About This Project:
We are excited to announce the expansion of our mission of Providing Opportunity for the Youth of Tomorrow to our very first international project in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico by partnering with Mexico based non-profit, PEACE Mexico.  Titled appropriately, the Hand Me Ups International Helping Hand Tour is dedicated to raising $7,500 USD by January 1st, 2012, for the re-development and enhancement of the PEACE community center which serves the surrounding underdeveloped communities with alternative schooling, after school programs, English classes, computer classes, an adult GED program, and job skills training.

A community center like this is an important asset to Puerto Vallarta as it provides the necessary resources needed to conduct dynamic educational opportunities for children and adults by reducing and potentially eliminating the high drop-out rates while improving low test scores, low literacy rate, and low parent to child engagement.

What will we do with the $7,500?
The money you back us will cover costs associated with turning this community center into a state of the art and fully self-sustainable venture for the surrounding community to utilize, including the painting of the inside AND outside of the center, new desks, art tables, chairs, storage lockers, book shelves, and a whole list of supplies below…
Making the mark: Whiteboards, erasers, crayons, markers, colored pencils, regular pencils, pastels
Paints: Watercolors, tempera paint, acrylic paint
Three Dimensional: Dough, clay, toothpicks, popsicle sticks, wood
Printing: ink pad, ink toner, sponges, stamps, printing ink
Stick it together: White glue, liquid starch, fabric glue, wood glue
Tools: scissors, paintbrushes, hole punchers
Papers: Copy paper, construction paper, card stock, wax paper, colored tissue paper, coffee filters, roll of white paper
Technology: Digital cameras, headphones, lab materials & educational games for computers
Clothing: New uniforms for alternative school students
Physical Education: Sports equipment

When is the project to happen?
As soon as we reach our funding goal!  We would like to reach this goal by the end of this year with a tentatively scheduled mission trip the beginning of January 2012.

Why Puerto Vallarta, Mexico?
Executive Director Kurt Narmore met Ed Fladung, owner of a reputable high-end surf brand, Quality Peoples, during New York’s Fashion Week this past year.  Kurt soon learned Quality Peoples donates a fair share of their profits to Mexico based non profit, PEACE, which encouraged Kurt’s interest in creating a business relationship with PEACE.  It was not long before Kurt and PEACE Executive Director Molly Fisher were throwing ideas back and forth on how to collaborate.  After a couple of months of extensive planning, an idea has now become a reality.  Hand Me Ups can fill a true void in Puerto Vallarta by giving the children in surrounding underdeveloped areas the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed through education.

Why should I fund you?
You will have the personal gratification of knowing you made a difference.  Even better, you know exactly where your donation is going and are able to watch its effect in real time!  During our trip we will be posting continuous updates on our Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr to give you, the donor, an inside scoop of what goes on to make all this come together.

Wanna Join us in Puerto Vallarta?
We can provide you with the necessary tools to help fundraise the cash needed to join us on this once in a lifetime experience South of the Boarder.  Serious inquiries email Kurt@handmeups.org.