Raffle night at PG's benefiting Ak Luum - Oct 24, 2008

[surfnmom]

Click on image to enlarge.

A few other items we have received since the flyer was made:
EZ Sports Bar gift cert., Coffe Cafe (free coffee for 1 month), Smoothie Plus gift cert.

The school is still trying to recover from losses during the fire along with getting a kitchen built and continuing to provide financial assistance to children whom otherwise would not be able to attend.

**Interested in donating something? Send me a PM**

[Michele]

Come one! Come all!!

Jimmy Brown has kindly offered to allow us, the members of the Ak Lu’um Community, to hold a fundraiser at “The Pinche Gringo Sports Bar” on Friday October 24, 2008. I am hoping that you will all come on down for a night of music and fun to support this wonderful young school. Local musicians will be sharing their time and talents with us and there will be a raffle with lots of great prizes!!

Fundacion Ak Lu’um AC, the Riviera Maya’s only non-profit private learning institution, was established in 2006 in response to the evolving needs of our rapidly growing and diverse community. Ak Lu’um accommodates students from all over the world and from all socio-economic levels. Placing an emphasis on recognizing and celebrating our children’s differences and particular strengths, the classrooms provide each child with a safe place to explore and experiment, to succeed and sometimes fail without fear of scrutiny or alienation. Rather than forcing every student to adhere to a singular methodology for learning, Ak Lu’um understands that each child’s learning style is as individual as the child himself. With a maximum of 15 children in any classroom, the student to teacher ratio is kept low, ensuring that each child is given the personalized attention they need and deserve as they blaze their individual educational path.

Ak Lu’um is truly unique in its integration of special needs children into mainstream classrooms as well as its social integration of economically underprivileged students attending the school on scholarship. This integration encourages tolerance and compassion for not only the members of the Ak Lu’um community but for everyone with whom we share this planet. Currently, 36% of the student body is receiving full or partial assistance. 10% percent of the students are classified as having special needs.

Tuitions paid cover the costs of daily operations but our new jungle campus is still in need of so much! We need the support of our community if Ak Lu’um is to continue on with its mission of providing a meaningful educational experience to the children of Playa del Carmen. I hope you that you will join us for an evening of fun to support this worthy cause.

Please, tell your friends. With your help, I am sure we can draw a big crowd and raise these necessary funds. Please contact me or Judy for details.

[Michele]

Just a quick update:

Friday evening, we will have three of Playa del Carmen's most talented and best loved musicians to entertain us throughout the evening!!

J.J. Johnson, front man for Playa's famous Nasty Bastards Band, Brad Ryan of the super cool Mojo Zone and Tim Budd aka Barefoot Skinny, a talented singer/songwriter recently acquired from Belize will be using their combined talents to make the Ak Lu'um fundraiser a huge success.

I hope you will all stop down to PG's on Friday evening, have a few cold ones, enjoy the show and buy a few raffle tickets.

Special thanks to Jimmy Brown for providing not only the venue but for acquiring the necessary music license for this evening's event. His generosity continues to be invaluable to our efforts!!

[surfnmom]

Check out the list of newly added prizes in the Locals section under "Have you seen this list"

Really great prizes from individuals and from companies!

[Libby]

What a great list of prizes! I hope, I hope, I hope I win something!! John and I will be there. Looking forward to the musical entertainment as well!

[Michele]

Originally Posted by Libby

What a great list of prizes! I hope, I hope, I hope I win something!! John and I will be there. Looking forward to the musical entertainment as well!

As always, thank you both for your support. It is much appreciated!!

[Michele]

Just bumping this up as a reminder. I hope to see lots of Roobies at Pinche Gringo's tonight for the event!!

[Michele]

Thank you to all of our generous supporters and everyone who attended our fundraiser and bought raffle tickets! I took a gazillion pictures and have posted most of them so the blog page may take some time to load up. I haven't tagged everyone in every photo but you all know who you are and your presence was noticed and much appreciated!

See more photos from our event here!!

[Libby]

I didn't win anything , but I had a great time at the fundraiser. It was great to hang with everyone at PGs. I can't wait until they start having their Friday night live music nights again! Chris Bolister, get your butt down here!!

Here's some more pics.

Lots of great prizes!


Like Michele said, the place was PACKED!


Judy (surfnmom) and Vaughan


You heard about Heather's big news, right?


Melissa, who's son attends Ak Luum, collecting tips for the band.


Connor acting goofy.


Beautiful Erika (ele).


A fun time was had by all.

[Michele]

I NEVER knew Erika = ele. Sheesh. Whst is wrong with me???

[Libby]

Originally Posted by Michele

I NEVER knew Erika = ele. Sheesh. Whst is wrong with me???

Yeah, I just figured that out a few days ago. I kept wondering who this mysterious ele was! Sorry, Erika, you've been outed!

[raquelle261]

Just been looking through all the pics on Michele's blog.... looks like you all had a fantastic time!! And well done on raising so much money for such a good cause!!!

I notice you say Chris come back - where's he gone with himself, is he back here atm or something?

[Libby]

Chris goes back to England for the summers. He was supposed to be back a few weeks ago to play at a wedding. But I hear he's in Canada right now and there's a girl involved. So, who knews when or if he'll be coming back.

[raquelle261]

Originally Posted by Libby

Chris goes back to England for the summers. He was supposed to be back a few weeks ago to play at a wedding. But I hear he's in Canada right now and there's a girl involved. So, who knews when or if he'll be coming back.

Ahhhhh, right, got ya, I remember now. God only knows why he wants to come back here for the "summer" - we never bloody have one. Don't blame him being in Canada! So long as he is happy and healthy, thats all that matters.

[surfnmom]

Originally Posted by Libby

I didn't win anything

But you won the dive light??? Did you not know your ticket went into that box?? I hope you were supposed to win that. We could start a mean game of flashlight tag on the beach with it.

Like Michele said, it was a great turn out and we all had a great time. Thanks for everyone that helped to pull the night off & bought tickets!

I am available if anyone else needs a raffle thrown together in a few weeks.

[ele]

Originally Posted by Libby

Yeah, I just figured that out a few days ago. I kept wondering who this mysterious ele was! Sorry, Erika, you've been outed!

so much for ambiguty... now how am i gonna pass for a 6' european!