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that are an eyesores and/or run down; this program has both local and foreign volunteers
fully involved on creating a better San Felipe for us all. I chose where to plant the trees and
revitalize these areas because, in the 38 years that I have called San Felipe home, I noticed
the lack of green areas and trees, which are necessary not only to provide shade, but also to
provide the kids with good areas to play, and good safe locations with shad to walk about.
Q. Is this project funded by the government or the public/donations?
A. Our projects run on volunteer donations. We get no funding from the government. All the
projects we do have to follow all government regulations, and while the government does not
provide funding, they do provide help getting any permits needed in an expedient manner so
that we can complete the projects.
Q. What projects are you currently working on? Any special projects?
A. We are always planting trees not only in the main streets everyone sees, but also in the
further away neighborhoods. We get requests from people who tell us about the areas they
live and areas they walk every day to go to school, or to work, where there is no shade at all
and with the temperatures in our city, shade from a tree is not a luxury, it is a necessity.

One special project we have been working on for the last 4 or 5 years is the revi-
talization of the Hill of the Lady of Guadalupe; we have painted the rails, stairs and
monument/chapel, and are working on cleaning up the whole way from the parking
lot which is a bit above the Malecon to the top of the hill.

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