Through Educational and Professional Mission Trips, Carrie’s Heart supports the education of children with disabilities with donations of school supplies, adaptive equipment and teaching materials. We also collaborate with local educators to improve programming for special education students. Our visiting professionals and volunteers also lend their expertise on home visits with our sponsored children. Local and visiting volunteers and professionals have included medical professionals, educators, therapists, artists, photographers, and philanthropists.
The Valerie Project began with a special girl named Valerie, who was born with cerebral palsy. By age nine, Valerie was dying from malnutrition due to the severity of her disability and her inability to take in adequate nutrients.
Living in poverty and faced with the reality that she could not
provide for her daughter, Valerie’s mother had given up hope.
Camp Corazones summer day camp brings together a diverse group of children and youth to experience two weeks of friendship and fun in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico. The need for an inclusive summer day camp was inspired by our own Carlitos who attends school with his peers but lacked activities with friends in the summer. The camp is sponsored by Carrie’s Heart in partnership with local nonprofit Anat Khah and Colegio Puerto Aventuras. Campers enjoy two weeks of morning activities including outdoor games, music, stories, dance, arts & crafts and snack making. The group also has community outings on Fridays such as trips to local parks and beaches. Camp counselors and adult volunteers from both the U.S. and Mexico help to make the camp a great experience for all the campers.
The Carrie’s Heart Christmas project offers three ways to impact the lives of our special children in the Yucatan during the holidays.
The gift of JOY During the fall, school supplies are donated to local special education schools. Each student, with the help of their teacher, writes a letter to Santa using the supplies. The letters to Santa are brought to the U.S. and displayed at local events during December. Carrie’s Heart supporters assure that Santa and his helpers can make each child’s Christmas wish come true.
The gift of LOVE
Carrie’s Heart also provides a complete Christmas for all Valerie Project families. Each family receives a gift to help improve their quality of life in the home (refrigerator, bed, adaptive equipment), clothing, a gift for each child in the family and a holiday meal. Supporters can choose to give a general donation for the families or to directly sponsor a particular child and their family.
The gift of HOPE
Carrie’s Heart is always in need donations for the ongoing care of our sponsored children. Supporters can give the gift of HOPE by pledging a one time or monthly donation for the upcoming year that will go toward the total sponsorship cost of meeting a specific child’s needs.
Carrie’s Heart was incorporated as a nonprofit in the state of Texas in June 2005. Carrie’s Heart was granted its charitable nonprofit 501(c)(3) status in December 2005.
