EMBASSY COMMUNITY HELPS RURAL CHILDREN'S ORPHANAGE

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000549 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/BSC KBEAMER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PA SUBJECT: EMBASSY COMMUNITY HELPS RURAL CHILDREN'S ORPHANAGE ¶1. (U) Carmen Cason, wife of Ambassador James Cason, visited the Santa Rita Children's Home in rural La Colmena, Paraguay July 28 and delivered much-needed donations to the home. The donation, totaling more than USD 2,300 and including ten bunk beds, a freezer, an oven, bedding, and sporting equipment, was made possible by a generous grant provided by the J. Kirby Simon Trust Foundation, as well as a donation from the Embassy community's Mission Group. ¶2. (U) The Catholic orphanage, which provides a home for 20 orphaned children as well as schooling and a daily meal to 120 improverished children, relies solely on private donations. The home is located in an isolated area of Paraguay, and Mrs. Cason -- recognizing the many obstacles the orphanage must overcome each day -- actively sought out and successfully found donors who could help meet some of the home's most pressing needs. The home's administrator, Sister Maria Aurelia, expressed her sincere gratitude for the donations, as well as for the kindness and generosity of Mrs. Cason, the J. Kirby Simon Trust Foundation, and the Mission Group. ¶3. (U) The Embassy thanks the J. Kirby Simon Trust Foundation for its generous donation to the Santa Rita Children's Home. This donation played an integral role in the Embassy's public diplomacy outreach to Paraguay, and improved conditions for the many children living in poverty in La Colmena. POC for this donation is Embassy Asuncion Political Officer Michael Edwards, telephone: 011-595-21-213-715, e-mail: edwardsmg@state.gov. Please visit us at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/asuncion Robinson