The brilliant blue sea was the backdrop through the walls of windows at Wingman Ocean Bar, located at Encantame Towers, for the successful sold-out 8th annual Women Helping Women & Children Benefit Breakfast 2025. Platinum Sponsor Encantame Soleil, and Encantame Resorts Sales Director, Keith Allen, staged an event with excellent food, service, and ambiance. WHW is truly grateful for Allen’s longtime support. A lively mix of a silent auction, a live auction, raffles, door prizes, and 50/50 kept the energy high, enhanced by the toe-tapping tunes of Mark Mulligan. For their generosity, much appreciation goes to the amazing event sponsors: Borracho Cantina, Borracho Tequila, Dream Living RP Real Estate, as well as Tekila Bar, Banditos, JJ’s Cantina, Zays, Paint and Sip Club Peñasco, Rocky Point Times Newspaper, Portugal Insurance, Chefs on Demand, TosKos GreeK-Xican, Top Meat, and Sandy Beach Rentals. To the businesses and community members who donated money, gift certificates, and merchandise, we are extremely thankful. A big THANK YOU goes to Wingman staff, the committee, our hardworking volunteers, emcee Sally Downey, Auctioneer Llee Chapman, and of course, the real heroes of the day – the attendees. Your enthusiasm, generosity, and support are what made this event truly special.
One year ago, Britos answered a crisis call to foster four sisters, ages 1-8, neglected by their frequently absent single mother. Two of the girls, now 9 and 3, made a heart-warming appearance at the event, along with other fosters and single moms who Women Helping Women supported this past year. The disabled 3-year-old stole the show as she proudly showed off her walking skills with her walker. This past year WHW covered all the sisters’ financial and day-to-day expenses, enrolling the 9-year-old in school for the first time and arranging a prosthetic leg for the 3-year-old. To enable the little girl to be fitted for a leg, and to support others in Peñasco needing prosthetics, WHW donated to Limbs for Humanity; and became a sponsor of Sonora’s first prosthetic clinic, located in Puerto Peñasco. The two older girls are currently with a Mexican foster family, supported by WHW. In November, the now 2-year-old twins were separated from their big sisters and placed in another foster home.
PAST: Founded by the unstoppable Nancy Britos, WHW began as a private, non-affiliated, non-profit organization of compassionate community women, with the mission to “lift up” women in a local rehab shelter. Support extended to a women-with-children shelter. Women Helping Women jumped in with full heart and hustle – offering English classes, crafts, children’s story time, lunches, food, clothing – as well as assisting with utility payments, roof repairs, propane, and a cistern…even funding and overseeing the construction of a dorm room, large shower-equipped bathroom, and laundry area. Seeing an even bigger need, Britos took on the bold challenge of creating WHW’s very own Transition House for women and mostly single moms with children. WHW covered the rent and operating costs, built a property wall, added another bathroom, and installed kitchen cupboards – making it a true haven for those who needed a fresh start. During its operation, about 30 short and long-term stay residents were supported with food, clothing, medical, and help finding jobs. Although rising maintenance costs made it impossible to keep the House operating, its impact – and the empowerment it sparked – continues to shine. WHW helped the final residents move to their new accommodations, paid their first month’s rent, and dispersed the House’s furnishings to them.
PRESENT: Women Helping Women is now all about brightening the lives of local women and families who are facing tough situations. This past year, when homes experienced water emergencies, WHW dove in with cistern installations, water truck deliveries, and garrafones of clean water. We also supplied food, clothing, and essentials like milk and diapers. Britos, in her rubber boots, slogged her way through caliche and flooded streets in the poorest barrios, delivering chicken meals to families – many homes (shacks) without water service or electricity. WHW also arranged for medical for families, often transporting them to the hospital. Our reciprocal partnership with Iglesia Bautista Puerto Nuevo Maranatha in San Rafael is strong, creating a circle of support for families in need, especially those going through the hardest of times. And the four annual WHW-sponsored kids’ holiday parties? Besides enjoying a meal, every child receives a gift bag or clothing, and the events draw 30–60 happy faces each time. Last year’s Children’s Christmas Party was pure magic: Santa handed out over 200 gift bags filled with toys, blankets, clothing, and toiletries, all thanks to the generosity of donors and WHW’s community spirit. A similarly attended event was held in December 2025.
FUTURE: WHW is full steam ahead! Especially for women and vulnerable children in our community facing tough or unsafe domestic situations, we will continue our support with things like house repairs, accommodation, medical, food, and essentials. We will also continue partnering with the Baptist church (Pastor Martin and wife Vicky). Their dorm room gives people in crisis a safe place for short-term stays, and the church remains a welcoming drop-in spot for the neighborhood. Their one-toilet-one-sink bathroom needed repair, so WHW built a new shower-equipped bathroom. San Rafael kids will be celebrated with our holiday lunch parties, and families can look forward to free clothing donations at “Shopping Days” at the church. Monetary donations go 100% to our cause and are critical to our mission. So, get ready – impactful, exciting fundraising events are planned for Peñasco – Valentine’s Dinner and Kentucky Derby celebrations! Your support truly makes a difference and changes lives. Please join us in bringing help, hope, and healing to women and children in Puerto Penasco! whwpenasco@yahoo.com. Facebook “Women Helping Women”.
