Your Legacy, Their Future

Join Our Board: Shape the Future of Salud y Paz

At Salud y Paz, we’re deeply committed to locally-led development, and we believe our leadership should reflect the communities we serve. That’s why we’re actively seeking to increase Guatemalan representation on our Board of Directors, with a special focus on welcoming members from the Mayan communities where we work.

This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in guiding our mission and ensuring our strategies are truly aligned with the needs and aspirations of the people we support.

If you have a passion for community-driven development and are interested in learning more about this impactful leadership role, or if you know someone who would be an excellent fit, please contact Laura. We’d love to share more about how you can contribute to the future of Salud y Paz.

Your Legacy, Their Future: Why Planned Giving Matters

Long-time volunteers and supporters Frank and Jan Andersen share about their experience in Guatemala this month and their inspiration to include Salud y Paz in their planned giving.

When we were in Guatemala last month we got to thinking about our legacy. Jan was working with a gifted trilingual interpreter, Diego, who had recently joined the Salud y Paz team.  Over the course of the week, Diego shared his story: he is studying at university, his mom worked in the Salud y Paz pharmacy and he was a graduate of the Salud y Paz preschool.  Diego showed us a photo he had taken from his phone of a cherished old printed photo of his graduation day. Salud y Paz founder Dr. Phillip Plunk was presenting Diego with his diploma.  It was hard to hold back the tears as we saw it. This was Phil’s vision. Provide opportunities for Mayan children not just to survive but to thrive. To be the future professionals, leaders of Guatemala.

Phil isn’t here today to see his vision come to fruition, but his legacy is lived out in stories like Diego’s and the many others like him.

We got to thinking about our legacy. We give so much of ourselves during our lifetime—what will remain of our efforts and love when we’re gone?

These were the reflections that led us a few years ago to make the powerful decision to include Salud y Paz in our planned giving.

Our church, our alma maters, and our mission projects have always been close to our hearts. They have taught us so much about compassion, service, and the importance of giving back. We believe that these organizations, which include Salud y Paz, are doing important work, and we want to help them continue their mission. We know that our legacy gift will make a difference in the lives of others, and that is something that we are very proud of.

There are many ways to include a legacy gift in a will or estate plan. We chose to include a percentage of our estate in our legacy gift. This is a way for us to continue to contribute to the work that we care about even after we are gone.

We believe that planned giving is a powerful way to make a difference. It is a way to continue to support the causes that we care about and to make the world a better place. We are grateful for the opportunity to give back to Salud y Paz, which has enriched our lives while doing so much good for Guatemalan peoples.

We hope that our story will inspire others to consider making a legacy gift. It is a way to make a difference in the world and to leave a lasting legacy.

Did you know that August is National Make a Will Month? Have you considered including a charitable organization such as Salud y Paz as one of the beneficiaries of your estate? This is called planned giving, or a charitable bequest, and is an incredible gift that ensures that the work of Salud y Paz can carry on well into the future.

If you are interested in learning more about planned giving, contact Laura, or consult with your attorney. Also, we would love to hear from you if you have already made the decision to make a planned gift for Salud y Paz.

Beyond Borders: The Lasting Impact of Coronado Community UMC

This month, we welcomed Coronado Community UMC back to Salud y Paz! Coronado Community has been an integral part of the Salud y Paz family for more than 20 years, providing vital support to the mission with service teams, fundraising and child sponsorship.

Focusing initially on construction teams – who have made significant advancements in infrastructure at the Salud y Paz clinic and school – we were thrilled to welcome the team back to Guatemala with a new focus. This year, the newly formed Coronado Community medical team served 391 patients from Maya indigenous communities who have been historically excluded from education and health services.

At the end of their service week, the team visited the Susanna Wesley Preschool where they were given a warm welcome by the teachers and students. The team gifted handmade outfits to the students – a heartfelt contribution from the broader Coronado Community and a touching reminder of how so many supporters are actively engaged in the Salud y Paz mission from afar.

Closing their service week at the school – surrounded by the joy and energy of 45 bright young minds – was a beautiful way in which to honor the important role that Coronado Community UMC played in the school’s foundations. 20 years ago, the pastor of the Coronado Community church invited our late founder, Dr. Phillip Plunk, to visit the Coronado Community preschool. Dr. Plunk was inspired. He knew the need was great for early childhood education in the Camanchaj area where the Salud y Paz clinic was located. Coronado Community partnered with Salud y Paz to build, write the curriculum and support the development of the preschool that is now in its 17th year of operation!

Thank you, Coronado Community, for doing this important work with us!

25 Years of Partnership: Pulaski Heights UMC and Salud y Paz

What were you doing a quarter-century ago? For Pulaski Heights UMC (PHUMC), it was the start of a lifelong partnership. Twenty-five years ago, the church sent its very first mission team to Guatemala with Salud y Paz. Today, that partnership is still going strong, more symbolic than ever as we celebrate our 25th year of service.

Last month, we came together to provide essential medical and surgical care to hundreds of patients in the Mayan highlands. In a powerful display of teamwork, the PHUMC medical and surgical teams joined forces to move equipment and supplies from storage to the Buen Samaritano Hospital in Chichicastenango. A few surgical team members arrived early to work with the medical team to move three truckloads of supplies safely to the hospital and set up for the following week. This collaboration gave the medical team an opportunity to tour the hospital and make a vital connection with the surgical component of their mission.

The Pulaski Heights team has always valued including youth, and this year was no exception. Eight young people joined the mission, making significant contributions and gaining invaluable experience in service. The week ended on a joyful note at the Colegio Susanna Wesley school, where these future leaders got to watch a lively soccer match played by the future leaders of Guatemala!

On behalf of our patients, students, and communities… Thank you… Gracias… Maltiox! We look forward to seeing you next year!

Platinum Seal of Transparency 2025

We are proud to announce that International Hands in Service (Salud y Paz) has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar for 2025! This is the highest level and the most widely adopted symbol of transparency in the U.S. social sector.

This seal reflects our commitment to sharing open and honest information about our goals, impact, and progress. We want to make sure you have all the financial, programmatic, and progress updates you need to confidently support our work with trust and confidence.

Thank you for partnering with us!