Thank You for Your So much has transpired in such a short time that we are overwhelmed with the love and support for Mia's foundation. We are in the process of updating our web site with events, goals and how we are sharing laughter! Read below for a sneak peak at what our Board is working on.
Love & Support!
If you would like to make a donation, please mail your checks, payable to the Mia Risa Foundation, to: 3525 Del Mar Heights Road, #343
Mia Risa Foundation
San Diego, CA 92130
Our Board is busy organizing our Inaugural Fundraiser, Mia's Luau, set for August 15, 2009. In the midst of planning this event we are also working on a few grants for local families. You can read about one at the bottom of this page.
The Mission of the Mia Risa Foundation is "Sharing Laughter with disadvantaged children". We want everyone touched by this foundation to experience not just the receiving, but also the giving of laughter. Our mission is intentionally broad as we intend to reach out to a wide range of emotionally, physically, and financially challenged children. Read below for some of the ideas that our Board is reviewing for funding possibilities.
- Granting camp scholarships to children for multiple years. By offering multiple year scholarships children can return to programs that they otherwise could not affort. Our hope in offering these scholarships is to build on the future of the child by giving them something to look forward to each year as they grow and mature into young adults.
- Operation Christmas Child (gift filled shoe boxes). This was one of Mia's favorite things to do and we will continue to support this ministry and will grow how many boxes we send each year. National Collection Week is November 16th - 23rd. We have some great ideas for making and collecting a lot of boxes so stay tuned.
- Dance Scholarships
- Art Scholarships
- A book donation project for youth at a local rural health clinic.
- Prince/Princess for a Day - A program to send young needy children a special gift on their birthdays.
- Scholarships/partnership with Forest Home (Mia's favorite place to go to camp).
- Sponsoring local children in the UCSD HIV program
- Making a donation to Father Joe's "A Children's Village" which will offer housing, recreation, medical and schooling for 200 foster children.
- Building a home on "Pop Pop's" Ranch for families who need some time away to recover from the loss of a loved one, bond, or just get away and do not have the financial resources to do so.
- Mia's Mustangs are doing well . Two new colts, Ryder & Springer, were born this Spring and are being trained. The Ranch recently welcomed Jack, a 7 year old 16:2 hand thoroughbred from San Diego, who will enjoy a restful year of rehab before being donated or sold.
We are working on how the grant process will work and finalizing the exact goals for our annual budget. We will share more information soon!
We have several grants recipients in process, but let us briefly introduce you to one. A friend heard Mia’s story and contacted the foundation about a family she knows that needed help.
“…their oldest son was born prematurely and suffers from cerebral palsy and blindness. He is confined to a wheelchair and requires around the clock care. His brother is about 5 months old. Within weeks of their second son’s birth, both boys contracted pneumonia and both had to be hospitalized. Due to their financial struggles, Dad had to sell their minivan and they rely on a borrowed car. In casual conversation one day, I mentioned we were going to a theme park. Dad mentioned that he couldn’t foresee ever taking his family to a theme park due in part to the expense and the fear that their son wouldn’t be able to enjoy it…”
Through our friend, the foundation arranged a trip to