Ann & Don O’Neil Loreto Education Fund, (OLEF)
"Tio" Don O'Neil, and "Tia" Ann O'Neil were long time Loreto, Baja California Sur residents who pioneered giving back to the community. Don died in 1999, followed by Ann in February of 2007. A fund has been created in their memory to facilitate the continuing education of students in Loreto beyond the sixth grade.

Before her passing, as her last gift to Loreto, Ann assisted
with the formation of an endowment fund to ensure that the promising,
yet needy, children of the Internado would be given an opportunity to
continue their education beyond primary school. To this end, the O'Neil Loreto Education Fund (OLEF) was formed. Funds generated each year will provide scholarships to cover expenses of those children who are interested and able to continue in school. In her own words as her last writing to Loretanos Ann penned the following essay:

BY ANN O'NEIL, 2007
The Mexican Constitution of 1917 decreed that all Mexican children must learn to read and write This meant, especially in Baja California where many children live on remote ranches and fishing villages, that a boarding facility near a primary school must be established so the children could come in from far away and live during the week while they attended school. Most of the children live many miles from the schools, and it is difficult to find transportation for them. One mother hitchhikes with her children every Sunday and Friday from a ranch below the entrance to Agua Verde, and some come from even farther away.

The original Internado (or Alburgue) was established in Loreto in 1946 in the ruins of the old storehouse (now the Museum of the Missions) next to the Loreto Mission. The storehouse and commissary had been built by order of Governor Galvez in 1776. Hurricanes and earthquakes had devastated the building, but there were a few habitable rooms and it was the only place available at that time. It was not a suitable site for the children, and in 1971 the Mexican government built the present facility, with two dormitories, a dining hall and kitchen, and a house for the director in Colonia Zarragoza across the large arroyo south of Loreto.

The new Internado was fine for a few years, but there was no money in the small pueblo of Loreto for maintenance. With wear and tear from large numbers of children being housed there, plumbing began to fail, furniture broke, and sheets and blankets wore out. There was inadequate food for the children, because their families were unable to supplement the government allotment for rice and beans. When a new director, Adolfo Avitia Verdugo came in 1982, he found that only two of the toilets and one shower worked and the children were getting one tortilla and a half-cup coffee for breakfast before they went to school. He came to Don and me and asked if we could possibly help.

My husband Don was an engineer and had been working overseas in Japan and Guyana building large storage tanks. He recruited a few friends and a plumber, and they started work on the bathrooms and other problems. FONATUR helped with a new water distribution system. Before the present malacón (sea wall and street) were built, we had made a stone ramp in front of our property, one block north of the Hotel Oasis, to launch our boat. The AAA put it on their map as the only launching ramp in Loreto, and suddenly we were running a parking lot. We took advantage of this by asking for donations from American fishermen who parked their trailers in our yard while they launched their boats. Many generous people started bring toothpaste and toothbrushes, shampoo and soap, and other things the children needed.

At the director's request, I started an English class for the older children, and a friend, Linda Nicholls, joined me to color, cut, and paste with the younger children. This was the start of a volunteer program, which has grown as people from other countries have come to make Loreto their home. Many local women and organizations are contributing to the cultural education of the children.

There is a need for scholarships to help children who want to further their education. A few generous individuals have helped over the years. However, there has never been money available to help many of the bright children who would profit from it, even if it were only a chance to complete junior high school. Most children return to their ranches after completing the sixth grade. The primary school (K-6) program is financed by the government, but junior high school and high school have attendance costs amounting to $200 or more for uniforms, lab fees, etc., which many families just don't have. We hope for a brighter future for the 70 to 90 children from the ranches and villages in the Loreto area who attend the Internado each year.
Con mucho cariño, Ann

The goal of OLEF is to raise a $100,000 endowment for the Internado to provide scholarships in perpetuity. Through several generous contributions, OLEF has already reached 1/3 of its goal! All funds generated each year the OLEF endowment will provide scholarships to be administered by the Internado volunteers committee.
If you would like to help, write your tax-deductible donation to:
TMRE/OLEF Fund, 665 Tabor Lane, Santa Barbara, CA 93108

Spanish Translation Project

Ann and Don O'Neil wrote a book on the local history of Loreto. It includes many oral histories of long time Loretanos, and preserves an important aspect of Loretos past. It was Anns' desire that this book be translated into Spanish, and made available to the schools in Baja California Sur. TMRE, with a generous donation from one of Ann's dearest friends', is having the book published in Spanish. Proceeds from the sales will benefit the OLEF fund. Donors may make a donation for a number of books to be donated in their name to a school in Baja California Sur.  Write or e-mail TMRE for more information.

No Child Left Inside

Many students in the communities of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties have never experienced being on an island, and some have never seen the ocean though it is nearly in their backyard. While thousands of visitors from around the world come to visit the wonders of the Channel Islands National Park and the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, some of our local youth have never benefited from the same opportunity.

The California Department of Education has mandated science standards, environmental principles, and ocean literacy concepts, yet doesn't have the funding for teachers to actually take their students out into the environment for a first-hand experience. The solution, Terra Marine and Island Packers Company of Ventura, have developed a partnership to provide funding to schools that could otherwise not afford this learning experience. With the support of community partners, students from these schools will have a chance to explore unique natural and cultural resources, while on a meaningful and memorable journey to achieving state- mandated science objectives.

We are seeking sponsors for a variety of trips ranging from onboard marine wildlife watching to on island exploration. Each sponsorship is designed to serve a classroom up to 30 students per class.

 For more information on how you can support "No Child Left Inside". Or contact TMRE.

Animalanda Municipal de Loreto

Since 1989, TMRE has found ways to give back to the community of Loreto, and surrounding areas. In 2005, we met a dedicated group of volunteers that for several years had been sterilizing animals on Lucy Gonzales' kitchen table for free. It was a daunting task, as the animal population in Loreto was unchecked, and there was much suffering of abandoned animals, as well as detrimental effects to the environment as they became feral and spread out into the countryside. TMRE assisted this group in forming a NGO, acquiring land from the city, and raised most the funds to build the clinic. It is now one of the most equipped clinics in all of Baja California Sur. However, they always have continuing needs for surgery supplies, volunteers, and funding. Visit the Animalandia website for more information on current needs.

TMRE is pleased to accept tax deductible donations on behalf of Animalandia. Make checks payable to: TMRE/AML, 665 Tabor Lane, Santa Barbara, CA 93108

Cantina Vieja Restoration Project, Santa Cruz Island

TMRE, in partnership with the Santa Cruz Island Foundation, is restoring the Cantina Vieja on Santa Cruz Island, owned by The Nature Conservancy. When completed, it will house an interpretive display of the late 1800s wine making and island agricultural efforts.