Posted by CustomGuide on April 24th, 2012

Jon High, president of CustomGuide, recently went on a mission vacation with his family to El Salvador. Such vacations are in vogue now, where you visit an exotic location and do good works while you’re there; a holistic rejuvenation of the body and spirit.

But for Jon and his family, it was more than a family vacation. It was a chance to continue the relationship CustomGuide started two years ago with AMILAT (Asociación Amigos para Latinoamerica), a non-profit organization that operates an orphanage and school in El Salvador.

Jon High with his own kids, and children at AMILAT

In late 2009, CustomGuide’s founders, brothers Dan and Jon High, were doing their end of the year bookkeeping when they realized that they had a decent profit. Having grown up in a household where giving and helping others was valued and practiced, they decided to donate a significant portion of their profits–$30,000– to someone in need.

They didn’t have to think long before they knew where they wanted to send it. Their mother, Carol High, was a frequent volunteer at AMILAT, which ran a school and orphanage in El Salvador. Having heard her stories about the school and orphanage, they felt their donation would have a positive impact on the students and orphans living there.

“We didn’t really know what would happen with our donation, we just figured it would go for whatever was most needed,” Dan High said. When they were told that the funds went to creating a computer lab, they were pleased.

“Computers and technology are a way for these kids to have more opportunities and a better future,” Jon High said. As for the naming of the lab? “We didn’t expect to be recognized like that, but it’s very flattering,” he said.

The the most valuable lesson is the one taught by the students in their gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity to use these new tools. You can see it in PowerPoint presentation the children made with the help of their instructor. Hard not to love the eager smiles and bright shining eyes from these kids.