Carlos Manuel Joaquín González, Mayor of Solidaridad, and the Executive Director of Xel-Há, Francisco Córdova Lira, awarded prizes to the winners of the second facade contest. They both stressed the importance of the Chemuyil Project as an example for private and public businesses to follow.

Chemuyil, January 18th - the authorities of the municipal government of Solidaridad, led by the current Mayor, Carlos Joaquín González, met with representatives of Xel-Há, led by Francisco Córdova Lira, Executive Director and main promoter of the Chemuyil Project.

Elizabeth Lugo Monjarrás, General Manager of Xel-Há, welcomed the attendants and praised their efforts. On his part, Francisco Córdova delivered a touching speech in which he spoke of how the Xel-Há family has actively helped to build parks, a public library, sports fields, and has provided equipment for elementary, junior-high and high schools, as well as streets made of hydraulic concrete, and the most important: decent homes for the residents of Chemuyil.

This $ 13,000 usd contest is taking place for the second year. Xel-Há donates the paint, and the residents actively and creatively take part by painting and decorating their houses’ facades. The stipulations of the contest are: to use the established colors (English Red and Beige), to include plants in the porch (be it as garden or in flower pots), and the tidiness of the houses. The participation of the people was such, that Francisco Córdova announced his commitment to organize the contest every year.

The jury was formed by the Executive Committee of the Park. "It was a rough competition", it commented. In the end, from a total of 180 participants, only 20 were selected. In the final selection, there was a tie for the third place between Dorca Uc Chan and Luis Pérez Poot. They both won for a butterfly decoration on their respective facades. The second place was for Mr. Fernando Gil Azueta, who through his images made it clear that Mexican roots are still alive among our people. The first prize was for Mrs. Mirna Tun Pacho, who with effort and perseverance built the best facade with garden in the area. The Mayor congratulated her for this.

The prizes were as follows:

1st. prize: $20,000.00 MXN (almost two thousand dollars)
2d. prize: $15,000.00 MXN (almost one thousand three hundred USD)
3rd. prize: $10,000.00 MXN (almost one thousand dollars)

In a closing act, the Municipal President of Solidaridad, Carlos Manuel Joaquín González, expressed his joy for "so beautiful a town as Chemuyil", and stressed "how important it is for the private sector to become involved with the restoration and protection of Mexican destinations".

The Chemuyil Project has been listed in the Bank of Good Practices of the IARSE (Argentinean Institute of Social Responsibility) and in 2005 it was recognized by AliaRSE and CEMEFI as one of the "Best Entrepreneurial Practices of Involvement with the Community". This is a joint effort of the citizens of Chemuyil and the directors and staff of the Xel-Há Family; from 2001 up to date it represents an investment of $5,587,201 MXN (close to 530 thousand dollars), figures to be enjoyed by all the inhabitants of Chemuyil.

DTS, S.C.

DTS, S.C.

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