THE CHICO CARRASQUEL FOUNDATION (CCF)

From: Joe Carroll Phelps Jaycox
Founder / President
The Chico Carrasquel Foundation
www.chicocarrasquel.org (or www.chicocarrasquel.com )

Dear friends and supporters of CCF

Since the inception of CCF our goals and plans are the same:

• To find ways to honor Chico as a baseball legend and find ways to provide his inspiration to Venezuelan children and young adults both for them and for the future of Venezuela.


• To accomplish these goals CCF became a fully registered tax exempt corporation in both the United States & Venezuela with no affiliation to any political or religious, faith- based group.

On January 23, 2009 CCF will celebrate the beginning of it’s fourth year. The following describes some goals that have been met and other goals that are in the planning stages now.

For additional information about CCF please visit our web site at: www.chicocarrasquel.org (or www.chicocarrasquel.com )

CCF’S FORMAL ALLIANCE WITH THE YMCA Valencia

CCF is proud to state that the leadership of the YMCA in Valencia, Venezuela has recognized CCF and has honored us by establishing a formal alliance between the YMCA and CCF. It’s leader, Sr. Elias Polo along with his son Elias Polo, Jr. are recognized throughout Venezuela as the most successful and proactive YMCA’s leaders in the Country. They have and will continue to give CCF the help and guidance we need. They are CCF’s “panas burdas” or best friends for the future.

FESNOJIV – EL SISTEMA
During our last trip to Caracas in May we met with Rafael Elster, a director of EL SISTEMA in the barrio of Sarria. Thanks to a great man with vision, Dr. Jose Antonio Abreu established EL SISTEMA years ago and today has universal applause and recognition from everywhere on the planet.! It is the intention of CCF to learn from the master and try to develop similar programs for barrio kids but instead of using violins CCF will use baseballs and regular training from former famous Venezuelan baseball players.

To that end CCF hopes to establish a formal alliance with EL SISTEMA and Dr. Abreu starting with El Sistema’s visit to Chicago next spring. In addition, it is the hope of CCF to break ground next year for the first CHICO CARRASQUEL CENTER in the barrio of SARRIA, the birthplace of Chico. The second “CENTRO CHICO” is already planned for the City of Barquisimeto under the supervision of Sr. Domingo Carrasquel, brother of Chico and also a great man of vision.
As founder and president of CCF I do not have the great vision of Elias Polo, Dr. Abreu or Domingo Carrasquel but am driven by my friendship with Chico and my love for Venezuela and it’s kids from my Peace Corps experience and especially working in Catia, Caracas.

We ask all Venezuelans for their help in making CCF reach it’s goals!

Viva Venezuela y una vida mejor para los ninos de Venezuela.

Joe Carroll Phelps Jaycox
Founder / President
The Chico Carrasquel Foundation
www.chicocarrasquel.org (or www.chicocarrasquel.com )