A few days ago I sent you an eletter sharing the news of a unique new program at the Clinic: our Clean Water Filter Distribution Initiative.

Today, I’m excited to highlight another aspect of the Clinic’s programs you may not know about (and how you can become involved!).

Every September, our Padrino program gives students across Southwest Nicaragua the tools they need to start the school year strong — and this year was no exception.

Back to School, Fully Equipped 

Thanks to our Padrinos, 75 students received uniforms, backpacks, and school supplies for the new academic year, along with health exams to make sure each child started the year in good health.

Investing in More Than Supplies

But this year, on September 4, we went a step further. Our team held motivational talks with our Padrino students focused on academic development, performance, and personal growth — helping them set goals for the year ahead. We also spoke directly with parents about the critical role their continued support plays in their children’s education, because we know that lasting change happens when the whole family is involved.

Celebrating Our 2026 Graduates

By the end of 2026, our Padrino program will celebrate 28 graduates: 10 from primary school, 7 from secondary school, and 11 from university. Each one represents years of steady support — from you, our sponsors — and a family’s hope for what’s next.

Caring for the Whole Child

But, there’s more…

Alongside school supplies, we provided every sponsored family with deworming medication, toothpaste, and other basic health and hygiene supplies — small things that make a real difference in a child’s health and ability to learn.

We want to applaud and thank our entire Clinic staff and our local volunteers for their time and dedication throughout this school-year distribution. And of course, none of this would be possible without our Padrinos/Madrinas — the donors who choose specific children to walk alongside through this health and education program.

The Need Continues

We still have 9 children on a waiting list for the Padrino program, along with more than 28 children with disabilities waiting to receive physical therapy through this sponsorship. Each waiting child is a reminder of how much further we can go — with your help.

If you are interested in becoming a Padrino sponsor and helping change a child’s future, we would be honored to have you join us. Follow this link to make a monthly gift of $25 or $50 and sponsor a named child. You will receive updates on the child’s progress and see how your support helps make a meaningful difference during these critical years of growth and development.

Thank you for making this possible. Because of Padrinos like you, children across Southwest Nicaragua are starting this school year healthier, better equipped, and more supported than ever.

Thank you,

Julia C. Guth
Chair of the Board, Roberto Clemente Health Clinic
On behalf of The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic Team

[email protected]

This past year has tested our resolve in ways we never anticipated. Stricter government regulations for health clinics, a global downturn in charitable donations, devastating early rains that flooded and damaged our facility, and most heartbreakingly, the sudden passing of our beloved Operations Director and Pharmacist of 17 years, Gustavo Ibarra, who left behind a grieving family with three children.

Yet through every challenge, three exceptional leaders in Nicaragua stepped forward with unwavering strength, positive attitudes, and professional dedication. They have kept our clinic operating 24/7 for our community, ensuring that over 20,000 annual patient-visits continue without interruption. Their resilience and commitment have been nothing short of extraordinary.

Today, our Board is proud to announce well-deserved promotions for these outstanding individuals who have proven themselves as true pillars of our mission.

Meet Our Executive Leadership Team
Dra. Hazel Ruiz – Medical Director, General Physician and Clinical Diabetologist

Dr. Hazel Ruiz continues to bring exceptional medical expertise and compassionate leadership to her new role as the clinic’s Medical Director. With her deep understanding of community health needs and commitment to providing quality care regardless of circumstances, Dr. Ruiz has been instrumental in maintaining our high standards of patient care throughout this challenging period. Her clinical excellence and ability to inspire her medical team make her the ideal leader to guide our medical services forward. She will now be taking on oversight of our ambulance operations and pharmacy.

Lic. Enmanuel Jarquin Sirias – Operations and Programs Director

Enmanuel Sirias has demonstrated remarkable organizational and translation skills, and adaptability in his promotion to Operations and Programs Director. He will continue to manage our volunteer, Padrino sponsor-a-child, and water distribution programs. But he will now also oversee the facility of our clinic, including our vehicles. His proactive approach to problem-solving and his ability to maintain operational excellence during crises have been invaluable to our mission. Enmanuel’s dedication to efficiency and community outreach continues to strengthen our impact in Tola.

Lic. Auxiliadora Rivera – Comptroller and Chief Administrator

Auxiliadora Riveras has proven herself as an indispensable financial steward and leader in her new role as Comptroller and Administrator. She manages our clinic’s financial operations, oversees administrative functions, meets regularly with government Ministry officials to ensure regulatory compliance, and maintains the HR systems that keep our clinic running smoothly. Her reliability and attention to detail are crucial in navigating the economic and changing regulatory challenges we’ve faced this year while maintaining fiscal responsibility and transparency.

Looking Forward: Supporting Their Vision
Our Executive Team has shared their wish list of priorities to reach their ambitious goals for themselves, the clinic, and our surrounding community:

Infrastructure and Equipment Needs:

• Repair and upgrade facilities damaged by flooding
• Modern medical equipment to enhance patient care capabilities
• Reliable backup power systems for uninterrupted service
• Improved telecommunications and internet connectivity

Program Expansion Goals:

• Enhanced Mobile health unit to reach remote communities
• Enhanced maternal and child health programs
• Preventive care and health education initiatives
• Mental health and counseling services

Staff Development Priorities:

• Continuing education opportunities for medical staff
• Leadership development programs
• Technology training and digital health tools
• Staff retention and competitive compensation packages

Community Impact Objectives:

• Expanded pharmacy services and medication access
• Nutrition and wellness programs
• Upgraded emergency response capabilities
• Partnerships with local businesses, schools, and organizations

These three remarkable leaders have shown us what true dedication looks like. They have transformed challenges into opportunities, grief into renewed purpose, and obstacles into stepping stones toward a stronger future for the Roberto Clemente Health Clinic.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Hazel Ruiz, Enmanuel Sirias, and Auxiliadora Riveras on their well-deserved promotions. Their leadership ensures that our clinic will continue to serve as a beacon of hope and healing for the thousands of patients who depend on us each year.

With gratitude and admiration,

Julia C. Guth, Chair
The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic
[email protected]

This is it – our final day to talk about the urgent life-saving equipment we need, and our final father’s story.

Meet Danilo Parrales Yesca:
We complete our Father’s Day circle with Danilo Parrales Yesca, a 60-year-old proud father of four children from our nearby community of Cañas de arriba. Unlike our previous fathers this week, Danilo isn’t part of our clinic team. Instead, he represents the heart of why we do this work: the families we serve.

For years, Danilo has brought his family to the Roberto Clemente Health Clinic for care, and his gratitude runs deep. “This clinic has been a blessing for my family,” he shares in his video message. “When my children were young and got sick, when they had accidents, when we needed medical help – the clinic was always there for us. The doctors and nurses treat us like family, not just patients.”

As a father who has relied on our clinic through decades of family life, Danilo understands better than anyone what it means to have reliable healthcare in your community. His children have grown up knowing that medical care is always accessible, and now he’s excited about what 24/7 urgent care will mean for his grandchildren’s generation.

“Every father in our community deserves to know that help is available when their family needs it most,” Danilo says. “This clinic doesn’t just treat illness; it gives us peace of mind.”

As we close this Father’s Day campaign, Danilo reminds us that every father’s story is connected. From Enmanuel (our Program Director with his newborn daughter)…

to Argenis (our nurse expecting his second child), and Gustavo (our Operations Director with 17 years of dedication, who sadly just passed away last week)…

to Alan (our Board member engineer)…

and finally to Danilo (the grateful community father).

Each represents a different piece of our clinic’s mission.

Final Campaign Update: I’m so grateful that donors have stepped up to help us fund our new equipment. I’ve personally made a recent donation myself. As someone who has worked on outfitting urgent care facilities throughout the United States, I know exactly what is needed to take the Clinic to the next level of accessible healthcare. And our Nicaragua community deserves it. They have very poor access otherwise. Our Clinic is open 24/7 – with outreach brigades going to hard-to-reach communities and driving on dirt roads. We have the only SUV ambulance in the region, ready to meet any emergency. But there’s so much more we can do…

Please help us reach our goal: We’re so close to transforming our clinic! Every dollar in these final hours brings life-saving equipment closer to fathers like Danilo and their families.

If we reach our goal: Thanks to your generosity, we can equip our clinic as an urgent care operation, closer to what you find in your neighborhood. Fathers like Danilo will know that professional emergency care is always available for their families. Additional funds will help with equipment installation and staff training.

Thank You: To every donor who contributed this year, thank you! You’ve honored the fathers we featured in this series – and invested in Nicaragua’s future. To those still considering a gift, there’s still time to be part of this impact.

After 21 years of faithful service to the Tola Province, the Roberto Clemente Health Clinic stands ready for its next chapter. Your Father’s Day gifts will transform our facility into a fully-equipped 24/7 urgent care center – ensuring that when emergencies strike, fathers like Danilo know professional medical care is always available for their families.

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers reading this. May your love and strength continue to build a better world, just like Danilo’s has for his four children in Cañas de arriba.

With immense gratitude,

Dr. Shawn Borich

USA CEO, The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic
[email protected]

P.S. Follow up with us next month to see how your Father’s Day gifts are making a difference in the Tola Province.

• Digital X-Ray Machine ($45,000): Essential for diagnosing fractures, pneumonia, and internal injuries – especially critical for children’s accidents
• Sonoscape Ultrasound ($18,500): Enables prenatal care, cardiac monitoring, and early disease detection
• Automated External Defibrillator ($3,000): Life-saving for cardiac emergencies – could save a father’s life during a heart attack
• Patient Monitor ($1,200): Continuous vital sign monitoring for critical patients
• Lab Technician Position ($4,000): Training and part-time salary to operate sophisticated equipment properly

Families journeyed from neighboring communities, some traveling considerable distances, drawn by the promise of free, comprehensive medical care. The fair offered an impressive array of services: pediatric consultations, OB-GYN care, dental services, vital health screenings, and more – all free to those in need.

This year’s event showcased the power of collaboration between local and international healthcare providers. The Ministry of Health’s participation in bringing their mobile dental unit significantly enhanced our dental care capabilities. Dr. Roy, a part-time resident of Rancho Santana, generously volunteered his expertise as a dentist, working tirelessly alongside the mobile unit team to address the community’s dental needs.

The international character of our volunteer medical team was particularly notable this year. Dr. Becky, a visiting internist, brought her wealth of experience to the fair, while two medical students – one from Australia and another from the United Kingdom – took time from their surfing expedition in Popoyo to assist with patient care. Thank you, Beth and Lizzy for your weeks of volunteering at our Clinic. Send more med students our way from down under! Your videos are exceptional, as our readers can see here…

Our volunteers’ presence not only provided additional support but also offered fresh perspectives and energy to our medical team.

The success of this year’s health fair hinged on our dedicated Nicaragua team of doctors and nurses and pharmacist and lab technician, who worked seamlessly together to provide both primary care and preventative services. Thanks to generous donations, we were able to distribute essential medicines to patients who might otherwise struggle to access them, ensuring that the impact of the fair extends well beyond the day itself.

What makes this annual event truly special is not just the numbers – though seeing nearly 500 patients in one day is remarkable – but the spirit of community and care that permeates every interaction. From the youngest patients receiving their check-ups to elderly community members getting vital screenings, each person was treated with dignity and care.

The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic’s Annual Health Fair is a testament to what can be achieved when healthcare professionals, volunteers, and communities come together with a shared purpose. As we look to the future, we remain committed to this vital tradition, knowing that each year brings new opportunities to serve, learn, and grow together.

We hope you will join us next year! You don’t have to be a medical professional…

Beyond medical care, the fair embodied a holistic approach to community health and wellness. For the fourth consecutive year, more than 20 Wellness Retreat Tour participants from the United States joined the event, bringing energy and enthusiasm to the non-medical stations. Their presence transformed the fair into a celebration of complete well-being, where health education merged seamlessly with joy and play.

Children’s laughter filled the air as they engaged in soccer matches and various games organized by the retreat participants. The nonprofit organization CREA created a special space for reading and drawing, nurturing both creativity and literacy. Young faces lit up with delight as they participated in activities with a visiting clown, competed for piñata prizes, and enjoyed free ice cream – simple pleasures that made the healthcare experience more welcoming and less intimidating.

A particularly crucial component this year was the partnership with local police to promote helmet safety. With the new coastal road bringing increased traffic and, unfortunately, a rise in serious accidents, this educational initiative couldn’t have been more timely. The clinic has witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of motorcycle accidents, making this safety campaign an essential part of their preventative health mission.

None of this would have been possible without our dedicated and highly professional Clinic team on the ground in Nicaragua, who work tirelessly around the clock. Organizing this annual health fair requires extraordinary effort beyond their already demanding daily responsibilities. This year’s event was our most organized and smoothly run yet, thanks in large part to our team’s unprecedented collaboration with various NGOs, the local police, and the Ministry of Health.The smiles, gratitude, and community spirit on display throughout the day confirmed what we already knew – the health fair was once again a resounding success that brought joy, while delivering essential services to those who needed them most. We look forward to continuing this cherished tradition next year and beyond.

The success of this year’s fair would not have been possible without the generous support of you, our donors, whose contributions enabled us to provide free medications and services to all who attended. Your commitment to improving healthcare access in rural Nicaragua continues to make a real difference in countless lives.

DONATE HERE

With deepest appreciation,

Julia Guth
Chair, The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic
www.nicaclinic.org
[email protected]

Dr. Mamur is an esteemed pediatrician who has served as Medical Coordinator for the U.S. president and the secretary of state. He was also Director of a Level IV NICU intensive care unit, helping major global development organizations and fragile communities around the world. Currently, Dr. Mamur works alongside Dan Puls at Pass Inc., and he is the newest addition to the Clinic team!