KEEP THE CHANGE!
—By Polly G. Vicars
A recent television commercial for a telephone service depicts a customer with a cashier telling him to keep the change as there is nothing he can do with 2 cents. The clerk tells him that he will take the 2 cents as he can call his brother in Argentina for that.
Well, all over Puerto Vallarta similar events are taking place in the local Oxxo stores. What is happening here is that Tiendas OXXO has made a commitment to local charities to ask clients to redondeo (round up, their purchases.) If their bill is $20.45 pesos, they should ask the store to redondeo and the extra 55 centavos will go to a local charity.
Last week Becas Vallarta President Mariel de Fregoso, Irene and Carl Johnson and I attended an event at the Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza, A. C. (RISE) where Mother Mary and the children received a check for $216,653.20 pesos representing three months of rounding up in the Tiendas Oxxo in the Puerto Vallarta area.
WOW! That is a lot of rounding up!
What an impressive event! The Oxxo managers who raised the most money were awarded certificates of achievement and several gifts from the Refugio and from Oxxo. A huge cake and soft drinks were shared with the more than 50 children receiving a home there and their guests. Songs were sung, smiles were brilliant and thanks were given.
Five of the young people from the Refugio, Lucía, Carmen, María, Aracely and Carlos, are Becas Vallarta scholarship students. They, along with “Mama” Sol Martinez Maciel, welcomed us and made us feel very much a part of the proceedings. We are so proud to help these bright young people who, despite almost overwhelming odds, are a shining example to the younger children, a tribute to the Refugio’s excellence and well on their way to becoming productive citizens of the community.
At the end of the program Oxxo announced that it changes charities every three months and that during August, September and October all the proceeds from the redondeo will go to our Becas Vallarta, A.C. to help provide scholarships to young Vallartenses of great ability and small economic resources. When you are paying for your purchases at Oxxo be sure to prompt the clerk to round up and know that you are a part of a great effort to see that all bright young students in our area get the education they desire and deserve, regardless of their economic situation!
The word is ¡REDONDEO!
Cut out the flyer below to show to the cashier every time you shop at one of our many OXXOS and remember, just say Redondeo!
BECAS WEBSITE: http://www.puerto-vallarta.com/amf/
