I recently sat down to visit with First Lady Linda Pivac de Munro and Loly Martinez, Missions Administrator Mexico who is with Rocky Point Medical Clinics to discuss the 2017 Black and White Ball and to learn more about what DIF (Integral Family Development) does.
There are two changes in regards to the ball and that is first the date of the Black and White Ball has been moved to September 30, because in previous years it was held around Thanksgiving and many people who wanted to attend could not due to family and friends coming to Puerto Peñasco. The second major change is a wonderful delicious sit down dinner catered by Jerry’s Catering will be included in your ticket. Cocktail hour will start at 7:00 p.m. with dinner being served from 8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Following dinner will be the crowning of the queen and dancing. This is a huge event and it is our one time of the year to dress up and go dancing. The event will be held at the Puerto Peñasco Convention Center, so mark your calendar. Tickets are on sale already so if you are not in Rocky Point and want to reserve your spot, please email me at nocomosi@msn.com and I will send you directions on how to make your deposit. The cost is $50 USD per person or you can put together a table of 10 for $500.00 USD.
The funds raised from the ball are used for many things. Even before Linda’s husband became Mayor of Puerto Peñasco, she has been very involved and dedicated to education of the children and this is where her heart is. It is important to locate the problems and find a solution for them within the community. It is also crucial that children and the youth obtain the best education possible in order to become productive and outstanding members of the community.
DIF created a scholarship program in which 83 students from low income families will receive financial support to attend further education in universities outside of Rocky Point. They must have and A grade point and be drug free. DIF created Casa del Estudiante which consists of eight of these students 4 boys and 4 girls are attending UABC in Mexicali to learn to be accountants, mechatronics or physiology. It costs $304,632 pesos to house these youth and that includes renting the house, water, electricity, internet and HOA fees. They receive in home visits 3 times a year to make sure their grades are A and that they are drug free. Every dollar is fully accountable with facturas (receipts) received for every dollar spent and at any time anyone can go and check on the money spent.
The drop out rate at most schools has been very high but due to the programs and help from DIF, the drop out rate for instance CetMar has dropped to only 13%. The schools benefiting from the DIF scholarship programs are UTTPP, ITTSP Technology school and UNIDEP.
DIF has also started a Parenting School to help parents of our youth to get involved in keeping the children in school and to make sure they are studying, doing their homework and getting great grades. With out this program, many of our youth will fall through the cracks and drop out and then get into trouble. Years ago it was just the mom’s that attended the parent-teacher conference but now days you see both parents going to these conferences. The parents are taught about how to teach the kids about not getting pregnant, getting into drugs and bullying amongst other things.
Besides the Black and White Ball, DIF raises funds from beer sales at community events such as Carnival, Rocky Point Rally, Cervantino Festival and other music events.
Everyone is invited to attend this event and if you need additional information email to Dif_penasco@hotmail.com. We look forward to seeing you all there. Let’s get out as residents of Rocky Point and show our support for the youth who are the future of our city. Remember every Dollar spent helps insure that the youth of Puerto Peñasco get a 1st class education. These are just some of the programs that your dollar will support.
If you have any questions please email me at blog@puerto-penasco.com. Please remember the upcoming events coming up this fall, Labor Day, Rocky Point Rally and Thanksgiving. Make sure you make your reservations for lodging soon as things are already getting booked up.
