LANSING, Mich.-- A group of 18 orphans will travel from Mexico to Lansing Oct. 13 as part of the first anniversary celebration of Ciudad De Los Niños De Matamoros, or City of the Children, an orphanage in Mexico founded by former Michigan State football player John Shinsky and his wife, Cindy.
The Shinskys opened the orphanage in Matamoros, Mexico, last year after John Shinsky and his former MSU football teammates — Joe DeLamielleure and Eljay Bowron — spent 18 days biking 2,000 miles from East Lansing to Mexico, raising funds for the orphanage south of the border.
The children’s visit is intended to raise awareness and support for The City of the Children orphanage and Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (Spanish for “Our Little Brothers and Sisters”), a network of Catholic orphanages and outreach programs in nine countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The first anniversary celebration event will be at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at Eagle Eye Golf Club in East Lansing. The children of Estudianta y Danza Troupe will perform traditional Mexican folk music and dance at 5:30 p.m. The event is open to the general public with a suggested donation of $20 per person.
"In a very short time we've gone from big dreams to the reality of providing a safe, nurturing home for more than 30 beautiful kids who desperately needed our help," John Shinsky said. "It's amazing to think how far we've come, yet it's humbling to think how much we have yet to do to ensure that The City is a permanent solution for the children of Matamoros, Mexico."
The three-day tour also will include traditional music and dance performances at local elementary and high schools in the mid Michigan area:
- 8 to 9:20 am Oct. 13: Lansing Catholic High School in Lansing.
- 9:40 to 10:40 a.m. Oct. 14: St. Johns High School in St. Johns.
- 3 to 4 p.m. Oct. 14: Springport High School Agriscience and Natural Science Education in Springport.
- 9:30 to 11 a.m. Oct. 15: Averill Elementary School in Lansing.
###