| | |  News from Around Banderas Bay | January 2009 
Child Writer Donates Book Royalties to RISE
 Sudy Coy - PVNN
| | On January 2, 2009, child author Spencer Kawalek delivered a check in the amount of $13,020 Pesos from the sale of his book, I Love Coconuts and Ron Wennekes' If I Could Swim Like Fishes Do to R.I.S.E. | |
Remember little Spencer Kawalek who wrote the book I Love Coconuts at the age of 4 ½ years old and donated 100% of the profits to R.I.S.E.? While eating a cone in Baskin Robbins near the Malecón, Spencer struck up a conversation with Jane and Bob Stanley of Indiana. They exchanged information and arranged for Spencer to be part of a Writer's and Illustrator's workshop.
In October of 2008, Spencer, then 6 years old, was invited to a private school, The Science and Arts Academy in Des Plaines, Illinois. He presented to the Spanish classes of grades K-8. In each of the sessions Spencer read his book in both Spanish and English. He spoke about the children at the Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza children's shelter in Puerto Vallarta and what R.I.S.E. provides for the children. He explained to the students that he had asked his parents, Monique & Wayne Kawalek, to donate 100% of the sales from his book to the children of R.I.S.E.
Along with the workshop, the school had a Book Fair and sold his books. At the book fair Ron Wennekes, also a presenter and illustrator of If I Could Swim Like Fishes Do, met Spencer and agreed to donate the profits from his book sales from the Fair to R.I.S.E.
On January 2nd, Spencer presented to Madre Mari and the RISE children a check in the amount of $13,020 Pesos from the sale of his book and the profits from Mr. Wennekes' book.
The children of R.I.S.E. wish to thank The Science and Arts Academy for inviting Spencer and Mr. Ron Wennekes to be part of their Writer's and Illustrator's workshop, and give a very special thanks to their young, thoughtful and talented friend Spencer for this most generous donation.
 The Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza is a non-profit shelter for babies and children under the age of 14. Some of these children are orphans but most come from unbearable situations having been abused, neglected, or simply abandoned. R.I.S.E. is a Mexican non-profit charitable organization, which accepts donations through a number of charitable organizations. More information about tax deductible donations can be found at their website: Refugio-Infantil.org. |
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