2005 Annual Report - Zella, Gabriela and Lily

Few are aware of the ongoing restoration of the 15 missions in Baja California, Mexico, that were founded by the Jesuit, Franciscan, and Dominican missionaries in the late 1700s. Without question, these sites represent a significant period in the history of Baja California. Yet, years of neglect, weather damage, and lack of government funds have taken a toll on sites of cultural and historic importance.

The Historical Site Preservation Fund for Baja California was established at ICF in 2001 as a “friends of” fund, with the goal of giving US donors the ability to support projects that investigate, preserve, and restore the cultural heritage of Baja California.

(Photo: A recently renovated (March 2005) historical building in Rumorosa, BC., Mexico, between Mexicali and Tecate that now serves as a local museum.)

ICF Donors Zella Rushing de Ibañez, Gabriela Hentrich de Schneiter, and Lily de Kellenberger

These three extraordinary women not only contribute financially to Corredor Historico (CAREM) but give at least 20 hours a week of volunteer time to the nonprofit. These women are just a few of the many donors who have contributed to ICF's Historical Site Preservation Fund for Baja California.

Their dedication to CAREM includes organizing concerts to raise funds, organizing historic tours, getting book donations for the library, and coordinating projects with the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). “I want to see something good done for my community,” says donor Lily de Kellenberger.

Grantee:
Corredor Histórico
CAREM, A.C.

Established in 1997, Corredor Historico, CAREM, works to identify, preserve, and publicly present the historical treasures of Baja California, Mexico. CAREM also works on historical education and promotion of Baja California’s cultural treasures. Currently, they are headquartered in Tecate, Mexico, with chapters in Mexicali and Tijuana/Rosarito. In 2005, they received two grants totaling $8,146 to develop educational materials about Baja California’s history and to construct an interpretive center at the Mission site in the Guadalupe Valley, Baja California.