Trash picked up by PEACE workers in front of empty lot where Corral del Risco's town plaza is to be built.

The past month has been a busy time for the Punta de Mita Foundation. The first item on our agenda has been collecting all our pledges from last year's events.  This is well underway and our online donation page for our US partner, International Community Foundation, has been created at:

http://www.icfdn.org

We always welcome US donations, especially as our tax deductible status in Mexico is still being approved.  Every little bit helps and can contribute to simple projects like buying new trash and recycling bins or funding after-school programs in our communities.

We are also proud to be starting our first granting cycle in April with a grant already committed to P.E.A.C.E in Punta de Mita.  As more funding becomes available we will be ready to solicit additional grant applications to other non-profit organizations in the area.

Another big project that has been underway is the formation of a Smart Growth Committee.  This committee was formed to tackle issues dealing with sustainable development and urban planning in the Punta de Mita region.  We have completed a Committee Charter and will begin talks with the important parties involved in planning the town plaza in Corral del Risco and the jetties for the beach front area. 

Lastly, the Punta de Mita Foundation has been monitoring the trash clean up programs.  P.E.A.C.E. has done an excellent job keeping the streets free of trash and we would like to thank Charlie Ewell for his effort in cleaning up the highway from La Cruz and Hotel Des Artistes for putting new trash bins on the main avenue in Corral del Risco.  These efforts along with our meetings with the Bahia de Banderas municipality members have been vital towards keeping our beaches and towns clean, especially during the high traffic time surrounding Spring Break and Semana Santa. 

The Foundation would like to spearhead a recycling and composting program out of our existing waste management projects. Right now we have a small amount of 

support from a sponsor, Brighter Planet (www.brighterplanet.com), but we will need more resources to make this program happen. So if anyone is willing to give time or money to help  please contact us!

Thank you to all our volunteers and to all those community members who have taken the time to attend our meetings and events.  Please pass on our newsletters to anyone interested in being on our email list.