Established in 1997 as a Mexican nonprofit, the Guild awards scholarships to students over a broad geographic area: from El Cardonal to the north, El Triunfo to the west and Cabo Pulmo to the south, and all the small ranches and towns in between. Preparatoria, or high school, is not fully-funded by the Mexican government, and tuition, transportation, and other costs are $300-$500 USD annually per child.

To determine who will receive a scholarship, the students must submit an application in Spanish, as well as in English, along with proof of their grades and a letter of recommendation from a teacher or other non-related person. The scholarships are awarded based on high academic achievement, as well as financial need. This is a strict requirement that rewards those who choose to excel. Because of this high standard, the students work hard to maintain their grades (no grade lower than an 8 out of 10). The scholarships are awarded for the full school year, but the students must apply each year to continue receiving funds for all three years of high school.

Any remaining funds go towards college scholarships. We provide a $100/month stipend for a 10-month period to cover tuition, transportation, room/board, and books.

Increasing the education level of our local students not only improves their lives, but improves the overall economy of our community. To those of you who have made this area your home or second home, we hope that you will choose to become active in helping to meet the needs of the community. The Guild welcomes your support and hopes that you can contribute whether it is through financial donations or through volunteer involvement.

Although it is all about the kids, that doesn’t mean that we can’t have fun while raising the money necessary to fund their scholarships. Each year the Guild holds fun-filled events. In April the Bocce Ball tournament is held and veteran players as well as first timers are mixed on teams. It’s a great way to meet new people and have fun. Monte Carlo Night is one of the East Cape’s most anticipated events. Get dressed up, or not, have dinner and play craps and blackjack to earn points to bid on prizes. There is also a silent auction that has many new fun prizes. This year we will add a paella dinner and auction in the fall.

All meetings of the East Cape Guild are open to anyone who wants to learn more about how they can impact the lives of those in our community. Watch the Baja Pony Express for news about upcoming events.