Mil Milagros, Inc.

As a Mental Health Counselor and Venezuelan I found Mil Milagros 6 years ago though our founder when we visit to provide professional training to the staff and leader mothers in the organization . In retrospective we were the fortunate recipients of such more and such much learning !!! I was and still am so impressed with the professionalism and work ethic of the staff and parents of Mil Milagros team. They are genuinely all about being inclusive and active participants in the community. I love how there is such a dedication and humility in the leadership and their executive people to learning from them and with them....

I am also so impressed about their working model ... This organization really has created an efficient well -oiled machine with a soul ...To see them in action is inspiring and admirable ...a veces trabajando con las uñas y haciendo maravillas .... They make do and do it well!!!! Their ability to operate, evaluate, or reassess and then innovate their programming with the people and by the people is one of the secrets of their success. I admired how they are a unit with each other in the community , everybody brings something to the table and they are organized about how to go about it : I love how they are able to identify weakness or areas of growth and need (sure there is so much) and at the same time they all about bringing up the strengths, talents and marvelous resources that the folks and staff do have to tackle priorities and challenges ...and be successful! I can't wait to go back ..and in the meantime I will keep up with my monthly donation, and also putting my skills and my passion for my people and contribute in the ways we can figure out together!
Muchos saludos y mis respetos a toda la gente por alla !!

One of the essential things in life is supporting each other when there are complicated and dark times. Such as what we are all experiencing right now with Covid-19. Unfortunately, some people got hit harder than others, especially those living in rural areas where support is less likely to exist due to discrimination.
Luckily there are still people in this beautiful world who care, want to see others succeed for themselves, and more importantly, for their children and the children of their children.
I recently found Mil Milagros, and I was impressed, happy, and had all those good feelings when I heard what Mil Milagros’s goal. Their goal is kind, and it would make people’s lives better, healthy, and with a guaranteed job in the future.
I’ll hope more people will and continue supporting Mil Milagros so that they will continue providing the support to “Indigenous Maya leaders the resources and training they need to support their communities with food and hygiene supplies, essential vitamins for babies, and educational videos and podcasts for students and mothers.”
Mil Milagros, keep continuing to do the fantastic work you have been doing. You are the hope and example for many people.
Best.

My first encounter with Mil Milagros was during college, when I had the opportunity to intern for them. I am Guatemalan myself, and was looking for organizations that would make a difference in the country. When I found out about Mil Milagros and what they do in rural Guatemala, I knew it would be a good match. Not only do they achieve amazing results, but they do so by empowering community members and giving them the necessary tools to become successful leaders.

Even through the pandemic, they have not stopped working and have adapted their programs so that families can continue accessing them. I am a proud supporter of Mil Milagros and cannot wait to see what the future plans for the organization are!

I interned here in the Summer of 2021, and Mil Milagros has been by far the best internship experience I have had. I worked closely with staff, who were always extraordinarily helpful and insightful, creating materials to help spread awareness about the indigenous people of Guatemala here in the United States. Mil Milagros is a small nonprofit, but one that has a huge influence on the communities in which they work. Their dedication to grassroots, female-led leadership and respect for the communities in which they work in rural Guatemala is something that some larger nonprofits should take note of!

I worked with this nonprofit for over a year. They are extremely dedicated to their mission of improving the lives of rural Guatemalans and empowering women. It was an honor to work beside such intelligent, kind-hearted, mission-oriented people. They do truly incredible work!

As a past Board member and director of an Nepali program, I discovered Mil Milagros as I work with men from Guatemala and wanted to find another way to support my workers.
The concept of Mothers and Grandmothers education is a brilliant idea. Based in love and compassion, the loving hand of the Matriarchal society as teachers and educators allows a familiar way of introducing Heath, Hygiene to their families and children.
As a wealthy society, we need to do a better job of keeping Central American Society intact. As we learned from our own family, education is the key to success.

I love that I know how Mil Milagros works in and with communities in Guatemala. They know and understand the needs of the children and mothers and how best to support and lift them so they can support and lift themselves. The work of volunteers is authentic and personal, respectful and caring.

Mil Milagros is amazing because it is a grass roots organization that trains, resources and empowers indigenous Guatemalan women to improve the health and education of their communities. Moreover, because of the organization and training structure, Mil Milagros has the ability to scale to help more and more rural indegenous communities in Guatemala. They are doing incredible and effective work!

Steve Martinez

I joined Mil Milagros about 10 years ago when its founder, Margaret Blood, took me on a tour of the schools we sponsored. I was able to volunteer and quickly realized what a deep difference we were making. We had already learned that training and empowering the people of Guatemala is the key to long term impact.

I am also blessed with Amelia Henry, my 14 year old grand daughter who was adopted as an infant. Every day I am reminded of the great need the children have for nutritious meals, clean water, safe schools and well informed parents. Thank you Mil Milagros for changing the. course of history for so many families.

Doing incredible work right in the community, empowering and supporting local educators and other community leaders to advocate for kids and their right to safe and reliable education.

Love these dudes. Agua de Pueblo has collaborated extensively with Mil Milagros. We believe the answer to environmental sustainability challenges lies in the next generation. Mil Milagros’ work hits this nail on the head. Carolyn Daly and the entire staff are dedicated, extremely efficient, knowledgeable and successful in what they do. I cannot dream of a more effective organization in primary education in rural Guatemala. I’ve been working on development projects in rural Guatemala for 49 years. Trust me, Mil Milagros rocks the multiverse!

Since I learned about Mil Milagros in 2017, I have been very impressed with the work they are doing in Guatemala. Having worked for Mil Milagros and visited their programs in Guatemala, I have seen first hand the impact that they are having on the lives of the children and families in Santa Lucía Utatlán. With a strong and dedicated team and leadership, it has been amazing to see how Mil Milagros has taken on the challenges of 2020, continuing to provide nutrition and educational services during a time when they are needed more than ever in rural Guatemala. Keep up the great work!!

The work that Mil Milagros does is absolutely amazing! They are a strong organization that deserves to be recognized for their hard work. The caring and dedicated staff work tirelessly to ensuring donations go directly to improving the lives of children and families in rural Guatemala.

As a retired teacher I have had the opportunity to be involved with and support Mil Milagros for a number of years. It is an outstanding organization that in my view has earned the reputation of an admirable and remarkable charitable institution with tremendous commitment and a great mentoring program. Mil Milagros provides health, nutrition and education to children and their families in rural Guatemala with amazing results. These life-changing foundations and schooling contribute to the strength required to succeed and create a much stronger community! iEs un honor ser parte de Mil Milagros!iGracias!

I met Margaret Blood in January 2016 and heard her story of the people of Guatemala and the work she was doing for the families in the villages. We hit it off from the first day we met. Margaret offered me a part time consulting position as the internal accountant. I stayed on until I retired in late 2019. I saw first hand what this organization was committed to and their mssion which I inbraced wholeheartedly. MilMilagros, is still in my heart and on my donation list!! :-)

I did a small humanitarian visit to schools with Mil Milagros and was very impressed with their relationships with the village communities. It made a lasting impression on me and my family.

Mil Milagros is an exceptional nonprofit devoted to the empowerment of Guatemalan women and their families and communities through a series of initiatives providing education, supplies and resources, as well as the tools to foster community owned and led programs. I have donated money over the past few years as I think it’s vital work to aid communities in need, although in a way that really understands and listens to that community and empowers and engages its members to be leaders in all programs.

My wife and I adopted our two children from Guatemala. Our son was born in a remote rural village similar to those supported by Mil Milagros. Both are going up healthy and strong. We want to help others do the same.
All children want to realize their hopes and dreams. That starts with empowering the mothers and the communities in which they live. We feel our monthly donations are used in an efficient and humanitarian way that helps others in our children's native country. We are happy and proud of Mil Milagros's work.

My daughter,Margaret,has enjoyed the opportunity to work with your group for many years-More importantly for the chance to help those in need.She loves Guatemalia and its people.We all hope that Mil Milagros will keep up this special work to help so where it is needed.Good luck-MilMilagros!!! -- Sincerely,Nancy B. Harmon

I donate to Mil Milagros after seeing first hand all the good work they do across their communities when I was visiting Guatemala last year. I believe in the work they do, particularly empowering women to be leaders and educating children and I know my donations are making a real and tangible difference in both the short and long term.

Mil Milagros is a fantastic organisation that makes a huge impact on the local community. It is so nice to see updates every month and read about the changes that Mil Milagros are implementing.

Conozco el trabajo que hace Mil Milagros en las comunidades indígenas de Guatemala y ha sido muy importante en las vidas de muchos niños, ya que los programas que tienen ha ayudado al desarrollo físico y emocional. Espero que sigan trabajando y desarrollando estos programas en más comunidades de Guatemala en donde sea necesario.

I have volunteered for Mil Milagros at their annual meetings in Boston, and make donations annually. Your donation to Mil Milagros goes further than any other nonprofit I can think of. The MM team puts your donation to work in rural Guatemala, helping local families build a strong and vibrant next generation of their community. Mothers, grandmothers, children, fathers, sisters, brothers ... all who encounter Mil Milagros benefit from their good deeds, health and education, and positive outlook on humanity.

I love that Mil Milagros not only helps school-aged children, which is a worthy cause in and of itself, but it also empowers women. It's lovely to see an organization using the power of women to help and lead their own communities. They're doing great work!

After hearing about Mil Milagros and the awesome services they provide not only to children but also to their mothers and grandmothers I had to get involved by being a donor.

I found out that Mil Milagros mission was improve the quality of life for the people of Guatemala they serve. Not only do they educate the students by helping them become literate but they also teach hygiene, teach them healthy eating habits by providing fruits daily.

Women are provided hands on training to teach them life skills to help them be independent parents and grandparents . They are able to practice and reinforce behaviors taught at school.

I have watched the videos online , and see how happy and enthusiastic the children are to learn. I see the parents learning to bake and realize that they are able to provide for well being of their children.

I have never been to Guatemala but I worked with Carolyn in the US and know firsthand her character and integrity and how passionate she is about helping others.

I am really impressed with the positive efforts of Mil Milagros to stamp out malnutrition, and to enrich the quality of life for each family they touch.

Mil Milagros is a phenomenal nonprofit that supports mothers and children in Guatemala. I had the privilege of learning about the good work of Mil Milagros in Solola this year and to see firsthand its considerable impact in the community. Keep up the great work!

I've been involved in literacy programs for over 20 years in the Solola Deptartment if Guaemala. I discovered the importance of the work of Mil Milagros when I visited a rural school in the area and found that they were in the process of getting more much needed books for the program. The more information we obtained the more determined I was to use our connections to work in collaboration with Mil Milagros. We now have obtained more funds for the program, spreading the good work they are doing.

Mil Milagros is an outstanding non-profit organization that works in rural Guatemala. I have visited the offices and schools where Mil Milagros works their miracles. I have watched parents, grandparents, and caregivers prepare & serve nutritious meals to children. I have seen Mil Milagros staff teach classes to parents on what is best to cook how to cook it and what to encourage their children to eat so that the current widespread malnutrition may some day be eradicated. I have been touched by the broad smiles and sparkling eyes of children as they eagerly accept a new toothbrush or give a mother a rose on Mother’s Day.
Mil Milagros provides opportunities for parents to bring infants and preschool children to clinics where healthcare is provided, parenting skills are taught, encouragement is given and parents have the chance to ask for advice.
Interactive programs offered by Mil Milagros on nutrition, healthcare, leadership, and education encourage families to learn & grow together. When this happens, families are strengthened and communities improve. Through their hands on methods and day to day involvement, Mil Milagros helps the people of rural Guatemala bring about necessary changes in their communities and in their country. Mil Milagros offers the tools to transform lives one person, one family, one community, one country at a time. Mil Milagros helps the people of Guatemala learn skills which in turn enable them to see ways to become miracle makers themselves and encourage others to do the same.

He tenido la oportunidad de conocer el trabajo que realizan en Santa Lucía Utatlán y he quedado encantado y maravillado al ver que, no solo le brindan alimentación sana a los estudiantes de 10 escuelas, sino que también se preocupar por formarlo en higiene y limpieza, en liderazgo estudiantil y en aspectos educativo.
Como docente, admiro lo que hacen para la formación de niños lectores, que amen los libros y que comprendan lo que leen.
He apoyado a los personeros de la organización y es loable ver lo que hacen por la formación de lectores y escritores, pues tuve la dicha de leer unos libros de cuentos elaborados por los mismos estudiantes, como parte de un evento de campaña de lectura.
Espero que su labor continúe y que de frutos en abundancia.

It has been a pleasure working with Mil Milagros over the last two years. Child nutrition, health and hygiene are important steps in advancing the general well being in rural Guatemala. Carolyn Daly and Margaret Blood are very skilled at organizing communities to achieve mutual beneficial goals.

We are donors to Mil Milagros and this year took a family trip to visit the community schools that Mil Milagros supports. It is hard to find words to describe the experience of visiting the schools and meeting the students and student leaders and seeing their passion and enthusiasm. We are so proud to be able to contribute to this worthy cause.

Courts for Kids partnered with Mil Milagros to build a multi-use athletic court for a community. We sent a team of high school students and their chaperones and were warmly received. Working on such a massive project has a lot of moving pieces with many moving parts and the staff at Mil Milagros were a delight to work with. They were detailed oriented and on top of all the logistics. We completed the court almost seamlessly (some weather delays but nothing too big) thanks to their fore-thought and work ethic. Our group had a FANTASTIC experience and had all their needs met. We would work with Mil Milagros again anytime! Thank you Mil Milagros for the work you are doing and the difference you are making in Guatemala. Fingers crossed we can partner again on a future project!

Our family of 4 spent several days with the Mil Milagros team. Margaret was incredibly gracious with sharing her time and knowledge with us. Suffice it to say, we were astounded by all that this organization has accomplished as well as by its plans for future work. Various members of our family have been volunteering in Guatemala for the past 18 years, and we all agree that Mil Milagros is a special group. It has a specific, well defined focus, and its attention to the needs of the communities it serves is both inspirational and practical. Mil Milagros uses evidence based data to effect change while maintaining compassion, love, and respect for the Guatemalan people. It was our honor to see and work with this incredible institution. This marks a new beginning for our family. Thank you.

Andrea G. Volunteer/Donor I have been volunteering in the Mil Milagros's Boston office for awhile and have been a donor for the past 5 years. My observation is from the perspective of how the administrative portion of the program works. The dedicated staff is hard working and highly organized. This well run non-profit organization's attention to details is admirable. Every donor receives a personally signed thank you letter or a beautiful card with a picture of some of the children who are benifiting from this wonderful program. I am so impressed by the passion, love and dedication of the Mil Milagros's founder, Margaret Blood. She speaks to any and everyone about her program, which often brings in new donors and people who become interested in helping or volunteering in Guatemala. Just recently a local t.v. program, "Chronicle" interviewed Margaret and showed how the program is working in Guatemala and how it is benefiting the families in the community. Margaret also shops for beautiful handmade crafts while in Guatemala and brings them back to Boston where she sets up many church and private home sales. She is always striving to get the word out and educate people about her program and the importance of helping these families towards a better future, and to raise money so her program can continue this important work. I feel fortunate to be apart of this wonderful program and to work with such passionate and dedicated people. Thank you Mil Milagros for your outstanding and important work.

It is my pleasure to share my experiences volunteering for the past two years for my favorite charity, Mil Milagros in Sololá, Guatemala. I have personally experienced the great impact that MM has been achieving in the rural areas of my country.

I worked from April to July this year in several of the schools and communities the participate with Mil Milagros. I was able to see how happy and well fed the children are and ready to learn. Also I saw the parents involvement in the schools either in preparing daily meals for the children or participating in classes or workshops designed to improve their skills in the areas of health, nutrition and childcare. The quality of services that this program os offering to all the participants, is very impressive.
I can describe the success to this program in three words, dedication, transparency and efficiency .

This is an extraordinary non-profit that is changing both lives and communities. I had the privilege of seeing it in action this past February, when we visited four of its school sites and witnessed first-hand the impact Mil Milagros is having on improving the nutrition and hygiene of impoverished children in rural Guatemalan communities. What Mil Milagros and its leaders understand so well is that long-term change can only be effectuated by involving parents, grandparents and the whole community in efforts to improve the quality of life for children. The program takes great care to engage mothers and caregivers not only as participants in health programs, but also as potential leaders of wellness efforts in their own homes and communities. As an Executive Director of a non-profit in Washington, DC, I am very familiar with the best practices that allow a lean organization to have a major impact in its field--and Mil Milagros exemplifies everything that good non-profits should be doing. Since spending time with Mil Milagros Executive Director Margaret Blood and her staff in Guatemala, I have become an active supporter as well as an avid fan of the remarkable work they are doing.

I was lucky enough to volunteer in the fall of 2016 for Mil Milagros. The commitment and dedication that Mil Milagros has to a greater purpose is unforgettable. Every member of this organization is driven and considerate. After speaking to coordinators in Mil Milagros' Guatemala and Boston sites, I am positive Mil Milagros is a positive force for change that will never rest. To me, Mil Milagros is a family. Everyone from Guatemala to Boston had an immense amount of care for each other and from this organization, I learned that the best thing you can share with the world is knowledge. Margaret Blood and Mil Milagros are sharing knowledge with mothers in rural Guatemala every day, and I cannot wait to see how this nonprofit grows and gives in the future.

I recently returned from a 5 day trip to Solola with an amazing group of people to see an amazing organization and the work it does. While in Guatemala the group I was with visited four different schools that Mil Milagros has touched, and it is apparent that a touch from this organization is a touch of life, for the children, and teachers in those schools showed nothing but thankfulness and friendship when we walked through their doors. Mil Milagros' work in these schools surely has changed the lives of these children, giving them their first meal of the day, allowing them to focus and actually show up for school. I never in my life have seen children so happy to receive dental floss, but it just shows how much these kids truly want to be healthy, and how they want to learn and grow. It is because of Mil Milagros that they are given this opportunity that they so obviously long for, it is remarkable work that is being done. I hope to visit again very soon.

I have just gotten back from my 4th trip to see the programs. Everything that is done at the schools is amazing it not only benefits the children at the schools but beyond. It touches the lives of everyone in the village in which the schools are located. Mil Milagros not only changes the lives of the kids when they are at school and in the programs but long after they graduate.

I just came back from my third trip to Guatemala. During this trip, I visited four of the schools supported by Mil Milagros. This was a wonderful and rewarding experience. Mil Milagros does an amazing job with supporting these schools. The children are always so grateful for what they receive and everything that they have. The love that Margaret has for this program, that she created, is beautiful to witness. The children when they see her, surround her with nothing but love and hugs. Being adopted from Guatemala has made this experience eye-opening for me. I know that I could have been one of those children. Just knowing that I can make a difference in these children's lives is more than I can ask for, and being able to give back to those who need it. This time going to Guatemala was different and I could really see it more as a place in my heart and somewhere that I know is always going to feel like home.

After spending nearly 10 days in the company of the extraordinary team of Mil Milagros it is easy to share my amazement at the work that they accomplish every day on behalf of the women, children and families they serve. I was there to train the Mother Leaders and the staff of Mil MIlagros as facilitators of the Parenting Journey, a dynamic, groundbreaking parenting program. Given our program's innovative approach and Mil Milagros' committment to not just supporting but launching women leaders in the communities they serve, it was a match made in heaven We planned together, adapted our curriculum to the needs of Mil Milagros' women leaders and launched an amazing week of training.

What most impresses me about Mil Milagros is the combination of vision and commitment that they embody every day. Some of the obstacles they face are daunting. The communities they serve are impoverished (of resources, not of spirit), and they can feel isolated in the highlands of Guatemala. Mil Milagros serves as a tremendous anchor and a seeding ground for both personal and community growth. I look forward to returning this spring and continue to support these invaluable women. They represent what changing the world actually looks like.

Our family has been involved with Mil Milagros for 3 years, as donors and as visitors to Guatemala. The miracle of this tiny but mighty organization is the way they they work directly with each village. They teach families about health, they involve families with the school lunch programs, and they help people help themselves.
Ultimately, this is how you truly change lives. Mil Milagros should stand as an example to all non-profits in terms of helping to effect permanent change in a poverty-stricken country. They have been so successful that they have a long waiting list of schools and communities in need of their help.
Here in the US, it's easy to forget how fortunate we are. Meeting Margaret, and learning about this incredible organization has been a life-changing experience for me. She is truly an inspiration to every person who wants to make a difference in the world.

I recently came back from an amazing five day trip to Guatemala to support Mil Milagros. My group and I brought supplies to donate to the schools. We were lucky enough to visit four different schools that were receiving support from Mil Milagros. Margaret traveled to every school with us and introduced us to students/staff, translated and answered any questions we had. Both the staff and children in the schools showed immense gratitude for have the support of Mil Milagros. The staff explained to us that these schools are now able to serve meals to the children, allowed them to focus better on school work. Mil Milagros has been so successful in supporting and educating hundreds of children. I hope this organization is able to grow and continue to spread their love to schools in need. Thank you for everything you do, Mil Milagros!

I spent my summer volunteering with Mil Milagros. I had the opportunity to visit their partner schools, watch how the staff worked in the office and also conducted 1:1 interviews with their Mother Leaders. The team really cares about the population they work with, and they understand the challenges that their communities face, which is crucially important. During my interviews with the Mother Leaders, I heard so many stories about how Mil Milagros had impacted these women's lives. Not only did the mothers report that their children were healthier, but they also reported that they themselves had gained so much from working with Mil Milagros - self-confidence, a community, and more.

I had the privilege of volunteering with Mil Milagros for several months in their Boston office and a month in their Guatemala office. Both locations instilled in me a sense of amazement at the variety of high-impact work that is occurring in Guatemala. Not only do the Guatemalan partner communities collaborate with Mil Milagros staff, but they lead and develop the majority of the projects. It was fascinating to see the direct benefits from the health and hygiene, educational, and nutritional projects on the children, but also the profound impact the projects made on the mother and grandmother leaders in each community. Grandmothers who became influential leaders in their communities and mothers who were inspired to go back to school were common stories amongst all of their partner communities.

Needless to say, Mil Milagros is one of the very few non-profits out there that invests in the right combination of community involvement, health, education, and women's leadership with a high success rate. I am confident in saying that an investment in Mil Milagros will take you farther than other organizations. I look forward to witnessing their continued success as they expand their work with-risk mothers, grandmothers, and children in one of the poorest areas in the world.

I've had the opportunity to work with Mil Milagros in its outreach to the Guatemalan community in the United States. As a Guatemalan-American, the work Mil Milagros does has very personal meaning to me and it has touched many others in the community who are blown away by the successes achieved. The accomplishments of Mil MIlagros gives hope to many in the community in what oftentimes seems like a hopeless situation. It allows the community to build their lives in the United States while helping those in need in Guatemala.

I had the privilege of volunteering for Mil Milagros for 3.5 months, working primarily as their communications volunteer. I helped operate their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts, as well as helping out in field with the lessons that my coworkers planned. I was impressed by how well Mil Milagros worked with its partner communities, and not simply for them. Being on social media all the time and reading about a lot of other non-profits in the area, I was struck by how many weren't working to establish long-term change, and instead were just giving handouts. Mil Milagros, on the other hand, spends a lot of time and energy working with the mothers of its partner schools to train them in proper hygiene and nutrition practices so that Mil Milagros can step away from the community after a few years and the mothers can continue teaching their communities without skipping a beat.
Additionally, I admired how well the staff members worked with and got to know the members of the partner communities; mothers and children alike felt very comfortable approaching them with any questions or feedback they had.
Mil Milagros is an organization that creates tangible, lasting change, and I cannot recommend it enough.

I had the opportunity and pleasure of working with Mil Milagros as part of my social work practicum. I saw how the organization was able to accomplish such breadth of work with a small staff, and did so in a way that honored the dignity of each community Mil Milagros works with. Mil Milagros employs a partnership model, meaning that the organization does not simply impose its ideas, but rather works in alliance to implement its program and meet the needs identified by the communities. Community members are not just passive beneficiaries, but they actually play an integral role in executing the program. This unique approach therefore goes beyond a typical charitable model. By working with, and not just for the communities, Mil Milagros' approach is more sustainable and effective. I learned a lot about how to build rapport with individuals, families, and communities, and how to develop impactful programs. Additionally, as a volunteer, I felt especially supported and valued. I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to form part of the Mil Milagros team!

For 10 years, I’ve worked with impoverished communities in Guatemala, supporting efforts to empower women, children and youth through health and wellness, education, and economic development programs. During this time, I encountered Mil Milagros and instantly became impressed by its integral approach with respect to preventing malnutrition and improving education -- addressing both immediate health and safety concerns meanwhile engaging the wider community in promoting systemic change. Mil Milagros partners with local constituents, governmental and non-profit organizations, to accomplish its objectives with a strong emphasis on measuring impact. This very conscious, strategic effort coupled with the passion and dedication of the local and international staff defines a truly “Great Non-Profit.” Thank you Mil Milagros for your incredible and important work.

Life changing and awe inspiring! It was our PLEASURE and HONOR to spend time in Guatemala with Margaret, Carolyn and Lauren weeks ago. We saw first hand how their devotion, love and never ending support gives children the opportunity to flourish, and 'just be a kid' with food and the simple task of brushing their teeth. We made the journey to Guatemala with our son, who was adopted from Guatemala 15.5 years ago, and this was our first trip back - he is now 16. We played with the kids, fed them lunch and were treated like royalty when we visited the schools. The folks that should be treated like royalty are the Mil Milagros staff - they are the angels and heroes of this organization. Our lives have been changed forever, and we look forward to going to Guatemala again, and will continue to support Mil Milagros in any way that we can. Thank you for an incredible few days, and life time memories. Mil Milagros rocks!!!!!

The Manis Goldberg Family

My son Alex and I had the extraordinary opportunity to see first hand the positive impact Mil Milagros is having with so many children, families, and teachers in Guatemala. The very small staff accomplishes so much for so many. Margaret, Carolyn, and the other staff members have put in Daly Blood (pun intended) and sweat in ensuring every penny is put to good use in improving the nutrition and hygiene of many children and families.
We appreciated the time given during our visit to remind us both what is important in life. The families of Guatemala are very fortunate to have Mil Milagros a part of their lives and Mil Milagros is very fortunate to be paid back with so much love and gratitude.

Miracles. We spent a few days last week visiting a few of the communities that are being helped by Mil Milagros. We came home with our hearts filled with love and gratitude, and with a renewed faith in humanity. (no small feat in this election-year in the US)
We have been donors to Mil Milagros for the past two years, and we had donated money to help build a kitchen in one of the schools so that the children could have one hot meal a day. We visited that school, and saw the kitchen in use, cooking healthy vegetables for over 200 children on a wood-burning brick stove. The children lined up, chatting and smiling, and ever-so-happy to be in line for a hot meal. It was so very different from any school lunch line I have ever seen.
We also have a personal connection to Guatemala, as our 2 teens were adopted from Guatemala as infants. Seeing the work that Mil Milagros does every day, meeting the children and families they help, and seeing the dire needs of these communities was truly life-changing. We have so much we can give. They have so little, and are so grateful for everything they're given.
We are determined to find ways to help Mil Milagros continue to grow and give hope to these wonderful children and their families.

I was honored to volunteer with Mil Milagros last summer in their Boston office. I was impressed both with the efficacy of the program and by the dedicated, passionate people who do so much to make the goals of Mil Milagros a reality. One of the things I love about Mil Milagros is that the program works with local women to strengthen the community from the ground up. In this way, Mil Milagros has been able to improve nutrition, health, education, and women's rights all at the same time. I am very lucky to have been able to work with such a wonderful organization.

I had the pleasure of working with Mil Milagros staff this past summer. Their passion, creativity, and drive for constantly improving upon their holistic programming, and their responsiveness to community-determined needs, were truly inspiring.

Mil Milagros not only provides the much needed resources for the operation of their programs, but also builds the capacity of mother-leaders for a sustainable impact of child development in the communities in which they serve. In conversations with the mothers, I heard their first-hand accounts of the many ways in which Mil Milagros has changed their lives, the lives of their children and their communities. Mil Milagros has sparked hope for the future of their children, and has empowered women to have the confidence to voice their opinions and lead in their communities.

The impact Mil Milagros has on some of the poorest communities in Guatemala is dynamic. They promote and support innovative solutions. I was most impressed by how they not only feed students daily at various schools but the "mother leaders" of the students are the ones that come in and prepare the food for the children. They also provide teacher training for the teachers in the same schools. Everything about Mil Milagros shows how they work alongside the communities they serve and foster and strengthen the capacity for self help and growth. Mil Milagros is truly one of the most amazing organizations that I have had the true blessing to work with.

Our family, which includes a child adopted from Guatemala, has been working with, supporting, and serving on the board of Mil Milagros for years. We are consistently impressed, delighted, and moved by the extraordinary success of the "teach and feed" approach developed and applied by Mil Milagros in villages around Lake Atitlan. Their operation is lean, and wastes not a penny of donors dollars on unnecessary expenses. All funds go directly into supporting the important work of preventing malnutrition while educating children in ways that enable them to improve their future. Even the way Mil Milagros structures its fund-raisers is indicative of their approach; rather than offering donated "weekends in the islands" or other items for donors to bid on, their auctions offer up needed services (kitchen construction, furnishing kitchens with utensils,building sanitary facilities, etc) to bidders. There is no way to overstate the dedication, professionalism, and accomplishments of the Mil Milagros team.

I have supported many non profits over the years, but rarely one where every dollar has had so much impact on so many. With a very low overhead, Mil Milagros has allowed young children an opportunity to develop intellectually and physically as well. THey have eliminated absenteeism at school by providing nutritional lunches to children who were badly undernourished and whose growth had been stunted by extreme poverty. Many of these children of Mayan families who've been discriminated against for centuries will now reach their full potential.

In addition all of the children have been introduced to pure drinking water and the habits of hygiene e.g. they have been provided with toothbrushes for the first time and many have been seen by volunteer doctors and dentists. Over 500 mothers of the children have been taught to shop for healthy food and how to prepare it.
Mil Milagros has also been responsible for engaging the interest of a Dutch nonprofit who built houses for 25 families whose village had been destroyed by a mudslide several years ago . In addition they built a new school a well.
The lives of thousands of children over the last 5 years have benefitted from Margaret Blood and the organization, Mil Milagros, A Thousand Miracles. And all for the unbelievable sum of 50cents a day.
A donor's dream

I have been both a donor and volunteer with Mil Milagros. I have helped with the library project, reading tests, and health/hygiene activities such as weighing and measuring children. As a Guatemalan, I wish resources, training, and support such as that provided by Mil Milagros had been available for my generation because it makes such a huge impact on the lives of these children and their families. Lives are being transformed by the work of this organization!

I spent a couple of months during the summer in 2013 volunteering with MilMilagros. It was a huge blessing to be able to witness the amazing work that they are doing in the local schools and to be a part of that work. I especially appreciated how the mothers of the students in each school worked so hard each day to provide lunches to the students. It is great to see how MilMilagros ensures that the communities have ownership over the projects, that they are involved in every step.

Last August I traveled to Guatemala with fellow church members to participate in and witness the works of Mil Milagros. I can easily say that it was the best experience of my life. Being a 16-year-old high school student, I had never traveled outside of the country without my family and had certainly never been a part of something so much bigger than myself. I was nervous at first. However, once I arrived, I was immediately welcomed by Margaret Blood and her staff members, as well as the locals. From that point on, I knew that I had nothing to fear and that this trip was going to be one that I would never forget. My group traveled to many schools throughout different parts of the country where we helped the kids read, practice their math skills, and paint! In addition, I was able to observe the miraculous doings of Mil Milagros in their efforts to help eliminate malnutrition in the youth, and teach the students about the importance of health and hygiene. With the help of Colgate, we distributed kits of toothbrushes and toothpaste to the children at these schools, which they all greatly appreciated. The work of Mil Milagros does not just benefit the children; it benefits their mothers, the teachers, and the schools as a whole. The children of Guatemala are some of the smallest in the world and usually do not graduate past the 6th grade. Introducing healthy lunches and vitamin supplements to these schools and young kids has immensely helped change that circumstance and provided hope for students and their families. Being able to be a part of all this in addition to learning about the beautiful culture and inspiring stories of the Guatemalan people has changed me as a person, made me view the world differently, and inspired me to continue to want to help others. This experience was truly amazing! Mil Milagros has definitely lived up to its name!

The project team at Engineers Without Borders (EWB) UIUC chapter had the pleasure of working with Mil Milagros this past month! Mil Milagros worked alongside our group of university students as well as professional engineers in the Chichimuch, Guatemala region. We assessed the feasibility of a new water supply project in Chichimuch. They ensured our week in the country ran smoothly as our chapter worked closely with the town council members. Two years ago Mil Milagros brought to our attention the water shortage problem in Chichimuch. They invited us to work together with them to solve the challenge. They helped organize the logistics before our arrival and welcomed us for a second time in Chichimuch this March. Mil Milagros has guaranteed the Guatemala Water Project at our university continues to move forward. We look forward to continue working with them in the future! Carolyn and Megan served as the main communicators between EWB and Chichimuch making sure information was clearly communicated among both sides. We have developed a strong relationship with Mil Milagros and they go out of their way to facilitate the EWB project. They also help perform year round checks in terms of water data collection for our project. That has helped enormously in keeping the project up to date. We are glad to be able to count on them as a partner!

The work that Mil Milagros does is truly inspirational! I worked with this organization for just over a year and had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Guatemala and to experience the programs and see the schools first-hand. It was incredible to meet the children and families that benefit so greatly from these programs and from the support of Mil Milagros donors. The organization has a fantastic team of passionate leaders who have committed their life's work to growing Mil Milagros. One can truly see the great impact a donation provides to the children and families in the regions of Guatemala that Mil Milagros serves.

I've routinely given to different causes throughout my young adult and adult life and Mil Milagros stands apart as an organization, such that I felt compelled to give them more of my own time and energy. The negative things that can come up with non-profits, not playing well with each other, swooping in and then departing before the persistent problems are addressed, and short-circuiting local development and motivation through hand outs- none of that is in play here. Their work is in respectful, strategic collaboration with other non-profits and with the communities they serve. Their work is about fundamentally changing lives and that is what they are accomplishing. I feel fortunate to be able to support the important work they do, building community capacity and the capacity of women and children to alter the course of their lives for the better.

As the adoptive parents of a child born in Guatemala, my husband and I had been looking for a meaningful way to "give back" and improve life for all children in that country. When we became involved in Mil Milagros, we had no idea we would find an organization that would also change our lives. From the start, we were impressed with founder Margaret Blood's vision, commitment and passion for improving health, hygiene and educational outcomes for the children of Guatemala. While I have served as a volunteer, my husband serves on the Board, and we have devoted a significant share of our charitable giving to Mil Milagros. We have just returned from our first trip with our daughter to Guatemala and could not be more impressed or inspired by the work that Margaret and her staff are doing in the beautiful but achingly poor Mayan Highlands. We visited all of the schools, met with mother leaders, observed classes, meal preparation and cultural presentations. Best of all were the warm welcomes, smiles and expressions of deep gratitude and appreciation from the children, parents and teachers. Outcomes have improved dramatically in the communities served by Mil Milagros, but there are so many more in dire need of our program and support (as I write, there is a waiting list of some 14 other schools). I cannot recommend this organization highly enough. Please consider lending your support to Mil Milagros!

I am continually inspired by the work of Mil Milagros. Over 5 years ago, I attended a house party that was selling beautiful jewelry and bags made by artisians in Guatemala. I was hooked, once I saw the smiling faces of the children who were benefitting from the money raised at this event. I couldn't beleive how this non-profit, Mil Milagros, was able to do so much with so little. The fact that they were a group who listened to how the local people viewed their needs and built programs to help meet those needs, was refreshing. This group didn't just go in to a village and tell the people who were living there, what they would do to "fix" their challenges. They listended and engaged the local people so that the programs developed will be able to be sustained for years to come. To now see the pictures of the children with their mothers and grandmothers standing side by side as they eat a healthy lunch and learn is wonderful. I consider it an honor to be even a little part of the wonderful work that Mil Milagros does on a daily basis. I hope some day to be able to travel to this beautiful country and see first hand the results of the hard work that goes in to making Mil Milagros a wonderful non-profit.

I visited Mil Milagros this summer and was awed by the work they are doing to give hope to the families there. I have been working with Artesenia sales for five years, raising money and telling the story, and am re-committed to helping in any way I can to support the work that is being done. To see the smiles on the faces of the children and their mothers as they welcomed us was humbling. The staff works tirelessly to find the nutritious food and transport it to the schools where the mothers prepare and serve their children. We helped to deliver and facilitate water filters to a homeless community and to weigh and measure preschoolers and distribute nutrition supplements to aid in battling malnutrition. To realize that you can feed and educate a child for a $1 a day is inspiring. The success in graduating children from 6th grade, offering the hope for a better life shows how meaningful the work of Mil Milagros is in helping to change the world.

Mil Milagros is a model program for combating malnutrition. It has sparked amazing changes. I've seen the program in action on visits to participating schools over several years. There is always a buzz in the kitchen where the moms are preparing carefully planned nutritious lunches and snacks. Hand washing, tooth brushing, and giggles are standard additions. The kids' smiles are only a partial reflection of their improved health. The real transformation is in the palpable energy of the pride and hope in children, mothers, fathers, teachers, and town councils working with the program. In my 50 years of experience living in and writing about Guatemala, I can say that Mil Milagros is the best of programs that demonstrate all that can be accomplished by respecting, listening to, and working with the people on the ground.

I volunteered to lead a group of dentists from Boston University to help provide dental care and dental education for children in Guatemala served by Mil Milagros. we very much enjoyed working with the Mil Milagros staff. What impressed me the most was that not only was education and nutrition supported directly but that it was sustained by involving the mothers in the community in nutritional education and, during our mission, oral hygiene education. Involving the community in carrying out the mission of Mil Milagros has the potential for long lasting benefit over and above direct services to the children. The staff of Mil Milagros are dedicated to the mission to the point of joyful passion. a nonprofit well deserving of our investment.

After deciding I was financially able to donate a fair amount of money to help the less fortunate I made Guatemala my focus. I spent a year or so researching non-profits and the whole realm of charitable organizations- the good they do and the problems and pitfalls. I spent many weeks visiting and evaluating 10-12 organizations working in Guatemala and have now ended up working with and donating to 3 or 4 on a regular basis.
Mil Milagros is an inspiring organization. It is small (and growing) non-profit with a clear, well-reasoned and attainable mission. To achieve their goals Margaret and her wonderful employees and volunteers focus on what I and many others know are the key problems in combating relentless poverty- lack of access to healthcare and education. They don't just dump food and money on the doorstep of needy families and walk away, rather, they require the involvement of the parents, teachers, administrators and the kids themselves to realize and carryout the mission of MM- success in school via meal programs, nutrition, hygiene, classroom/teacher support, women's health education and so much more. I also admire that they cooperate with other non-profits that work in other areas (medical, dental, building construction, etc.) rather than possibly spreading themselves to thin.

Donating to MM does a great deal of good and benefits so many people, including myself. I am inspired and buoyed in my daily life by being involved with them and what they are able to accomplish! A better organization I haven't found! Thanks to MM for all their good work.

When I volunteered with with Mil Milagros in 2010 and 2013, I visited 23 families living in rotary club tents and cooking together in an outdoor kitchen in a village high above Lake Atitlan after a huge mud slide had destroyed their homes and school. I also visited a small school in Pana where madres and abuelas were making a nutritious lunch for all of the children. At an incredibly inspiring party for Mil Milagros last week in Newton (sept, 2014), many Waltham-Guatemalan families enjoyed dinner, dancing to marimba playing and gave so much of their spirit and support so that Mil Milagros can continue the work in their homeland. All of the 23 families are now living in cinder block homes through connections made by Mil Milagros!!! I also met a BU dental surgeon and his wife who brought 5 dental students to San Juan on Lake Atitlan last Spring to provide a year's worth of floride treatment to 250 children while he did more complex dental work.
What a difference one visionary and caring person can make in the lives of children and families!!!
Thank you to Margaret Blood and her dedicated board members and volunteers!!
Count me in to return next year!!
Sandy Sachs, Child Development Specialist, Family Nurturing of MA

Mil Milagros is doing amazing work in Guatemala by partnering with schools, teachers and mothers, to make sure that children have a healthy meal at school each day. In August 2014, my wife, son, and I visited four of the five schools where Mil Milagros is engaged and saw first-hand the close connections and many consequences of the remarkable work by this group. The school-lunch program provides an entry point for Mil Milagros to explore broader development efforts, which vary depending on the needs of each community and school. We were deeply impressed by the passion and the results of Mil Milagros, and by the dedication of the mothers who cook the food each day. We hope that the organization will expand its miracles to other schools and communities.

This is an amazing organization that is truly changing lives - not just short term, but long term. What Mil MIlagros does is nothing short of community transformation....by partnering with families (particularly mothers and grandmothers) and communities/schools, they are building local capacity to improve and sustain outcomes not just for the children, but for the entire community. Mil Milagros's work and approach respects and leverages local ownership, cultural sensitivities, and input. Mil Milagros is flexible and opportunistic, and willing to rethink tactics based on evaluation of what is/is not working. This is a model that should be learnt from and replicated in developing countries across the globe.

Ever since I was a teenager (50 years ago) and first visited Guatemala in a family exchange program, I've love Guatemala and Guatemalans. 20 years ago, I adopted my son who was born in Guatemala. For all these years, I've been aware of the dire circumstances of Mayan people. I am inspired by the change in these good peoples' lives which Mil Malagros makes: for example, teaching mothers to make more nutritional meals at the schools develops the strength of all members of these wonderful famillies. The mission of Mil Milagros is to give the children the best nutrition, health&dental care, and education. The actual impact of Mli Milagros is much greater: the children thrive, the mothers gain self-esteem, their families thrive and the community gets empowered engaged citizens. WIN WIN WIN! This model of empowerment takes skill and engagement from the Mil Milagros staff and again all thrive from it. The future of these children, these families, these communities is made stronger for it! This is a model of transformational engagement that makes Futures Brighter. THANK YOU all who help this program continue to grow. Its a great investment!

I was able to see the work provided by Mil Milagros last year first hand. I visited the schools on two occasions with my teenage children, both adopted from Guatemala. The experience was moving and inspirational. The changes that occur as a result of this program impact not only the children, thier families, the community but also those that get involved. My children were inspired to do more for this program and the children serviced. They look forward to their next visit and they hope to inspire their friends and schools to get involved.

I am honored to be associated with this wonderful non-profit that is truly making a significant, positive difference in the lives of the children and communities it touches in Guatemala. As the father of a daughter born in Guatemala, I am particularly sensitive to seemingly insurmountable challenges facing children in that that country. While I am always willing to listen to organizations trying to make a difference in that country, I decided to give significant support to Mil Milagros because: 1) it has a clear and compelling mission, 2) has developed a unique model that has allowed it to succeed where other well-intentioned organizations have not, and 3) it measures results vs. goals as rigorously as it lives its mission.

In August 2014 I visited the schools Mil Milagros serves in Guatemala and met with the children and their teachers. The children come from Mayan families in impoverished villages around Lake Atitlan in the central highlands. One school serves 22 families displaced when a hurricane destroyed their village. I assisted as Mil Milagros' capable staff helped the women of the village learn how to better purify their drinking water. Despite the many hardships that they face, these children and their schools are accomplishing great things. Mil Milagros provides educational support, basic medical interventions, healthy meals, and nutritional guidance to the families. Particularly important are the outreach programs to, and partnerships with, the mothers, who help run the school lunch programs and assist the teachers. At a time when the USA has become focused on Guatemala children as an immigration issue, Mil Milagros continues its ongoing work in building and strengthening Guatemalan schools, to give the children literacy, nutrition, and a chance to build lives for themselves right there in Guatemala. Please support the vital work of Mil Milagros.

Putting the experience I had last week visiting Mil Milagros into words seems like an impossible task. While I was familiar with Mil Milagros and their work, I was completely unprepared for the thousands of ripples their work has created. Mil Milagros brings health and hope not just to the children of the schools with whom they partner, but with the teachers, the staff, the mothers, siblings, whole families and the larger community. Mil Milagros is creating ambassadors of hope, health and light in the children they serve and the work is making life and death differences every day. At the risk of speaking in hyperbole, I hope to create in my lifetime the kind of change Margaret and her staff creates in the course of a day with these incredible children.

As the parents of a daughter born in Guatemala City our work with Mil Milagros means a great deal to us. We recently returned from a week in Guatemala that provided (besides the trip of a lifetime for our daughters) a chance to work in MM's six schools, meet the children we are helping and see up close and personal the difference MM makes in the lives of so many students, teachers and families. We were particularly moved by the daily effort that the parents put in to make MM a success at each school. The parents know how fortunate they are to have MM working with them to improve the lives of their children every day and they take their responsibilities very seriously. The experience solidified for us our commitment to continue our support and do our small part to maintain the success, and grow, this wonderful organization. We feel very lucky to be part of Mil Milagros.
Best regards, Charley & Nan Murphy

Mil Milagros, one thousand miracles. Well it’s way more than that; way more than a thousand!
The initial miracle was that a forty-somethingish Boston woman should have found herself on a fun vacation in Guatemala and be quickly overcome, indeed stricken, by the kids which, as if magnetized, flocked to her ready smile, Spanish words of encouragement and blondest of blonde complexions. That was four or five years ago when Margaret Blood came to recognize in these arresting school-age kids a sense of need: these children showed signs of being among the very most malnourished in the world; their primary school completion rate was abysmal; the country’s child pregnancy rate alarming; their poor families in need of help, too. “What to do? There must be a way?”
The next of many miracles to come was Margaret’s success in the formation and evolution of the school feeding program, a not-for-profit, known and celebrated in the Guatemalan state of Solola, and here in the US, as Mil Milagros. Nearly a hundred people in the Boston area have contributed thousands of dollars to guarantee a hot meal for every kid in the many schools which have been fortunate enough to benefit from this endeavor. There are now over one thousand kids participating: not only is the benefit that of reducing the likelihood of progressive malnutrition in these kids, the hot meals have a major effect on kids and their families such that kids stay in school and dropout rate is markedly reduced. As an adjunct, kids are taught basics of health and hygiene. Every kid brings in his/her toothbrush and is expected to use it; hands are washed after going to the bathroom; sinks and showers have been installed with Mil Milagros help in certain schools. Whole families participate and are integrated into the program: the kids must bring in fire wood for the wood stoves to cook the meals which the mothers prepare in organized rotation. Clearly there is leveraged benefit, miracle upon miracle: the hope and enthusiasm radiating from the families and schools where Mil Milagros is working.
The next miracles Mil Milagros is rolling out will come with implementation of supplemental feedings for the younger siblings of the families whose children are in the school age program because, it has now been recognized by Mil Milagros and health experts, some aspects of malnutrition develop at a very young age and school feeding programs cannot be expected to help with all those early deficits.
It’s easy to understand the enthusiasm and clamor of neighbors, schools and towns to bring Mil Milagros to thousands more in Guatemala. The next miracles: get to ten thousand kids within a couple of years, each child, each family another miracle in the evolution of humanity.

Mil Milagros provides me the opportunity to give back in such a way that I know I am not just providing a fish, but a fishing pole. It allows me, as a donor, to play a small role in building capacity and hope among some of the poorest people in the world. It provides children with the foundation they need to be successful, and their parents with the skills and resources to help their children achieve greater success than they could have dreamed. It is a wonderful organization which benefits both the families and guatemala and donors such as myself.

Our youngest child, who was adopted from Guatemala, died after a long and tragic illness in 2008. When she died, we immediately knew that we wanted to dedicate a significant amount of our time and resources to a cause that would be worthy of her beautiful life and memory. It was then that we met Margaret Blood, the Executive Director of Mil Milagros. Founded in 2007, Mil Milagros is dedicated to eradicating hunger and poverty among the indigenous population the children of Guatemala. Mil Milagros partners with 5 schools, 41 teachers, and 355 mothers & grandmothers to serve 1,100 children in the state of Sololá in Guatemala. Mil Milagros has a five point program: (1)Nutrition: - children are served nourishing lunches prepared by the children’s mothers and grandmothers who are trained by Mil Milagros. They have also recently instituted a supplemental nutrition program for infants and toddlers. (2.)Health and Hygiene: Mil Milagros has created dental clinics and teaches the children about hygiene. (3) Education: Mil Milagros supplies books, school supplies, and teacher training. (4) Leadership development : Mil Milagros has instated leadership-skill building among mothers and grandmothers and led the creation of on-site student councils. (5) Impact measurement: Mil Milagros carefully measure the physical and classroom improvements among their students. Mil Milagros has an aggressive plan for growth to serve more children and more schools. We highly recommend this non-profit as one that has a clear sense of mission and is making a measurable impact.





From: Patricia O'Brien [mailto:patricia.obrien@verizon.net]
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2012 1:16 PM

When I contribute to Mil Milagros, I know my money is well spent. While writing a book about volunteerism in Guatemala, I've visited many programs and interviewed many participants . This one stands out. I've seen it in action beginning with the first two room school in a remote village where the energy was palpable at every level. There was a role for everybody. The village men piped water to the school and built the kitchen. The women took classes in nutrition and cooked a hot meal each day. The children brought their own cups and plates each day and washed them. Contributions paid for two part time staff, .a coordinator and a teacher, as well as the food and some school supplies.Now you need look only at the website to see how these and many more more children have thrived. School attendance has improved dramatically. MM's strong management is demonstrated in part by the real focus put on results with both hard and soft measures including focus groups. What stands out the most to me personally as I've visited each school is the obvious pride and ownership the children and their moms, as well as the teachers, have in what they're accomplishing together.

Mi Milagros is an inspiring institution that makes a clear difference in the lives of the Guatemalan children. All the employees are passionate and hard-working. It was great to volunteer with and learn more about this organization.

This non-profit changes the life of all who come in contact with it !!! This is why it is called Mil Milagros -- a thousand miracles ! (a thousand and counting.....) I thought the "miracles" were only for the recipients of this non-profit, the Guatemalan children and their families; I found out differently when I attended the October 3rd fundraiser. As a donor, I felt as though I was the recipient of the miracles the Guatemalan children and families were giving so genuinely with their gratitude !! Thank you, Mil Milagros. Your vision and belief in miracles creates a bridge and sense of responsibility to all humankind, and especially between the Guatemalan and US communities. The miracle is in each of our hands !!

I volunteered at the most recent fundraiser for Mil Milagros Inc. It was so wonderful to hear about all the amazing work that is being done for the children in Guatemala. This not-for-profit is a real inspiration and an excellent example of the life changing work that can be done when you meet people where they are at. I am very impressed by the work that is being done here!

Mil Milagros works in partnership with schools, communities and families to teach nutrition, health and educational best practices that are sustainable in those communities. In Guatemala, malnutrition rates are the 4th highest in the world, and elementary school drop out rate of 60%. Mil Milagros looks to the causes of these problems and works with Mayan communities to have a better future for their children.

As the parents of three boys adopted from Guatemala, it was very important for my husband and I to be connected to our boys' birthcountry. Our involvement with Mil Milagros has allowed us to do that in a personal way. A few years ago, my oldest son and I traveled to Guatemala and visited the schools we support. It was a life-changing experience for both of us and this year, I'll be going again with our middle son. Mil Milagros is not only feeding children, but empowering families to advocate for themselves and most importantly, to envision a brighter future for their children.

A Program with a word view to end world hunger, educate women and children and improve quality life. My respects for the work they are doing!

I have volunteered with Mil Milagos for about 5 years. It has been a special and rewarding experience. I have sold handmade jewelry to raise funds for Mil Milagros, helped coordinate jewelry sales at the annual celebration and fundraiser, and helped with the processing of contributions from our generous donors. In addition I have worked on the annual fundraising mailing, written thank you notes, helped with the Facebook page and helped with the publication of the newsletter. All of these activities were capped off by my trip last spring to visit the children and partner schools who benefit from the work of Mil Milagros. Everyday school day over 1,100 mostly indigenous Mayan children who reside in Guatemala's poorest state of Solola, receive hot, nutritious meals which are prepared by volunteer mothers and grandmothers in the community. For many of the children, this is the only meal they receive each day. When the children are being fed, they attend school -- this simple equation has helped raise the graduation rate of the children in the program. In addition, Mil Milagros provides personal hygiene products (such as tooth paste and toothbrushes), water filters to provide clean drinking water, health and dental checkups for the children and their mothers, textbooks and school supplies, and most of all love and hope. In one community, which has been homeless for more than 2 years, Mil Milagos rents the school classrooms and pays the teachers' salaries in addition to the nutritional, hygiene and educational support described above. Mil MIlagros means A Thousand Miracles -- at least a thousand miracles are truly occurring each day through Mil Milagros! Please visit www.milmilagros.org for more information, check us out on Facebook and milmilagros.Tumblr.com, and see for yourself that miracles are happening everyday in Guatemala.