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. Sue Horton, President of the Valle Verde Rotary Club of Green Valley, presented the award to Reed Olson for his work and continued dedication to the Casa Vida Nueva para Niños orphanage in Nogales, Sonora, AZ. A Paul Harris Fellow is a person who has been recognized as having done something significant for others. The Foundation recognizes them by a contribution of $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International which will be spent on Humanitarian efforts around the world: Recognition is significant and something to be proud of.
- The December 9th trip to Casa Vida Nueva para Niños was unfortunately canceled this year due to concerns regarding border crossing times and the unrest at many AZ borders. So, we came up with a “Plan B.” Each person who had signed up for the trip was invited to come to a local zoom meeting, set up by Elias, Director of the Home to witness the children opening their Christmas gifts. After the children opened their gifts, each child walked up to the zoom camera at the orphanage and in very clear English thanked all of us for their gifts. This was the first year we were thanked out loud in English. We felt the new ESL (English as a Second Language) program has been well attended.
- Donations: This year, Amazon canceled its AmazonSmile program. RISE then focused on promoting a Qualified Charitable Distribution program (See RISE Website for more details).
- RISE website has been updated and refreshed.
- RISE QR code – RISE has created its own QR code – see below.
I want to thank the people around the U.S. for their encouraging support (physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial). Without their support, RISE would not have been able to supply the financial aid to the children’s education. A special thanks goes to these major Green Valley organizations for their support: Valley Presbyterian Church, Desert Hills Lutheran Church (DHLC) and DHLC Sewing Bee (monitory donations from their boutique and 10 hand-made quilts), DHLC Foundation, and Valle Verde Rotary Club of Green Valley. Finally, I want to thank the RISE Board of Directors for its support and guidance during this past year.
To learn more about RISE Scholastic Achievements, Inc. go to the RISE website: www.risesa.org .
Sincerely,
Reed C. Olson – President RISESA.org
Download PDF of RISE 2023 YE Annual President’s Report
2022 Year End Report
After a two-year absence, due to COVID issues, WE’RE BACK! In 2022 we started taking trips again.
On March 12, we escorted 10 people from the Green Valley, AZ area to Casa Vida Nueva para Niños (Orphanage) in Nogales, Sonora MX. This was the first coordinated visit since October 2019. The group spent the day with the children, listened to a presentation of their story, watched two singing performances by the children, toured their home, and ate a wonderful lunch. Support from the Green Valley, AZ Community and RISE Scholastic Achievements were acknowledged for helping fund high school, laptops, and university / trade school expenses for these orphaned children. Currently there are four students in Universidad (college) with two of them graduating this year. There are six students in preparatoria (high school) and seven in secundaria (junior high school).
On December 10th, we escorted 24 people from the Green Valley, AZ area for the annual Christmas Trip.
Read the full RISE 2022 Year End Annual President’s Report
2021 Year End Report
Dear Supporters:
COVID significantly reduced our activities again in 2021. All scheduled trips to see the children were canceled including the Christmas trip. However, we were able to collect donations to help the children have a good Christmas. We are hoping trips will start again in March 2022.
The children continue to do well because they are blessed with adults who love them, have a roof over their head, plentiful food, great education opportunities (RISE Scholastic Achievements, Inc.), a love of God in their lives, and support from across the USA. There are two students enrolled in Universidad (college) majoring in marketing and nursing. Four students are enrolled in preparatoria school (high school) and fourteen in Secundaria (junior high school). When COVID cases increased during the latter part of 2021, the directors decided to take all children out of in-person high school and junior high school training and started home schooling.
Read the entire RISE 2021 Year End Annual President’s Report
2020 Year End Report
Dear Supporters,
2020 activities were limited due to the prolonged closure of the US/MX border crossing sites throughout the year and COVID-19. All supportive trips to see the children were canceled including the Christmas trip. However, we were able to collect donations to help the children have a good Christmas.
There is good news: The children of Casa Vida Nueva Para Niños are doing well because they are blessed with adults who love them, have a roof over their head, plentiful food, great education opportunities (RISE Scholastic Achievements, Inc.), a love of God in their lives, and support from across the USA; plus, they all get along with each other.
See full RISE 2020 Annual President’s Report
2019 Year End Report
Dear Supporters:
2019 was the second full year of operation for RISE Scholastic Achievements, Inc., and we want to thank you thank you for your encouraging support (physical, emotional, spiritual and financial). Running a new charity has its challenges but we managed to reach most of our goals this past year while a few goals were postponed until 2020 due to time, people and issues with US/MX border crossings. We are thankful that with God’s help, RISE is established and expanding its presence in our local area. In 2019, the number of children going to preparatoria school (high school) increased from 6 to 7, at a cost of $563 USD per child.
Download the Full RISE 2019 Year End Annual President’s Report
2018 Year End Report
Dear Supporters:
2018 was the first full year of operations for RISE Scholastic Achievements, Inc. Thank you all for your encouraging support (physical, emotional, spiritual and financial). Running a new charity has its challenges but we managed to reach most of our goals this past year while some goals were postponed until later in 2019 due to time and people.
Download the Full RISE 2018 Year End Annual President’s Report PDF
2017 Year End Report
Dear Supporters:
2017 was an exciting first year for RISE Scholastic Achievements, Inc. I can’t thank you enough for the encouraging support (physical, emotional, spiritual and financial) you’ve provided. We’ve managed to reach most of our goals this past year and it’s been very encouraging. Creating a new 501(c)(3) corporation was exhilarating and humbling – but with God’s help, RISE is now up and operational…..
Download the Full RISE 2017 Year End Annual President’s Report PDF