Operation Santa: San Rafael el Arado, Guatemala

UPDATE: The Operation Santa Christmas Party in San Rafael el Arado, Guatemala on December 18th, 2012 was a huge success because of YOU!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Please watch this Thank You video of the event: http://youtu.be/jCySE4oeu3E. For more photos of the Operation Santa Christmas Party, please visit: www.facebook.com/GivePhotog

MISSION: This coming Christmas is sure to be one that the lovable children of the small village of San Rafael el Arado in Guatemala, Central America will remember and cherish for a lifetime. My hope is to raise over $5,000 by December 18th to buy gifts, food and school supplies for 500 children and throw them a huge Christmas Party!

WHY: This past summer my life, and my world changed forever. I had the privilege of volunteering through Common Hope at the only school in San Rafael el Arado. I went there with the intention of teaching them, but little did I know how much they would teach me. Each and every one of these children constantly had a big smile on their face. They were all so full of life, love and happiness. 

WHEN: We are putting together a Christmas Party that will take placeon Tuesday, December 18th at the school in San Rafael el Arado. I will be hand delivering all the gifts to the children with my family, friends and volunteers from Common Hope. Luckily, these acts of your kindness will not only be a cherished memory in the life of the children, but I will also be capturing the true essence of the festivities through photos and video to show you exactly how special you made a child feel. 

DONATIONS: I am reaching out to you for help. Donations of $10 are enough to buy 1 gift for 1 child and make a Christmas Party full of food and festivities possible. Feel free to donate $1, $10 or $100-every cent counts, and is appreciated beyond words. The money you donate is going directly to Common Hope in Guatemala where they will be purchasing the gifts. Please note that your donations are tax-deductible and you will receive a donation record e-mail immediately after you donate.

EXCEEDING MY GOAL: I am shooting for the stars! With high hopes, a can-do attitude, and a little bit of elbow grease we can make this happen. I may have only set a goal of $5,000 but please know that I will be doing everything in my power to put together fundraising events and collect donations at various places with my giant 2-foot crayon piggy bank. Anything over $5,000 is going directly to the San Rafael Education fund through Common Hope to purchase much needed food and school supplies for all the children. 

THAT'S WHAT'S UP: I know that times are tough for everyone right now, but rest assured that whatever it is you choose to donate, it's truly appreciated. Unable to donate the suggested $10? No worries, a dollar is great! You might not realize this but $10 really does go a long way. Just imagine the BIG FAT SMILE you could put on a child's face. 

THANK YOU: Thank you for your support! Together we can make this Christmas one that the children of San Rafael el Arado will always cherish.  

SHOUT OUTS: To my family and friends for giving me great advice, ideas, editing and letting me talk your ears off about the fundraiser. Major shout outs to Brooks Knuedsen for donating his time and creativity to produce this brilliant video, to Richie Arenas for the awesome beats, and to Julian Abich for the phenomenal consultation and transmedia marketing. Andy Vazquez, David J. Phillips, and Dylan Stanley Phillips - I could not have done this without you. Nancy Kirsch, Hannah O'Hara, Danielle Desmaris, Heather Crockett, Matty Carderople, Ryan Sentz-my little OpSanta angels that helped make the benefit shows possible! Too many more people to thank, you know who you are and how much you all mean to me! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

MY STORY: My name is Diane E. Phillips, and I am the founder of Give Photography. I was born and raised in Boston, then spent my formative years in California and graduated university in Florida. I am the lucky product of two amazingly loving, supportive and world traveling parents: a beautiful Catholic Guatemalan, and a handsome Bostonian Jew who grew up in the Philippines. Growing up it was important to my parents that I was to be grateful for all blessings in life, but more importantly to share those blessings with others. I've been travelling to Guatemala every other Christmas since my childhood to visit my family but this past summer was the first time I volunteered there and a paradigm shift took place.  

SPONSORED BY: Fundraiser and photos are sponsored by Give Photography. To follow progress, see photos and events please visit:  http://www.facebook.com/GivePhotog