La Casita Fundraising Letter

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P.O. Box 81982, San Diego, CA 92138 tel. (619) 685-2847

Dear Fellow Puerto Rican and Friends of Puerto Rico:

The City of San Diego is offering the Puerto Rican community an opportunity to build a cottage (una casita) in Balboa Park. This will be a cottage where we can permanently display our culture, history, and contributions made by fellow Puerto Ricans to the United States of America. It will be a meeting place for the San Diego community and worldwide visitors. It will be a place for our senior citizens and young military personnel away from home to socialize. It will also be an educational place for everyone, especially future generations who will have minimal exposure to the Puerto Rican experience.

Beautiful Balboa Park is home to many museums and is the cultural center of San Diego. The House of Puerto Rico San Diego is a member of the House of Pacific Relations (also known as The Cottages). Being a member of the House of Pacific Relations affords us the opportunity to build a cultural cottage of our own.

Currently, there are 19 cottages representing various countries. None of the cottages represent a Latin country. The City of San Diego will be adding three more cottages and the House of Puerto Rico has requested one of these sites. If we do not take advantage of this unique and wonderful opportunity NOW, someone else will!

The City of San Diego will provide the land at no cost to us, however, we are required to have $120,000 in the bank prior to breaking ground to cover construction costs. We will also need monies for furnishing, appliances and exhibition facilities.

As you can see, this calls for the most urgent and immediate attention of the Puerto Rican community, as well as friends of Puerto Rico, to support this much needed and noble project. This will be the only structure in the state of California dedicated to the history, culture and heritage of Puerto Rico.

We are asking you to be a part of this endeavor today, by contributing to the House of Puerto Rico Building Fund. Building approval by the City of San Diego is tentatively scheduled for Fall of 2000. Funding must be in place prior to ground breaking.

All donations will be tax deductible. Donations of $5,000.00 or more will be honored with a permanent plaque in the name of the company, organization, family name or that of a loved one. Donations of $1,000.00 or more will be honored with an engraved brick which will be placed at the cottage. All donor names will be entered in the building registry album which will be kept on the premises.

We are including a contribution form for you to fill out and return to us with your generous contribution. Feel free to make copies of this letter and distribute it to all persons interested in helping to build Puerto Rico's only cultural cottage in the west coast. For further information please call 858-481-2995.

Thank you for your support.

Ralph Costas and Rosario Camacho
House of Puerto Rico San Diego
Building Fund Co-Chairpersons

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