Tag Archives: tax exempt donation

CRHF Fourth Quarter Newsletter

The last quarter CRHF newsletter of 2024 is full of activities and projects.

Our thrid quarterly CRHF Newsletter update highlighted numerous successes and our ongoing upward spiral model work. We focused on health, health education, general education, sports, hosting a family from France/UK, building bunk beds, and much more.

For the final quarter of 2024, we proudly inaugurated a health clinic created and managed by Francisco in collaboration with the local indigenous association, the Ministry of Employment, and the CCSS. This project was financed by the Swiss Embassy in Central America and the CCSS.
Read more about the clinic here.

We also unveiled the new CRHF HQ: Casa Quetzal Retreat and Conference Center, a developing project designed to host volunteers and beneficiaries while focusing on preventive health, health education, peace, and collaboration.
Read more about it here here.

Our food program continues to provide over 2,000 people with nutritious meals every week, laying the foundation for their independence. Additionally, we offer dietary and health education to beneficiaries through this program.
Learn more about it here.

In October, Gail was invited to be a keynote speaker at the Sustainability in a Global Environment Conference hosted by Troy University. She shared the stage with experts from PROCOMER, Universidad Fidélitas, and other distinguished professionals.

Children’s Programs

We resumed our monthly children’s program for the youth of Uvita. Looking ahead to 2025, we aim to expand this initiative and welcome volunteer teachers and donors to support its relaunch. The program, paused during the pandemic due to funding shortages, costs approximately $800 per month to operate.

In September, we celebrated Children’s Day with movies, popcorn, and snacks. Nearly 800 youth enjoyed a leisurely day.
See part of the celebration here.

Later in the month, we participated in Costa Rica’s Independence Day festivities on September 15th, which included dances, costumes, faroles, and a lively parade featuring thousands of youth from neighboring communities.
View highlights here.

Volunteer Contributions

In October, a group of volunteers from Ohio delivered a generous supply of school materials. The children expressed heartfelt gratitude, and the volunteers learned more about our Model of Poverty Reduction and community efforts.
See their visit here.

On October 12th, we celebrated Gail Nystrom’s 75th birthday with collaborators and youth from La Libertad. It was a joyous day filled with dancing, singing, and heartfelt moments.
See the celebration here.

We welcomed the Yoga Teachers from Lakshmi Rising lead by Liz. We have been working on strengthening the physical and mental health of our beneficiaries through different meditation, breathing and yoga techniques. This will be Lakshmi’s second season with the CRHF and we look forward to building this relationship into the future.

Other notable volunteer contributions included:
• Stephen, long-term individual volunteer, continues to support our regular activities, give english classes and invent creative ways to help educate youth.
Hannah from West Virginia, having never left the states and who braved new experiences to work with youth development.
Valeria, a psychology student, who provided mental health resources during her university service.
Keren Hernández from the University of South Carolina, who conducted PhD research on food security among refugees.
Learn more about their contributions.
• Adriana and Ramon who came in during the holiday’s and provided interpretation for the Amigos optometrist medical crew.

We also hosted a multidisciplinary group through a partner organization. Their visit, centered on health and health education, included creative puppetry workshops to engage communities.
See more here.

Success Stories


• In November, we secured funding to provide a new home for a family of eight in La Carpio. Thanks to our donors, the younger children now have the opportunity to grow up in a healthier environment.
Read the full story.
• Alan, a beneficiary we have supported for years after a workplace accident, received a prosthetic leg and is walking independently again.
See his progress.
• We also bid our farewell and safe passage to our longtime collaborator Jairo. He has been with us for almsot a decade working in the foodbank and other activities. He is off to Spain supported by the IOM and the CRHF. We will be here to ensure he gets settled in safely. 
View more here.

Partnerships and Events

In late October we were invited to a NGO Fair hosted by ServiceNow focusing on CSR. We were able to showcase our work, alongside other NGOs, to the employees of the company. We are working on increasing our collaboration in the CSR field with the numerous offshore and local companies in Costa Rica.
View more here.

We hosted chiropractic care for nearly 300 beneficiaries with the help of new friends from Minnesota. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to their future visits.
Read more.

The year ended with our annual Christmas Parties, bringing joy to over 800 youth with gifts, snacks, and activities—made possible by our dedicated donors since 1997.

The Grupo Diplomatico de Costa Rica continues to support the CRHF in many ways with focus on education. They also visited Casa Quetzal Retreat and Conference Center where we hope to continue to host conferences on Peace and Collaboration.

Finally, for four days including on New Year’s Eve, Amigos Eyecare provided eye care, totalling nearly 1,000 beneficiaries in La Carpio for the year. They also conducted a reconnaissance visit to indigenous territories for future collaborations.
See their impact here.

Looking Ahead

We remain committed to improving lives in 2025 and beyond. Thank you to all our donors, volunteers, and partners who make this work possible. We continue to work with La Carpio, Rural, Coastal and Indigenous communities through our Poverty Reduction Model of Development. Thanks to all your efforts and support we are a force to reckoned with and are making significant improvements in the lives of our beneficiaries.

We will be publishing our full 2024 Year End Report in the coming weeks.

We now have

Thank you for sharing our dream!

A Day in the Life: Gail’s Shared Joy and Grief

Saturday, June 9

Today, like every day, I see what are called my cases. I have an office, and people lined up to see me.

Jony:

A Nicaraguan refugee from 2018. Both his brothers were murdered. He lives in a house with his wife, 17-year-old son, and autistic son, whom he loves with all his heart. He has a chronic ailment. We provide him with monthly rent relief and a weekly food basket. His autistic son has been having constant, uncontrollable seizures. I provide Jony a safe place to cry.

Maria:

A Nicaraguan refugee with cancer. She has one child and has been diagnosed with cancer. Her chemotherapy and radiotherapy were suspended because she can’t pay for insurance since she can’t work. She lives with her mother in a house where the owner is an angel on earth. This kind landlady helps Maria get to our place and carries her food basket for her. I provide both her and her neighbor with food and talk with her gently. On Monday, she shows up beautifully dressed, smiling, her wispy hair combed, and thankful to us for our help.

Hugo:

An ex-Contra fighter with an extensive family. He always shows up with something to give so we can provide him with free food. I always banter good-naturedly with him because I am Gringa, he is Nica, and I was Sandinista.

Carla:

A young mother of three, including a very fragile newborn. We give her clothes, diapers, food, and love for her kids. She can’t work. I provide her with some rent relief. I see she is scared, and I see her.

Maria and her 13-year-old son:

He is trying desperately to stay in school and graduate sixth grade. He comes every day to help carry up the food. They just got evicted. I gave her rent relief, and our team decided to make him a formal member and provide him with weekly financial help and a food basket.

And So The Days o By

If I did not have the support of the donors, none of these fragile and gentle people could get their needs met. A listening heart is good, but a listening heart with some financial power is better.

Spreading Holiday Cheer: Donate to the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation

The holiday season is a time for giving, and what better way to spread joy than by supporting the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation? As we gather with loved ones to celebrate the spirit of generosity, let’s take a moment to reflect on the impact we can make through charitable contributions on this Giving Tuesday.

Making a Difference Locally:
The Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation works tirelessly to address local challenges and uplift communities in need. By donating this holiday season, you’re directly contributing to positive change in Costa Rica, supporting initiatives that touch the lives of those who need it most.

Empowering Communities:
Your donation empowers the foundation to implement sustainable projects that focus on education, healthcare, and community development. By investing in these areas, the foundation helps create a brighter future for individuals and families, breaking the cycle of poverty and fostering self-sufficiency.

Spreading Hope and Joy:
Imagine the impact your contribution can have on a child’s face when they receive the gift of education, or a family finding hope through improved healthcare services. Your donation becomes a beacon of hope, bringing joy to those who may be facing challenging circumstances during the holiday season.

Supporting Humanitarian Values:
The holiday season is a time to embrace values such as compassion, empathy, and kindness. Donating to the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation aligns with these principles, allowing you to actively participate in creating a more compassionate and equitable world.

Creating Lasting Memories:
The act of giving creates lasting memories not only for those who receive but also for the giver. Your contribution to the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation becomes a part of your own holiday tradition, reminding you of the positive impact you’ve made in the lives of others.

This holiday season, let’s come together to make a meaningful difference in Costa Rica. Donate to the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation on this Giving Tuesday and be a part of the change that transforms lives and communities. Your generosity has the power to create a ripple effect, inspiring others to join in the spirit of giving.

Remember, the true magic of the holidays lies in the love and compassion we share. Together, let’s make this season brighter for everyone. Click here for our different donation options.

Tax Exemption / Tributacion

It was a three hour interview. With two people from tributación. And guess what? They were delightful. Attentive. Respectful. Kind. Interested. And obviously they had read all the material I had given them.

As luck would have it…a delightful volunteer group of 25 Canadians had changed their schedule so the inspectors were even able to see our volunteer program in action. Truly and much to my surprise the whole experience was great. All our team was on alert and showed their love for our programs.

Our wish came true and we will continue to be eligible for tax exempt donations. The tributación people had read our documents with their hearts. We are all so grateful and happy. Coming next ..the formal written report. And next report period…2025.