November 23, 2004 > Real Giving from the Ground Up

by Kaylee Wambaugh

Leading accounting firm Ireland San Filippo (ISF) recently sponsored and sent volunteers to participate in the Corazon project in Mexico. Among the volunteers who participated were partner William Norwalk and accountant Eric Owen of the Fremont office.

William Norwalk coordinated the volunteer efforts by reaching out to Mission San Jose Rotary, Newark Rotary and Warm Springs Rotary, enlisting many Rotary members along with their family and friends. Combined this group accounted for approximately 50 volunteers.

Eric Owen led the effort to raise the needed funds from ISF employees and management. These funds enabled the volunteer team to participate in the familia project by constructing a room addition for the qualifying family in Tecate, Mexico. This addition added approximately 200 square feet to the existing 300 square foot home. The family qualified through their donation of time helping those in need within their community in Tecate.

Corazon is the Spanish word for heart. This heartfelt non-profit is made up almost entirely of volunteers, offering shelter, education and community to thousands of people throughout northern Baja California for more than 25 years.

There are six program areas, however the most well known is the construction program. Since 1978 Corazon has been building and repairing homes in Mexico through the "Build a House in a Day" project. Sponsoring groups pick their project from three categories: 1) housebuild, where a "superbuild style" house is built by the sponsoring group; 2) superbuild, where six to 10 sponsoring groups build six to 10 "superbuild style houses;" and 3) familia where a sponsoring group handles major repairs or adds on to an existing home.

All participants of sponsoring groups donate their time and pay their own costs for travel, food and lodging.

The Corazon project always welcomes volunteers and sponsors, both organizations and groups. If you_re interested please contact the Corazon office via email office@corazon.org or phone (949) 830-7494.