EXCITING NEWS! I am thrilled to report that Steps of Love has decided to merge with a Phoenix based non-profit with more than 50 years of experience in international program development.

For the past nine years I have dedicated most of my time, energy, and resources to improving the lives of young people in Rocky Point. When I began volunteering three day a week at a local children’s shelter in 2012, I never imagined that I would end up launching a program to provide local kids with a path out of poverty through education. I certainly never imagined that I would end up leading non-profit organizations on both sides of the border!

My priority with both organizations has always been to do what is best for our local team and, especially, the kids we serve. That has not changed. So, I am excited to share with you this letter that I wrote to our Steps of Love supporters announcing our decision to merge with Esperanҫa.

Dear Friends,

I am so incredibly grateful for the support you have provided to the AIM Peñasco program in Mexico through Steps of Love. You have made changing the lives of hundreds of young people in Puerto Peñasco through education possible!

As you may have heard, Steps of Love has decided to merge with another U.S. based non-profit, Esperanҫa. The strong partnership between Steps of Love and AIM Peñasco has enabled the program in Puerto Peñasco to grow and flourish over the past five years. So, when Jeri Royce, CEO of Esperanҫa, approached me with the idea of joining forces to support our work in Mexico last January, I was initially hesitant. However, the more I worked with Jeri and her team at Esperanҫa, the more I knew that this was a tremendous opportunity for Steps of Love and, more importantly, for our local team and the community of Puerto Peñasco. I am so excited that together we will be able to bring additional resources and support to the talented and committed AIM Peñasco team and to families throughout the community.

I want to assure you that I am not going away! On the contrary, my commitment to the young people we serve has never been stronger and this merger has me more excited than ever about the future of AIM Peñasco. After helping to transition the U.S. based business and fundraising functions of Steps of Love to Esperanҫa, I am looking forward to spending more time working with the team in Mexico on program development while assisting Esperanҫa in their ongoing fundraising efforts.

I ask for your patience as we move through this time of transition. The staff in Mexico will continue to do what they do best and serve the needs of the community. Meanwhile Esperanҫa will begin to take over the role that Steps of Love has filled for the past 5 years: providing funding, technical assistance, capacity building and support to AIM Peñasco.

In addition to continuing as the President of AIM Peñasco, I will also be an ex-officio member of Esperança’s Board of Directors. I am excited to have Cyndi Connelly and Emy Diaz, two current Steps of Love Board members, also joining Esperança’s Board.

The Esperanҫa team will make sure you receive news of our work in Mexico and provide opportunities for you to contribute and volunteer with us. With your continued support I look forward to expanding the impact we can have on this community we all love so much!

If you have any questions, you can always reach out to me at Kathleen@esperanca.org.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kathleen