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Raul Saldivar, Mosaic Senior Vice President, undertook a big adventure on January 29, 2007. He climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, and used the climb as an opportunity to raise awareness and money for the children Mosaic supports in its international programs.
Saldivar's goal through this "Climb for Kids" was to raise $19,430, one dollar for each foot of the mountain's height. His
efforts surpassed that goal, and the total raised exceeded $20,000. Ana Maria, one of the children Mosaic supports
through Mosaic's international outreach, painted a picture of Mt. Kilimanjaro and presented the painting to Saldivar as a token of thanks from the children served in Romania.
Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain on the African continent. Saldivar paid for the trip himself, but saw it as an opportunity to get more people interested in and donating to Mosaic's international outreach.
Mosaic has been partnering with local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in other countries to bring services to children who have no other
opportunities for growth. In Romania, Mosaic is working with Motivation Romania, a local NGO committed to bringing children with disabilities out of institutions. The children are living in small group homes and foster care families while they receive educational and recreational supports. Today, thousands of children with disabilities still languish in
Communist-era buildings. While Romania has recently been accepted into the European Union, funds for these programs still are not available from the government to support the children.
In addition to the "Climb for Kids" funds, in the last several months Mosaic has raised more than $200,000 for Motivation Romania, including a challenge gift from an anonymous donor who offered to match up to $100,000. Mosaic also secured a three-year $200,000 grant from the Timken Foundation of Canton, Ohio to support Motivation Romania.