BECOME AN AMIGOS SUSTAINER!

Your monthly gift will ensure the future of AMIGOS and support our vision of a world where each young

person becomes a life-long catalyst for social change. Your monthly gift will help to expand the scope, scale,

and pace of our youth leadership efforts and make a positive impact across the Americas. Monthly giving

provides a reliable stream of support that is vital to furthering our mission.

Choose your amount. When you donate monthly, you can change or stop the donation at any time. You will

receive an email confirmation when charged. Each January, you will receive a cumulative gift receipt, which

can be used for tax purposes.

BECOME AN AMIGOS SUSTAINER TODAY BY VISITING THE AMIGOS WEBSITE AT WWW.AMIGOSLINK.ORG/SUSTAINER TO USE OUR SAFE AND SECURE ONLINE FORM. THANK YOU!

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PAIDHouston, TX

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T U R N S

50

BILL ARNOLD

Professor in the Practice of Energy Management Rice University, Houston

AMIGOS Volunteer Honduras 1965 , Honduras 1966, and Guatemala 1967

“AMIGOS’ first field trip yields a whirlwind of memories: Guy

Bevil’s challenge; driving a 1000-mile motorcade to Honduras;

headquarters at a United Fruit Company compound; confirming

villages were prepared to receive volunteers (not all were); meeting

the first charter plane (three 3-week terms); getting everyone

settled in with supplies; coordinating with our hosts, Acción Cívica

Militar; stretching our command of Spanish; getting to love freshly

cooked beans, rice, and tortillas; dealing with real and perceived

health crises; receiving daily communications by ham radio from

Houston; administering inoculations and oral polio vaccines to

tens of thousands of people; selling the vehicles; and flying home

with lifelong friendships.

In the following decades as a banker, government official, energy

executive, and now professor I have traveled to 75 countries. I

still see the world through an AMIGOS prism in which people

at all levels can discover unknown talents when they are inspired.

AMIGOS was expected to be a one-time demonstration of youth

leadership, but it was built to last - as 50 years have shown.”

REFLECTIONS FROM OUR FIRST SUMMER

HELP AMIGOS CELEBRATE 50 YEARS STRONG

As we launch our 50th anniversary summer program, we also pause to reflect upon the last 50 years of

youth leadership and grassroots community development across the Americas. AMIGOS volunteers have

touched the lives of thousands of people and have left the world a better place.

A lot has happened since 1965, when a group of idealistic young people

led by Guy Bevil traveled to rural Honduras to fight a growing polio

epidemic. No one had any idea the first summer a new seed had been

planted that would grow over the next 50 years into an international

youth organization with 25 chapters and 30 partnerships throughout

the Americas. Today, AMIGOS’ programs are completely unique

in offering comprehensive leadership training and real-life practice.

Volunteers live with host families in Latin America and collaborate as

leaders with the local community on development or service projects

that are meaningful and sustainable to that community. Although a lot has changed since 1965, the roots of

youth leadership have remained the same throughout the years.

The transformation that takes place when young people take on the AMIGOS challenge

can be seen year after year when volunteers return to their home communities with a new

world view, a deep appreciation of diversity, and an unwavering belief in their own leadership

capacity. We hope that you will join us in the upcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.

Please show your support by making a tax deductible gift to AMIGOS today. Together, we can

continue to sustain our outstanding programs and flourish for the next 50 years and beyond.

The 2014 Senior Project Staff

say, “Thank you!”

JUAN CARLOS GALINDO, JR.

Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School of Houston

2014 Financial Aid Award Winner

“My upcoming summer volunteer experience with AMIGOS

has the possibility of opening my eyes to different views on

life and cultures of the world. I am looking forward to gaining

leadership skills so that I can come back to my community and

promote social change.

The financial aid award means a lot to my family and

me. Without this award, I would not be able to attend

or even imagine attending this wonderful program.

I am honored to be able to participate in a program like

AMIGOS.”

Juan will be traveling to Cotopaxi, Ecuador this summer to build

young leaders through social enterprise. Follow his journey at:

www.amigoslink.org/juan

LOOKING AHEAD TO OUR 50th SUMMER