Rusty and Sara Foszcz
Rusty and Sara Foszcz, who live in Illinois, are longtime NRDC members who visited Laguna San Ignacio in 2001.
Sara and Rusty at sunset, Laguna San Ignacio base camp
While the NRDC's ecological and environmental records are well publicized and world-renowned, there is not enough press given to the humanitarian side of this wonderful organization's efforts. In 2001, just one short year after NRDC was instrumental in getting Mitsubishi to abandon their salt mine efforts in Laguna San Ignacio, our family made a life-changing trip to the area. And while the whales did change the lives of each and every one of the people we shared that trip with - we quickly found that there was much, much more going on behind the scenes. The NRDC had saved the whale sanctuary - but it had done much more than many are aware of.
The Foszcz clan. From left (standing): Jeffrey, Sara, Ursula, Kaleigh, Rusty, Cooper, Maxwell. (sideways): Caius Chickanis
During this trip, our group had the opportunity to visit NRDC's "other" Laguna San Ignacio project - the Laguna San Ignacio school project. As explained to our group, an intense effort was involved in overcoming the pressure placed on the Mexican government by Mitsubishi. That effort included the cooperation of the entire Mexican population around the Laguna San Ignacio reserve. And while the creation of the sanctuary meant that restrictions may be placed on local fishing rights - and subsequently impacting the local economy - NRDC stepped in to offset those obstacles. Our group was given a very special tour of the local Laguna San Ignacio school that benefitted by NRDC's efforts. We were amazed by the compassion and the amount of money spent on the local school infrastructure. NRDC saw the total picture and the impact it would have on this small community as they fought against the Mitsubishi salt mines. In their efforts, they not only saved the birthing grounds of the gray whale - but they preserved the lives of the Mexican communities that surround the Laguna.
Drawing by a student at the Laguna San Ignacio elementary school
One of the children in the Laguna San Ignacio School drew the enclosed picture and graciously offered it to me while we visited the school that day. The look in that child's eyes as he handed me that drawing reassured my wife and I. We find it exciting to support NRDC in their efforts at Laguna San Ignacio - and around the globe. Their empathy and compassion and their ability to foresee the impact of their ecological actions make us proud to be lifetime NRDC supporters. This attitude is present in every NRDC associate we've had the opportunity to meet over the years - from Santa Monica, CA to Chicago, IL to New York City, NY to Washington, DC. Every NRDC person appears to be built from the same cast. They feel like family members…
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