Our foundation was established in 1996 by our late Pastor Rev. Evelio A. Valdes who visited the Dominican Republic and felt in his heart that he needed to make a difference in the children’s wellbeing.
Nine years ago I was asked by my pastor to take over this wonderful and rewarding job to help children in need where we send containers full of clothes, shoes, toys, medical supplies and many more items that they need in the Dominican Republic. Our Foundation just finished a mission trip to the Dominican Republic where we distributed 143 brand new bikes to less fortunate kids from 3 rural areas. We were filled with joy to see children receive the light of hope by someone from outside their country.
We have expanded to serve more than just the Dominican Republic and are also helping many children locally in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where we asked administrators to help us identify especially needy children that would benefit from our help.
For the past 5 years we have personally delivered to these children book bags for the beginning of the year, Thanksgiving meals to over 100 of them, and we have organized Christmas toy drives where the children enjoy lunch, take pictures with Santa and participate in many other fun activities. We also help with victims of Domestic Violence by supplying them with hygiene items as they enter shelters and by providing toys for their children.
This year we gave the gift of Christmas to 250 students in Miami-Dade County Public Schools by donating toys and raffling out about 70 bikes thanks to the generosity of Hialeah Park, State legislators, the Hialeah Firefighters’ Benevolent Association and its President Bobby Williams, and Children in Action at our 5th annual toy drive. We couldn’t have done it without the help of Hialeah Park and the Brunetti family and are grateful for their generosity in letting us use the facility to give back to so many children. Additionally, we thank Jorge Gonzalez and City of Hialeah Council President Luis Gonzalez, who donate all the toys, Councilwoman Vivian Casáls-Muñoz for her leadership and her friendship, and my brother Eddy Gonzalez who is there by my side in everything we plan to make life a little better for our community.
