Making a Difference in the Lives of Children

This Thanksgiving season we celebrate our non-profit organizations, and all the special individuals within those organizations for their generosity, kindness, and focused determination to elevate the lives of young people. Over the past 25 years, our Milagro Foundation family has had the honor of nurturing this community of partnerships, some lasting over two decades.

Carlos Santana and his family’s vision to start the Milagro Foundation in 1998 made it possible to support caring people in many non-profit agencies around the world.

It is our collective and continued mission to focus on equal opportunity and to provide support and growth opportunities for thousands of under-resourced and at-risk children.

With gratitude,

Shelley Brown, Executive Director

Ruthie Moutafian, Associate Director

Pictured: Conscious Kitchen

(supported with matching grants by David Smith of Graystone Builders, New Hampshire)

Learn about our Work

Tenderloin Community Benefit District

Safe Passage Program

San Francisco, CA

On a recent site visit Milagro Executive Director, Shelley Brown participated in safely escorting dozens of children to and from school through San Francisco's Tenderloin District, where there is the highest concentration of children (3500) living in a 5 block radius in San Francisco.

A group of mothers fed up with drug dealers in their neighborhood, started the efforts in 2008. The Safe Passage program is now part of the Tenderloin Community Benefit District, a nonprofit funded in part by Tenderloin property owners who also clean sidewalks, staff local parks and host community events.

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CinnamonGirl

Oakland, CA

For over 20 years Cinnamongirl has been building confidence of young girls between the ages of 8-18. Mentorship, literacy and writing programs, and entrepreneurship are the core elements that empower these girls to reach their highest potential. Cinnamongirl believes that girls should see the world! It offers unique travel experiences to countries such as Japan, Peru, Mexico and Australia.

The program teams recognize the importance of alignment with each of the girls regular education experience, by acting as a resource for families, offering to collaborate with teachers, counselors, and other mentors in the lives of their girls.

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Little Stars School

Varanasi, India

Little Stars has been a place of safety and growth for the street children living in the slums of Nagwa, Varanasi for 28 years. The school is a not-for-profit organization that began with 9 students on teacher, Asha Pandey's rooftop in 1996, and currently assists over 400 needy students providing free education, nutritious snacks, uniforms, and accommodations for 30 orphan girls.

One important educational goal at the school is to provide a high level of education that provides and qualifies student access to higher education.

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Andy Vargas Foundation

Irvine, California

Santana vocalist, Andy Vargas is committed to music education for youth, ages 8-22. AVF gives scholarships to youth interested in pursuing music as a career.

Andy's foundation collaborates with national and international industry brands; associations, local music programs and organizations, and top musicians and industry professionals to mentor and help develop cutting-edge music education programs for students.

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