Many thanks to Los Pen Elementary School Homework Club, They recently donated over 100 stuffed toys for our needy children in Mexico.

Cynthia Drake manages church relations for her home parish in Wimberley as a day job, but leaves it behind for an operating room in Mexico, where she plays a bigger role. Drake is tall, with dark hair pulled back neatly, Her desk is nearly empty save for an appointment book and a vase of fresh flowers next to her computer. A smile toys with the edges of her mouth as she remembers how she became a part of Thousand Smiles more than a decade ago. “This is all my daughter’s fault,” she said jokingly. “She’s the reason I got into this in the first place.” Read the whole article

Mil gracias to all of our dedicated medical, dental and lay volunteers for the best August clinic ever! Also thanks to the Escondido East Rotary Club, Ensenada Centenaria Rotary Club, Fallbrook Rotary Club, Mission Valley Rotary Club, Auburn Rotarians, San Bernadino Rotarians, and Sandi Mallin & her Amigos group for their support with lunches, and much hard work. We would also like to salute Nick Nunez and Medtronic for their kind donation for our kids, and Mexicoach for their generous support of our program. Our volunteers rock! Please know that the Thousand Smiles Board of Directors appreciates the dedication of each volunteer– we all really do change these children’s lives for the better… ! �

The BLAST homework club at Los Pen Elementary School recently donated stuffed toys to the Thousand Smiles Foundation. This is the third year that BLAST director Melanie Beckstrom has encouraged her students to help out. The BLAST after school homework program has been supported by New Hope Church for over 10 years. The toys collected will be given to needy children in Ensenada who receive free cleft lip and palate surgery. TS greatly appreciates the students’ help!

Many thanks to all of our dedicated volunteers who worked hard at the Feb. Clinic. We appreciate the ongoing efforts of all the Rotarians on both sides of the border who keep TS clinics ongoing. Thanks to the Rotary clubs of Ensenada, Camp Pendleton, Escondido East, Del Mar/Solana Beach, Tom Galyean and Friends, and Sandi Mallin and Amigos de Baja for their support.

Thanks also for the generous $1,000 donation from Marty Estrada and the Escondido East Rotary club and their longtime support of our program. Member Dr. John Ruzich has served our dental clinic for many years.