Embrace the Dream Foundation (EDF) is a non profit, Christian mission organization that provides love and care for orphaned and abandoned children in Mexico. EDF supports nine orphanages in Mexico. The principle home we support is Casa Hogar La Familia in Palmarito in the State of Puebla about three hours east of Mexico City. La Familia is currently home for 29 children ranging in age from one-and-a-half to 18 years of age.

Bill Lee, president, founded EDF after spending nine years leading mission teams to Mexico. In 2009, EDF and its partner organizations achieved its goal to raise over $100,000 to complete construction of a new orphanage that initially includes a two-story main home with the children housed on the ground floor. Now that the main home has been completed, fund raising has begun to complete the second floor to house additional children.  Following the completion of the second floor, our plans include constructing a building on the same property to house teenage boys and separate building to house teenage girls. Each of the teenage dormitories will accommodate 24 children and each will cost an estimated $100,000 to build. When second floor and the two new buildings are completed, La Familia will house approximately 96 children.

Most of the children we care for come from single or divorced mothers who have been abandoned by fathers. They either cannot or will not be responsible for their children. We also care for young mothers who choose to stay with their infants and live with them at La Familia.

EDF not only provides lodging for the children, but in addition strives to ensure that each child has a better future. The children are taught from childhood that to support a family, they must finish high school and go on to either technical school or university. Academic and Christian education are integral parts of each child’s daily regimen.

Casa Hogar La Familia is a Christ-Centered organization.  Currently, worship services are conducted each Sunday morning and each Thursday evening by Juan Francisco, who is both a director at La Familia and an ordained pastor.  Church attendance is steadily increasing and currently averages around 60 worshipers from the surrounding community.  On a youth night recently, 120 youth from the community congregated on the soccer field at La Familia to roast hot dogs and to sing praises to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

For more information about Embrace the Dream Foundation, you may email Bill Lee at blee3paris@aol.com. EDF’s mailing address is PO Box 5558, Greenville, SC 29606.