April 2011

Sadly, the GAD raffle project has been discontinued. We hope to report on its demise in our next newsletter. 

Thanks so much to all of you who supported the 2007 GAD raffle. Here are the names of the winners. We had on-line sales of $9490; the total including off-line sales was $14,693. This was $2500 more than the previous year's total. GAD should be able to support between 80 and 90 scholarships next year. Thanks again for supporting this great program and Friends of Ecuador.

WINNER    PRIZE
Luis Salcedo    diccionario    Libri Mundi
Kerry Carmichael    diccionario    Libri Mundi
Nathelie Rew    diccionario    Libri Mundi
Alyssa Parsons    kids book    Libri Mundi
Megan Dickie    2 cappuchinos and 2 desserts    Mango Tree Café
Peter & Diane Wagner    breakfast for 2    Cafecito
Susan King    breakfast for 2    Cafecito
M Lynn Brewer    Dinner for 2    Mongo's Mongolian BBQ
Michelle Meyer    Dinner for 2    The Magic Bean
Megan Dickie    Dinner for 2    Sutra Bar Café
Howard Bass    Dinner for 2    Red Hot Chili Peppers
Megan Dickie    Dinner for 2 with wine    Best Western
Emma Maria Ifill    Dinner for 2    Adam's Rib
Gamester    Dinner for 2    Adam's Rib
M Lynn Brewer    Dinner for 2    Bono Swissotel
Mary Frey    5 nights for one person    Hostal Sur
Megan Dickie    Decorative Glass Art    Spiegal Glass
Susan Cushman    Tour of Cotopaxi National Park    Chiva Express by Metropolitan
Jessica Tyson    One RT airfare - Ciudad de Panama     Copa
Steve Wright    One RT airfare - EE.UU    Continental

On behalf of the Gender and Development (GAD) Committee of Peace Corps Ecuador, we would like to invite your support in our annual raffle, proceeds for which help further educational opportunities for Ecuadorian high school girls and support other GAD activities.

One of GAD's primary objectives is to provide three-year scholarships for young financially underprivileged, yet highly motivated Ecuadorian women so that they can finish their high school education. Working in partnership with Club Kiwanis Chuquiragua in Quito, Ecuador's scholarship program is one of only a handful worldwide.

The financial assistance that we provide for these young women is vitally needed: a mere 56% of Ecuadorian women receive their high school degree. The scholarship recipients reflect the rich ethnic diversity of the country, including representatives from Afro-Ecuadorian and indigenous communities.

This year's raffle, scheduled for July 17, 2007, will help to provide scholarships for around 80 young women, as well as funding for our annual leadership conference of scholarship girls and Camp ALMA (Activism and Leadership for Ambitious Women), a five-day leadership camp giving young women the opportunity to test their potential and gain valuable self-esteem as they take part in rigorous outdoor adventures.

Prizes for the raffle include one round-trip plane ticket good for travel between Ecuador and the continental United States, as well as other prizes such as gift certificates to restaurants and hotels. Each ticket costs only $1.50. If you buy 100 tickets, you will automatically sponsor a woman's education for a full year and become a member of the GAD 100-Club, receiving a photograph and information regarding the young woman whom you are sponsoring.

Donations are tax deductible!! There are several ways to donate:
1. We encourage you to donate on-line through the Friends of Ecuador website. Log on to www.friendsofecuador.org and click on Donate to make a donation to the GAD raffle.

2. Checks can be made to: Club Kiwanis Chuquiragua Please write GAD Rifa in the Memo of the check and mail to: Attn: GAD. Casilla 17-08-8624. Cuerpo de Paz/Ecuador. Quito, Ecuador. South America.