Annual Report

2009

In a place such as Quintana Roo, how is it possible in our day and age, that there are still people dying of hunger? People who are illiterate or who lack basic medical treat-ment? The panorama of poverty is vaster than ever, if, to the old expressions of poverty, we add the new ones.

Monseignor Pedro Pablo Elizondo Cárdenas, L.C. Honorary President.

January 2008

The story begins…

We know that there are zones of extreme poverty in the city which may not be the product of tourism itself, but which represent

the price we have paid for our success.

Darío Flota, Secretary of Tourism, 2005.

With its first class hotel infrastructure, breath-taking beaches and the traditional Mexican hospitality, Cancun has become a world leader

in tourism. Moreover, as part of the “youngest” state in Mexico, the city has become a magnet, attracting thou-sands of individuals and families to live and work here. By the end of the 1990s, Cancun was the fastest grow-ing city in Mexico, if not in all of Latin America.

Yet just a few kilometers from the white sand and tur-

quoise waves of the hotel zone, life is exceedingly dif-ficult for many people who have moved here in search of opportunities for a better life.

Seeking better employment, housing and improved op-portunities to raise and educate their children, their very lack of schooling and resources perpetuates the marginalization they face. Poor and vulnerable, they lack the means to cover their basic needs: food, health and education.

1974

1975 1992

1988 2000Quintana Roo is named a free and sovereign state.Project Cancun is launched by the National Fund for the De-velopment of Tourism.

Hurricane Gilbert destroys much of the city.

The first Mayor of Cancun/Benito Juarez municipality is named. More than 2 million tourists visit

Cancun in this year.

The number of tourists exceeds 3 million this year.

Helping to help those who nobody else helps. This is our mission. Among the many services that people need, education undoubtedly ranks top of the list as it involves a process of personal growth to-

wards an ideal. It’s the difference between giving a man a fish and teaching him how to fish.

This year, the City of Joy Foundation began the construction of the children’s project, which soon unfolded into a whole school, consisting of kindergar-den, primary, secondary and high school sections, as well as a childcare facil-ity in the Home for Children. The City of Joy was suddenly filled with the bustle, joy and tenderness that children bring. The terminally ill may unleash an explosion of love that lies hidden in our hearts, but children spring open the flood gates and bring our affection rushing out in a unique way.

Love is an extraordinary force which inspires people to commit to helping others with courage and generosity. ‘Love in truth’ is what fuels the authen-tic growth of each and every person and of all humanity.

As a charitable organization, our calling is to help alleviate our community’s most pressing social needs, but also to address the root causes of those needs. We are not exempt from succumbing to paternalism. For this reason, the best possible project is one which invests in training and seeks to develop the initiative and talents of each individual.

Hence, we thank God for blessing us with the beautiful educational project that is “Mano Amiga school.” We wish to acknowledge and express gratitude for the immense contribution of many courageous and generous people who, despite the economic crisis, were able to overcome numerous obstacles and give rise to this splendid school. May God, source and origin of all true love, bestow generously upon you his rich blessings and holy love.

ÍNDICE:

The story begins - 3

Establishing the foundations - 4

The City of Joy - 6

Building Spaces - 8

Strengthening Actions - 10

Financial Results 2009 - 12

Directory - 18

Monseignor Pedro Pablo Elizondo Cárdenas, L.C. Honorary President

Ing. Juan Ignacio Athié LambarriPresident

2 3ANNuAL RePoRT 2009The City of Joy Foundation

Establishing the foundations

In light of the urgent needs of people around them, in 2000 a group of courageous individuals shared with each other their genuine concern for others and their desire to

manifest their Christian love through clear and tangible ac-tions. In one of their meetings, Sister Bertha Lopez Chavez gave a conference on Catholic social teaching and, with her renowned vision and charisma, put forward a proposal for a “city” where all types of people in need could receive care and services. This the City of Joy was born.

Mission construct spaces, generate synergies and strengthen actions in support of institu-tions which, with love and joy, promote the development and dignity of marginal-ized individuals and families, thus address-ing the most pressing social needs of rap-idly growing cities.

Visionan innovative, dynamic, efficient and trust-worthy charitable organization, inspired by Christian love for others.

2000 2004 2006 20082001-2002

2001 2003 2005 2007 20092001 The Foundation Stone was laid on 11th Sep-tember 2001. As the towers in New York crum-bled, hope sprang anew in Quintana Roo.

The Home for Women opens its doors. Can-cun hosts the WTO Summit. The population of Quintana Roo surpasses 1 million people.

Hurricane Wilma, the most powerful in recorded his-tory, wreaks severe damage. The City of Joy Founda-tion plays an active role in the relief efforts. Cafar-naum Hospice starts operations.

The City of Joy helps over 20,000 people each year.

The economic crisis and H1N1 flu hit the tourism industry. Mano Amiga School and the Home for Children open their doors.

Fundación Ciudad de la Alegría A.C. is legally established

The Bread and Blanket Shelter begins work

The Home for the Elderly is completed. Cancun peaks with more than 3.3 million tourist visitors this year.

Bishop Pedro Pablo Elizon-do Cárdenas is appointed as Honorary President and Rector of the City of Joy

The Training Center and Multipurpose Center open their doors.

Chichen Itza is named a New Won-der of the World.The Personal Development Center begins work.

over the years, the City of Joy Foundation has consolidated its role in promoting an integrated response to the community’s most pressing so-

cial needs. As a second tier organization, we focus on gauging the needs of underserved groups, proposing in-tervention strategies and working with specialized servi-ce-providing charities to implement them. Today the City of Joy consists of ten different Homes

and Centers operated by nine different charitable orga-nizations. our 12 acre site is located on the outskirts of Cancun, 15 minutes from the center, allowing the people we serve to access the services easily.

We strengthen the work of like-minded organizations through effective and long-lasting activities, which can be divided into three action areas:

Construct spaces. Identifying social needs and collaborating with an organiza-tion in the development and construction of the necessary facilities.

Generate synergies. Promoting activities that generate mutual benefits for all or-ganizations, such as the food bank, shared use of common areas, inter-organizational referral of beneficiaries etc.

Strengthen actions. AJoining organizations in a process of institutional capacity build-ing, through peer-to-peer work, training and continuous professional advice.

After its incorporation as a non-profit, charitable organi-zation, the founding members set to work on finding an adequate site and defining the building plans and sched-ule. They began organizing special events and fundrais-ing campaigns. Fortunately, the ambitious project caught the attention of local businessmen, whose donations financed the start-up, allowing the foundation stone to be laid in September 2001.

ANNuAL RePoRT 2009The City of Joy Foundation

4 5

The City of Joy ‘the total is more than the sum of its parts.´ As a collaborative project, there are two princi-ples that govern the daily collaboration between organi-zations in the City of Joy.

AutonomyThe organizations are independent and, as such, indivi-dually responsible for their day-to-day operations. The

The City of Joy in numbers:The City of Joy

Bread and Blanket Shelter: operated by Cáritas de Quintana Roo, A.C., receives and dis-tributes in-kind donations such as food, clothing and household items.

Home for the elderly: operated by the oa-sis de los Ancianos Desamparados, A.C., provides complete residential care to needy elderly resi-dents, allowing them to live with dignity.

Home for Children: operated by Protégeme desde mi Concepción, A.C., offers childcare for infants and children from vulnerable families, as well as services for abandoned and unwanted children.

Training Center: Is used for a variety of educa-tional activities, and for self-help sessions run by Grupos Anónimos Fortaleza Santa María, A.C., for people recovering form addictions.

Women´s Shelter: operated by Instituto Tumben Xchupal, A.C., provides shelter, coun-seling and training for single mothers and preg-nant teens, many of which have been victims of domestic violence.

Multipurpose Center: Is shared by all the organizations in the City of Joy and is used for educational and recreational events. This build-ing also serves as a hurricane shelter.

Personal Development Center: Host resi-dential events that promote individual and family growth; it also nurtures development of strong morals and philanthropic values.

Mano Amiga School: operated by Fundación Altius, provides high quality education for children from low-income backgrounds along with robust follow-up services designed to improve the qual-ity of life of both students and their families.

Cafarnaum Hospice: operated by PAIPID, A.C., provides residential care for children and adults who suffer from AIDS and other terminal illnesses; this program is the only one of its kind in the estate.

Foundation intervenes only is matters where working to-gether brings significant benefits to all involved.

SolidarityTAll participating organizations share a common purpose of helping those in need, and what affects one organiza-tion can affect everyone. By working together we retain the unique spirit of the City of Joy.

• Is celebrating 9 years of continual growth.

• Provides 10 Homes and Centers, with over 15,000 m2 of construction located on a 12 acre site.

• Provides support for the 9 charitable organizations that operate our Homes and Centers.

• Serves more than 20,000 people each year.

• Utilizes the help of hundreds of volunteers and donors each year.

• The value of the support given by the Foundation to the City of Joy organizations each year, is estimated to be $5.5 million pesos.


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Facilities: classrooms, dining room, kitchen, storerooms, infant and adult bathrooms, offices.

In 2009 the City of Joy Foundation grew faster than ever before, acquiring new land to allow the development of Mano Amiga School and the

Home for Children.

Construction: 1,360m2

Beneficiaries: 40 children

Home for ChildrenThe day-care facility opened its doors in November 2009, helping more than 40 babies, toddlers and infants from low income families, especially single working parents who would otherwise not be able to afford day-care.

Facilities: classrooms, computer labs, offices, basketball courts, football pitch and recreational areas for 1,000 pupils in four sections – kindergarden, primary, secondary and high school

Building Spaces

Construction: 4,300m2

Beneficiaries: 1,050 children

In collaboration with:

Mano Amiga School Transforming the life of one person is marvelous, but al-lowing hundreds of children and young people to break free from poverty is indescribable. “Isn’t this a mira-cle?” said Monseignor Pedro Pablo elizondo, L.C., Bishop and Honorary President of the City of Joy Foundation, at the inaugural blessing of the new Mano Amiga facili-ties on 18th August 2009.

The school is operated by Altius Foundation, a Mexi-can charity with more than 45 years of experience in education gained by operating 34 Mano Amiga schools in 9 different countries. Mano Amiga Cancun was one of the three schools to be opened in the 2009-2010 school year and is the first in Quintana Roo.

In collaboration with:


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Strengthening Actions

The best way of responding to the growing number of social needs in our community is through the generation of self-sufficient charities which com-

bine a sincere concern and love for others with a profes-sional services model. With this in mind, our support to the organizations in the City of Joy was higher than ever in 2009.

Community Services The Community Services provide professional medical, legal and counseling services to support the work of the organi-zations that collaborate in the City of Joy and to contribute to the wellbeing of vulnerable people in our community.

Medical Service • 212 people served each month in 269 consultations • 25 eyesight examination sessions, offering low cost glasses to 311 children and adults.

• Continuous support in consultations, pharmacy ser-vice and issuing of medical certificates for the organi-zations in the City of Joy.

• More than 6,300 medicines received and distributed to the organizations in the City of Joy and other pub-lic and nonprofit entities.

1000

900

169

233

916

212

432

152

265

160

800

700

600

500

250

Men Women organizations

400

200

300

150

200

100

100

50

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10 –

19 y

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20 –

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30 –

39

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40 –

49

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Medical Service beneficiaries (by age)

Principal illnesses treated in Medical Service

Legal Service (2009)

Legal Service • 305 people received legal support, of whom 67% were women, generally mothers.

• Bail payments made for 12 first time offenders.• Continuous support in legal advice and casework for the Homes and Centers in the City of Joy.

Wellbeing Service • Continuous tanatological support to the Homes and Centers in the City of Joy

• Coordination of the “A life without violence” project funded by INMuJeReS

• 41 educational sessions with more than 6,300 sec-ondary and high school students in the “Abrazamos la Vida” project

Volunteers The work of the Foundation and of the organizations in the City of Joy is enriched by the participation of committed volunteers. This year we strengthened our volunteer program by introducing induction workshops and improved follow up.

• 4 induction workshops with 38 participants• 42 activity sessions coordinated in collaboration with lo-cal and international schools, universities and businesses

Summary of support for the organizations that work in the City of Joy (in Mexican pesos)

Organization Cáritas de

Quintana Roo A.C.

Instituto Tumben Xchupal

A.C.

Acción Liberadora

A.C.

Oasis de los

Ancianos Desam-parados

A.C.

Ultreya Valores,

Cultura y Servicio

A.C.

PAIPID A.C.

Grupos Anónimos

Cuarto y Quinto Paso del Caribe A.C.

Fundación Altius

Proté-geme

desde mi Concep-ción A.C.

Total

Donations $915,827 $320,774 $18,695 $668,525 $26,129 $283,361 $11,834 $1,234,742 $162,378 $3,642,265

Maintenance $25,140 $71,979 $9,834 $197,525 $6,907 $129,986 $8,137 - - $449,508

Electricity and water

$25,799 $9,841 $9,110 $40,235 $25,058 $28,235 $3,768 $12,886 - $154,932

Total $996,766 $402,594 $37,639 $906,285 $58,094 $441,582 $23,739 $1,247,628 $162,378 $4,246,705

Shared services

other 24% (615)

Infecto-contagious 18% (457)

Gastrointestinal 17% (442)

Respiratory 32% (810)

Penal,30%

Immigration , 2%Commercial, 1%

Work, 5%

Social work, 15%

other, 6%

Civil, 31%

Family, 10%

Medical Service beneficiaries (2009)

. Training on various topics

. Security: maintaining a 24-hour guard at the main gate and a guard at night additional

. Gardening: stay more than 13,000 m2 of gardens and green areas in and around the Homes and Care Centers


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Financial Results 2009 The City of Joy Foundation remains firm in its commit-ment to transparency and accountability.

During 2009, our total investment in the City of Joy was $18.3 millions of Mexican pesos in construction, equipment, maintenance, direct support to the organiza-tions and general operating services.

This was possible thanks to the thousands of donations made by hundreds of different donors, to whom we ex-press our sincere gratitude.

2001 $742,000

Total MN

2002 $12,404,000

2003 $9,998,000

2004 $14,522,000

2005 $11,788,000

2006 $13,288,000

2007 $16,600,000

2008 $17,430,000

2009 $18,666,000

Inkind Monetary Figures in millions of Mexican pesos

$0 $1 $7$2 $8 $13$3 $9 $14$4 $10 $15$5 $11 $16$6 $12 $17

Geographic origin

Local: 87%

National:11%

International: 2%

Source of donations

Businesses77%

Individuals 4%

events 9%

Cost recovery donations 2% Gobierno 1%Foundations Public funds 7%

Comparative analysis of income from donations (2001 – 2009)

Funds raised in events

others$18,500

Bazars $119,556

TuI-First Choice $370,467

Rodeo $73,929

VII Golf Tournament $1,411,100

Gira de Flotin $658,693

Mayakoba Golf Classic

$168,750

$18 $19


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Helping to help those who nobody else helps.

1. CLAReS Award for Social Responsibility, october 2009.2. Home for Children, November 2009.3. Rodeo, october 20094. Mano Amiga School Kindergarden, September 2009.5. Flotin, March 2009.6. Board of Governors´ Strategic Planning Meeting, November 2009.7. Mano Amiga High School, September 2009.

8. “Cancun Pioneers” visit, September 2009.9. Jerónimo Prigione visit, July 2009.10. Mano Amiga School, September 2009.11. 7th Golf Tournament, August 2009.12. Home for Children, December 2009.13. Board of Governors´ Strategic Planning Meeting, November 2009.

Honorary President and Rector of the City of Joy• Monseñor Pedro Pablo Elizondo Cárdenas L.C.

President• Ing. Juan Ignacio Athie Lambarri

Vice-President• Ing. Fernando García Zalvidea

Treasurer• C.P. Héctor Herrera Herrera

Secretary• Lic. Raul Rucobo Martínez

Board (Founders)• Madre Bertha Lopez Chávez• Padre Fernando Rodriguez Martínez• Sr. Antonio Enyedy Perkovac

Staff• Lic. Ana Catalina Garza de Treviño • Lic. Ana Cecilia Quevedo Fernandez • Lic. Rodrigo de Villasante Herbert • Lic. Alejandro de Hoyos Yañez • Lic. Mayra Martinez de Athie • Lic. Francisco Garza Cantú • Lic. Marisol Vanegas Pérez• Lic. Teresa De la Peña Linss • Padre Pedro Zavala Guerrero

Directory

The CLAReS Award for Social Responsibility is given to those individuals or organizations whose exceptional performance, commitment to underserved social groups, proven track record and, above all, leading example for current and future generations, have generated positive momentum for change in the social sector.

The prize, was awarded by the Anahuac universidad through their special guest the First Lady, Margarita Za-vala. Representatives of the Board of the Foundation ex-pressed their joy and gratitude, confident that the award will motivate them and many others to continue helping those in need.

To all those who have placed their trust in us and share the conviction that together we can build a better home for everyone: THAnk You!

For a complete list of individuals, businesses and orga-nizations which contributed generously to our project during 2009, please visit www.ciudadalegria.org

Organizations working in the City of Joy Caritas de Quintana Roo A.C.(998) 898 6227 /(998) 898 4405 [email protected] / www.caritasqr.org

Instituto Tumben Xchupal A.C. (Asociación Gilberto A.C.)(998) 898 [email protected]

Oasis de los Ancianos Desamparados A.C. (998) 898 [email protected]

Acción Liberadora A.C.(998) 209 2311

Ultreya Valores Cultura y Servicio A.C. (998) 209 3200

PAIPID A.C.(998) 898 [email protected]

Grupos Anónimos Cuarto y Quinto Paso del Caribe A.C. (998) 112 [email protected] / www.4toy5topaso.com

Fundación Altius (998) 898 7333 / [email protected] / www.altius.org

Protégeme Desde mi Concepción A.C. (998) 209 [email protected]

Personal OperativoLic. Anita Gallagher DirectorIng. Ernesto de la Cruz Construction CoordinatorLic. Hans Serrano Development CoordinatorLic. Josue Cocom Fundraising CoordinatorLic. Zaidy Dzay Project Coordinator

C.P. Laura Escobedo AdministratorSra. Martha Flores AssistantDr Emmanuel Arroyo Medical ServiceLic. Carolina Reyes Legal ServiceLic. Roxana Gómez Wellbeing Service

Design: Aguacate Design StudioT. 998 802 1323 [email protected] www.aguacate-ds.com www.facebook.com/aguacatedesign


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Fundación Ciudad de la Alegría, A.C.Carretera a Mérida km. 308.6 Cancún, Quintana Roo, MéxicoT. (998) 898 62 25 / 26 / 30 Mail: [email protected]

Documents

Annual Report