ICF’S YOUNG PHILANTHROPISTS VISIT BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR

In early February, ICF’s Young Internationalist Philanthropist (YIP) affinity group participated in the foundation’s first organized YIP donor trip to Baja California Sur. The four-day tour featured a variety of visits intended to better inform YIP participants about ways to give in Baja California Sur. Participants included: the Lavin Family; the Kluver-Rosenstock Family; the Neeley-Perez Family; the Kiy Family; Roberto Ducoing; Dr. Don Sands, Adriana Mendiolea; and the Eighth Grade Class of San Diego’s Harborside School.

The trip included a visit to the squatter community of Colonia Marquez de León located outside of La Paz where ICF is supporting a school breakfast program managed by Fundación para los Niños de La Paz A.C.; a boat cruise to Isla Espiritu Santo led by conservation group Sociedad de Historia Natural Niparajá, A.C. which included snorkeling with sea lions; an all-day excursion to Bahía Magdalena to see baby grey whales; a visit to the Cuidad de Los Niños y Niñas Orphanage in La Paz; and a briefing on sea turtle research by graduate students of the Centro de Investigación Biológico del Noroeste.

In addition to learning about the environmental and community based priorities in Baja California Sur, YIP participants and their families were able to enjoy a variety of cultural events including the Carnival festivities of La Paz and the inaugural concerts of the Orchestra of the Californias and the Cuarteto Latinoamericano which were being underwritten through a donor advised grant by ICF donor Jill E. Barad.