*100% of the donations go directly to the projects of the Manuel Luna Education Fund. Let's make a difference in kids' lives!
The Manuel Luna Education Fund is becoming a reality.
What is it? At this moment in history it's a dream of trying to find the best way to give back to our brothers and sisters, and particularly the children, down in the Copper Canyons of Mexico. Figuring out the best way to do that has been on my mind for nearly a decade.
From my perspective, the first best way to "give back" was to build a strong brand and a worthy product and company. 10 years down the road, LUNA is closer to being a longterm, viable company then ever before. We are proud of what we have accomplished. We are honored to be in a position to make a difference.
My research into how to best share-forward with the Tarahumara keeps coming back to kids and education. I believe that we can help the most by providing scholarships and helping small schools with equipment and supplies. I have been working directly with local town officials to come up with the best plan to help the most. The first trickles of education-focused money will start flowing down this month.
Thanks to all of you, we have started to build a worthy education fund. Most of the money in the fund is coming from small donations of $5 from customers like you. In the course of a few months, we have been able to accumulate several thousand dollars...money that will go a long way down in the Canyons.
At this point you can help support the Manuel Luna Education Fund through purchasing Manuel Luna Education Fund pack, LUNA sticker package or LUNA pins. Each item is $5 and also allows you to give more too.
We look forward to sharing more in the coming months and years. We look forward to making a real difference.
Best Regards, BFT
April, 2017
LUNA’s history is deeply rooted in the Copper Canyons of Mexico, and in the traditional huaraches of the Tarahumara. As those of you who read the book Born To Run know, there is a very unique ultra marathon now known as the Caballo Blanco Ultra where our founder Barefoot Ted was formally introduced to the creation of traditional sandals we now specialize in creating. Each year we make the long, 18+ hour journey across the United States, through the winding, narrow and remote roads leading to Urique, Mexico to pay homage to our friends, and to connect with the community there. Every year is special but this past year was extra memorable, largely due to the kid’s race!
The kids race is an event leading up to the Caballo Blanco Ultra Marathon, where kids from the age of barely walking all the way through teenagers compete in a short and intense race around town. While the race alone will put a smile on your face, we also awarded every kid who participated with LUNA coin which they were able to spend at local stores!
Kids huddled around Barefoot Ted to get their LUNA coins after finishing the race (I’m pretty sure some of them lined up twice), and then scuttled around buying themselves and their friends treats and gifts; LUNA reimbursed the businesses involved for every LUNA dollar spent at their store! A huge boom in business for the sleepy little town of Urique, and a ton of fun for everyone involved.
Though something like this seems small, every business involved told us they would like to be involved in next year’s event, and every kid and adult had a smile on their face! This is just one small way your donations from the Manuel Luna Education Fund are bringing joy of giving and sharing to the Copper Canyons. We are also working with local friends to partner with the Tarahumara, to provide them what they say they need most; whether that is providing school supplies or fixing schools, ways to sell goods Tarahumara make, or anything else we can help them with.
Thanks for all your help and support, and we look forward to updating you with more and more projects to improve the lives of our brothers and sisters in the Copper Canyons.
June 29th, 2016
Wow! Korima is in action thanks to all of you who have supported the Manuel Luna Education Fund through your $5 donations. Together we are making a difference. Working directly with Cecy Villalobos, a boots-on-the-ground, English speaking tourism director for Urique, Mexico and a true advocate for the Tarahumara, your contributions are getting funneled directly to where they are needed most.
Our simple goal is to help teachers and students in some of the poorest parts of the Copper Canyons, have access to safe and comfortable, well-supplied schools. This is no simple challenge. Last month Cecy identified the poorest school in her area. The conditions were miserable and it had many needs. The biggest problem was the roof in the girls dormitory that needed major repair, but the locals were too cash poor to afford even the supplies. With Cecy's help, we purchased supplies and hired a local contractor to fix the roof. Now the girls will be safe, dry and warm. Thank you!
What's our next challenge? How about building a whole new classroom! That's right. Cecy has identified another small school in Urique requesting supplies to build a classroom. At this time, all classes are conducted outside. Let's help them get what they need. Deal?
It is all so simple on one hand, just getting supplies and money to the exact right place at the exact right time. With your help, we are going to continue to find ways to give back to the Canyons in the best way we know how. We have chosen to focus on improving education.
Best Regards, BFT
