Dorrance Family Foundation Provides $300,000 Matching Grant to Rancho Feliz
The Dorrance Family Foundation of Scottsdale has issued a $300,000 matching funds grant to Rancho Feliz for the construction of its new “La Hacienda Feliz” volunteer dormitory in Agua Prieta, Sonora, on the U.S./Mexico border, 230 miles south of Phoenix.
The donation will enable U.S. and Mexican volunteers to be housed together as they build homes, distribute food and care for children and seniors in the area’s slums.
“Rancho Feliz is honored The Dorrance Family Foundation is investing in our vision of changing the world by changing consciousness,” said Rancho Feliz Founder & President Gil Gillenwater. “In today’s political climate, we believe it is critical to foster cross-cultural service experiences, helping us to better understand each other. In our new dorm, American and Mexican volunteers will live and serve the community together. This exchange experience will break down the walls of thought that separate us.”
In April 2018, Rancho Feliz, a Scottsdale nonprofit, broke ground on “La Hacienda Feliz,” $1.35 million, 20-room, 10,215-square-foot dorm to house up to 70 volunteers at a time.
To date, Rancho Feliz has raised $750,000 of its $1.35 million goal. Once the $300,000 Dorrance grant is matched, the project will be funded in full.
“The Dorrance Family Foundation has been involved with Rancho Feliz for over 20 years. Their unique reciprocal giving philosophy resonates with our own. Serving others imbues our lives with purpose – making us better people. Empowering and connecting the human family on both sides of the U.S./Mexican border is an effort we whole-heartedly support,” said Jacquie Dorrance.
Rancho Feliz has worked in Agua Prieta, Mexico for 31 years.
Agua Prieta is located across the Mexican border from Douglas, Ariz. The new dorm is located near Vecinos Dignos Sin Fronteras (Worthy Neighbors Without Borders), a 3.5-acre, $2 million housing community built by Rancho Feliz. The neighborhood includes 42 homes, a 10,000-square-foot childcare facility, a 5,000-square-foot education/recreation building, four interior parks and sports court. Rancho Feliz does not believe in welfare. To live here, each homeowner gives back by making affordable payments, performing service work within the community and keeping their children in school.
