As you may already know, I spent 3 of the greatest months of my life volunteering for the ProNino orphanage in El Progreso, Honduras two years ago. The experience was absolutely life changing, and I am still looking for ways to express my gratitude to the foundation for allowing me to participate in their amazing program.

This year, the foundation created a fund raiser called Mil Abrazos, which translates to A Thousand Hugs. The name is perfect for what the foundation and the boys really need right now. The orphanage has hit hard times lately with the volatile economy and donors sclaing back, and the orphanage really needs a thousand hugs to help it get back on its feet and serve the amazing boys that live there.

The most inspiring aspect of working at the orphanage is that each boy has a story that would make a grown man cry, but they boys don't want to talk about their pasts. Instead, they want to focus on their futures. They want to focus on becoming firemen, politicians, and rockstars. This unbendable positive attitude and thirst for life taught me a lot and forced me to look at the world in a new way.

I want to raise money so that these boys can keep their heads in the sky. I don't want them to worry if they'll get new shoes in time for the school year or if the orphanage will have enough money to serve them meat this week or if they'll get a new soccer ball soon because the old one is still broken. I want to raise money so that these boys can do what all boys want to do, I want them to have the opportunity to just be boys and dream of a bright future.

Please help these children in any way possible, and I know that they will thank you from the bottom of their hearts. You can be assured that your donation will go towards dire essentials such as food, clothing, school supplies, etc... Not a single dollar will be wasted, and not a single dollar will be underappreciated.

Thank you for your generous donation,

Michael Swartz