I'm no Angelina Jolie or world ambassador (yet) but I wanted to share this quick story with you in hopes that you might take action where you live or when you go on tour.

It was summer of 2008, the early stages of Twitter, and comedian Brian Vermeire and I were off to co-host the Image Awards in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was going to be third time we were there hosting. I was looking for anyone in Entertainment living in Puerto Vallarta to possibly network with and that's when I was introduced to Robin Noelle of Muneca PR. Robin is a publicist for several for-profits, but what struck me was that she gives back and donates her time to the "Children of the Dump"  and their "School of Champions". I remember thinking "Yikes what a tough name and do these kids actually live at a dump?" 

Through several emails we coordinated a time to meet in Puerto Vallarta where she'd come by the resort and take us for a ride with the head of the school, Arthur Fumerton. She assured me we'd be safe (there was a lot of news regarding problems nearby in relations to drug cartels and so I was apprehensive to walk a few blocks outside of the resort let alone actually get in a civilian vehicle and drive somewhere).

That morning cameraman, Devon Allistone, who was covering the behind-the-scenes of the Image Awards joined us too. I was hoping it might prove to be a great way to document the excursion so that I might be able to share it with more than just the folks of Puerto Vallarta on their local news channel.

The drive took maybe 15 minutes and was filled with great conversation while we bobbed around in the white van on paved streets and through what seemed like alley ways until we were on a dirt road parking the van. We could hear children laughing and playing instantly. We were brought on a tour of the humble school looking at arts and crafts projects, their new computer systems, the shower facilities (since many of the kids don't have access to one at home), the portable dental trailer, and the gym court at which time a rush of rain poured down on us. The cameraman was close by capturing this. I went from tourist to drowned rat in a mere minute.

Arthur passionately gave us statistics on what needed to be repaired (stairs, broken windows, the bus) and shared with us stories of children who walked 90 minutes one way to school through forest like terrain, kids whose parents worked at the dump that we could see in the distance and who sacrificed and extra sets of hands sorting through the bits of junk that might be recycled and instead pushed their kids into attending school where they could learn how to make spreadsheets and how to use the computers so they could get jobs working at the nearby resorts.

Here's a link to a video of us taking the tour:

It was tough, and it got worse. We actually got in the van, drove to the dump, we could smell this unbreakable aroma as soon as the van started climbing the hill and then for a few minutes we stood on the ground surrounded by flies, a malnourished donkey and a dog where a young man not so fortunate as the kids we just met at the School came over to us. Yes, this dump overlooked all of Puerto Vallarta including our resort where the awards would be given out to models, make-up artists and photographers. Life seemed so different for the moment as a performer. What a change from being on set or at red carpet events.

What I took away from this was that I might not be able to write a check to cover all the needed repairs and I can't pay for the kids and their families to live in better homes, but what I could do is raise awareness to their website, their cause.

Here at Holdon Log, we hear a lot of "excuses" from performers waiting to "make it" before they give back and I wanted to take a moment to encourage you to take some action now.

While you might be saying, "Well, I don't have a lot of money where I can just write out a big fat check". That's understandable, I know. However there are loads of places that could use your donation of TIME, not money.

Start with something you are passionate about ...

Animals

Lange Foundation: http://www.langefoundation.com/index/Home.html

Humane Society: http://www.humanesociety.org/

Literacy

National Institute for Literacy: http://www.literacydirectory.org/

SAG Bookpals: http://www.bookpals.net/

Veterans

Paralyzed Veterans: http://www.pva.org/site/PageServer

Visit Veterans: http://www.volunteer.va.gov/apps/VolunteerNow/

Learn More...

To learn more about the "School of Champions" and to help this noble and worthy cause please visit them online at:
FeedTheChildrenVallarta.com