| Charity Donation |
"Children: The Future of All Nations"
The theme for 2008's carnaval ball and street carnaval is "Children: The Future of All Nations". In accordance with this theme, a portion of every ticket sold will be going to help children in Brazil and in Mexico.
Rio Joe's Carnaval Ball is teaming up with our friends from the Self-Enlightenment Institute in Torrance California to donate money to their charitiable work in the United States, Mexico, and in Brazil.
The Institute Works with Children and the Community at Large
- Orphans in Goiás, Brazil: They promote different activities to raise funds, which are sent annually to three charitable institutions in Brazil that assist orphans (at Creche Esperança, in Minas Gerais), elders (Casa da Sopa Vovó Maria, in Goiás) and AIDS patients (Casa de Aidéticos Viva aVida, Goiás) in poor communities.
- Outreach in Bahia, Brazil: Their fundraising activities also help renowned humanitarian Divaldo Franco offers in Southern California, giving him an annual contribution to the orphanage, educational center, and social outreach institution that he founded in Bahia, Brazil (Mansão do Caminho)
- Homeless in Los Angeles: Once a month, they serve meals—along with smiles and words of encouragement—to over 200 homeless people in downtown Los Angeles. They also donate blankets and clothes to them through the Fred Jordan Mission.
- Veterans Hospital in Los Angeles: Whenever possible, trained volunteers give emotional support and loving care to terminal patients at the Veterans Hospital, in Los Angeles.
Story of Hogar El Faro Orphanage
As described by the Self-Enlightment Institutue:
"Three times a year, we visit the orphanage 'Hogar El Faro' in Tijuana, Mexico, as well as poor neighboring communities. There, we spend time with orphans and families in need, as we donate clothes, food, toys, personal hygiene products, and educational material. When we first visited the orphanage, approximately 8 years ago, it consisted of nothing more than a small room where dozens of abandoned children had a place to sleep and, whenever possible, eat three meals a day. Today, thanks to the determination of its volunteers and to the help of different organizations and individuals, over 200 children who live there have not only rooms to spend the night but also restrooms, a classroom, a nursery, a refectory, and a patio for physical exercise. Located in an area surrounded by poverty, the spirit of compassion and loving care that emanates from the children and orphanage volunteers reaches our hearts and reminds us of our personal responsibility towards the construction of a world that is more peaceful and humane.
We feel that it is our duty to positively contribute to the well-being of these children. Whenever possible, but not less than three times a year since 1999, our group of volunteers visit them and distribute clothes, toys, food, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene products, and/or school supplies, depending on their greatest need at the time, always with affection and giving as much attention to the children as possible.
In addition, we have recently expanded our activities to families who live in extremely poor neighboring communities (the origin of many children at the orphanage), which lack the basic necessities for a healthy life, such as water treatment and food. It is our hope that our contributions ease their suffering and help providing them with the minimum conditions to wake up in the morning with strength and faith to work towards a better situation. We look forward to being able to help them achieve this next step as we expand our efforts—a task that will only be possible with the active contribution of others."
-Directors of the Self Enlightment Instutute
About the Charitable Organization
The Self-Enlightenment Institute is a non-profit corporation affiliated with the Seara de Caridade do Caboclo Tupinambá. Our ultimate goal is to encourage all who look for us, regardless their faith or religious tradition, to understand more about themselves. We believe that self-understanding is an essential component of the development of compassion and respect towards others—expressions of love that help all of us to find a path of self-enlightenment, which will lead to spiritual growth, inner peace, and true happiness. We are deeply committed to finding better ways to serve others and to encourage all to expand their self-awareness and improve their education. We believe that the path of self-enlightenment is unique to all individuals, but it will always involve the exercise of selfless, unconditional love. The Self-Enlightenment Institute is a place where we will be able to exercise this love while offering others the opportunity to do the same.
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