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Grace Elizabeth Madriles – Great Educational Materials
Grace Elizabeth Madriles was a beautiful, loving sixteen year old when she died in a car accident on September 21, 2002.
The Madriles family was surrounded by love and prayers as well as gifts of flowers and food. Additionally, people started giving monetary donations. The family wanted to use the funds in a manner that would honor Gracie’s spirit of love and generosity. Gracie’s mother, Paula, was a teacher at a very poor South El Paso elementary school. She spent the donated money at yard sales and thrift stores, buying books and educational materials to give to teachers.
Thus the idea for GEM’S GEMS was born. Paula and friends formed a 501C3 non profit organization in January of 2003 and began fundraising.
Our first distributions were in the South El Paso schools of Alamo, Aoy and Roosevelt, all within walking distance of the Mexican border.
Soon the books were rolling in. First the books filled up Gracie’s bedroom, then overflowed to the living and dining room. Then we filled up a friend’s garage. The books kept rolling in, and we were forced to rent one storage unit, and then another.
In June 2004, GEMS GEMS moved into our current home in the lovely Placita Santa Fe Shopping Center. The front portion of the store serves as a retail children’s not-for-profit bookstore. The back of our building serves as our book distribution center. Thousands of children’s books are shelved and prepared to be distributed throughout the El Paso area. Also, many teachers, day care workers, social service agencies, church groups, and any one working with children can come in and take free books. Our goal is to get books into the hands of children.
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