EL PASO, Texas – The project ‘Mija, yes you can’ continues to gain momentum. After seven months into its creation, the project has already made headlines both locally and nationally as well as an overwhelming response of support from the community.
The nonprofit took part in El Paso Giving Day for the first time. Organizers were surprised by the community’s support, helping the project surpass its goal of $1,500 raising more than $5,000. As the project continues to grow, organizers are proud to be a featured fund for the Paso Del Norte Community foundation’s Community of Philanthropy.
“I started ‘Mija, Yes you can’ right before a pandemic,” Iris Lopez, founder of ‘Mija, Yes you can’ said. “Other than volunteer work, I had no experience with non-profit organizations but I knew that I wanted to create something for women in our community and never did I think it would grow so big so fast.”
The Paso del Norte Community Foundation supports the philanthropic goals of individuals, families, corporations, foundations and nonprofit organizations to improve education, health, social services, economic development, and quality of life in the Paso del Norte region. The partnership came as welcome news for the project because it will help establish ‘Mija, yes you can’ as a trusted nonprofit in El Paso, which will in turn help the project make an even greater impact on the community.
“The Mijas have inspired women in a unique way to come together to support each other and this is a special effort that we’re honored to be part of,” said Mica Short, Vice President of Development for Paso Del Norte Community Foundation. “We love helping ordinary people do extraordinary things.”
What was once a team of one has turned into a team of three determined young women, President Crystal Saavedra and Vice President Shelby Montgomery, who all spend countless hours keeping up with T-shirt orders, emails and social media engagement.
“It really is a labor of love,” Crystal Saavedra said. “However, hearing other women share their stories and seeing how proud they are to wear our shirts really makes it all worthwhile for us.”
“Donations from our community will help The Mijas begin the process of providing scholarships to women of all ages as well as help us continue our efforts of supporting other non-profit organizations in our community,” said Montgomery.
Donations made to The Mija Project can vary from monetary donations to non-cash or planned gifts. Donations to The ‘Mija, Yes you can’ Fund can be made by clicking the link below.
Mija, Yes you can. 