As a Mexican, I am amazed by the generosity of some of my American friends and acquaintances. Sadly, I have to admit that the gringos do more for our needy people and children than many Mexicans do. I guess we have seen poverty all of our life and have either became insensitive or see it as part of the Mexican lifestyle of the lower classes.

Last week I was invited for dinner by a lovely couple who live in the Lakeside area. I could not believe my ears when I learned that they are sponsoring three children through high school and college. Some time back, I carried hundreds of shoes they had donated a couple of Christmas seasons ago for the children of MAMA, A.C. (Movement in Support of Abandoned Minors), but I did not know they had gone further, helping other children work their way through school. I am sure they do this based on the premise: "If you want to temporarily satisfy a poor man&rsqu;0s hunger, give him a fish; but if you want to do it for life, teach him how to fish." I wish they would let me publish their names, but they want to remain anonymous, maybe following the maxim: "Let not your left hand see what your right hand does."

They told me they found out through the Lake Chapala Society and Mr. Steve Cole that Coralie White, the lady in charge of the Education Committee of the LCS, has been leading, for six years, a Scholarship Program to help Lakeside children acquire an education. She has a very thorough screening process which includes interviews with students and parents, review of their prior school records, consultations with former teachers and social workers regarding the students&rsqu;0 past performance, financial situation, etc. Once a student is accepted into the Scholarship Program, the goal is to see him/her graduate from Preparatoria. The funds for this program, which is supported entirely by donations, must be carefully budgeted and administered to accomplish the goal. Each year, however, there are far more qualified applicants than the program can handle.

The three children whom my friends are sponsoring are very bright, with high scholastic qualifications, but no resources to continue studying, since one of their parents died, and they have only a mother who works as a maid. The way my friends started helping is as follows, which is the procedure that all the people who sponsor usually adhere to: Soon after the school year began, each student took a list of school supplies needed for the year with the approximate cost of each item. After reviewing the list with them, the couple advanced the necessary funds with the proviso that the students bring back a receipt from the store where the items were purchased. The necessary supplies consisted of books, school uniforms, athletic shoes for gym, notebooks, paper, pencils, etc.

As the year progressed, each student dropped by as they needed additional books or supplies. The same procedure was followed: funds advanced and receipts promptly returned. No money granted without justification. Also the students dropped by to show their report cards as they became available. A good report card always netted them a small cash reward. Their grades were excellent.

The approximate cost of a Secundaria (Junior High) school year for one student is U.S. $250-$300. For Preparatoria (last grades of High School) is between $350-$500. For a student attending college at the University of Guadalajara, the cost is about $1,000-$1,500 U.S. a year. It is not much, my friends said, compared to the benefit the children get. For many of us, that amount of money can be spent on unnecessary things over the year.

I asked my friends to write a few words about their experience helping these children and their feelings after the first school year passed. These are their words:

"Our lives have been greatly enriched by our involvement with Coralie and these students and their families. Coralie has stayed in touch with each student during the year and has also given us any guidance we have needed along the way. This has been an opportunity to make a difference in someon&rsqu;0s life at a very reasonable cost. And ALL of the money has gone for the benefit of the student. We are looking forward to continuing to help these students in the future. After all, these students ARE the future. And you can&rsqu;0t put a price on that!"

Another desperate case is Rogelio, a twelve-year-old boy. He lives in Guadalajara in a poor area along the road to Chapala called Las Juntitas. There are railroad tracks that run very near his house. Two years ago he was on his way to school when a train backed up unexpectedly and severed both of his legs. After looking for hospitals all over Mexico, a friend and I found the Shriners in Mexico City, which specializes in helping disabled children. We have been helping with the traveling expenses to the big city, and the Shriners have done a wonderful job with the prosthesis. But since Rogelio is still growing up, he needs to go every three months to Mexico City to have surgery performed at the end of his leg bones, which are still growing and hurt him when using the prothesis.

Ever since the accident he has not been back to school. His mother works as a maid, and is afraid of his crossing the railroad tracks with his crutches and having another accident. She has to work since early morning to support the family and can&rsqu;0t take Rogelio to school. He needs someone to sponsor a vehicle (maybe a taxi cab) to pick him up every day, take him to school, and bring him back home. He also needs some money for books and school supplies.

If any reader is moved to sponsor a child through school, or to help Rogelio pay someone to take him to school, you should contact Coralie White in the Lakeside area (376) 6-07-16 or Ilse Hoffmann in Guadalajara: (3) 647-3912, e-mail: ilseh@mail.udg.mxÊ

Coralie White, and my anonymous generous friends, as well as all the other wonderful gringos, who do so much to help poor people, have earned the heartfelt gratitude of all Mexicans. As we say in Spanish, when there is no money to pay a debt: "Que Dios se los pague," (May God repay you).