Pathways For Children – The Cassie L. Miller Foundation

Pathways For Children - The Cassie L. Miller Foundation Facebook Group

This new foundation started with inspiration from, and is dedicated to, Cassie L. Miller. She was and advocate for all children regardless of their race, capabilities, or situation. She believed that every child should have the chance at a decent future, because, children are our future. Her hope was that no child had to go without heath care, food, or the means to education. Cassie, or Mama Cassie as everyone knew her, funded and cared for children in her San Francisco community with the funds from her own pocket. She work in school administrations and was previously a teacher and principal. Before passing in 2016 she spoke about building a foundation to ensure the future of children, and hoped that the programs within the foundation would fund children for education, food, and health care would expand across countries. She didn't have a chance to start her foundation because she was already expending so many resources to help the kids of her community. Mama Cassie was my grandmother-in-law, my husbands' grandmother. In dedication to her dream we wish to start this foundation from the ground up. Starting with a small community in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico.

Our first goal is to start a weekly food program for children in Nayarit, Mexico. Mexico has no food programs to help supplement the lack of food. In Nayarit the average local tells us that they make the equivalent of $5 a day to support their children. Often times than not, children of all ages even newborns, go to work with their parents. As soon as they are capable of understanding the process around 2-4 years old, they begin work to help bring in funds. Nayarit is a smaller state that is very family and community based. I have experienced nothing but great people and families from this community, and I want it to be where the first food program is started. When speaking in the peso vs. dollar exchange, food in Nayarit is very inexpensive and it would cost very little to get this program up and running. My hope, is that in Mama Cassie's honor we can begin to help this small community with providing the basic necessities for children. As soon as we get funding of $500, I can set up the weekly program provisionally for 3 months, and pray for more blessings to continue it after the 3 months end. We do not have funds for a food pantry facility yet, so I will be setting up the weekly pantry at a local park that is in the center of Tepic. I will reach out to the families with children in need through Facebook groups of the, "Tepic Free Market", which is the preferred and most frequently used form of communication between the community. The is a program that is starting from scratch, so all bought grocery items, and weekly pantry holdings will be uploaded, and progress can be consistently tracked through Facebook. We are always available to take questions, suggestions, or even general comments. We will continue with complete transparency.