In Memory of Michelle Collins Wood

On May 28th, 2005, Michelle Collins Wood would have celebrated her 30th birthday. The beautiful wife, daughter, sister and friend is greatly missed by her family and friends and thoughts of her remain ever present in our hearts and memories. In tribute to her amazing life, her dedication to education and her love of children, the Collins and Wood families are joining together to honor her by giving back to a cause that Michelle would have been honored to support. It combines two things that she loved very much - children & Mexico. We hope that you will help.

La Biblioteca de San Agustinillo is a children’s library in San Agustinillo, Oaxaca that is being developed and maintained by one of the Collins family’s dearest friends, Carole Reedy. With the help of the town of San Agustinillo, Carole and three of her friends have opened a library in the picturesque village on the Oaxacan coast.

The library is free for all local residents and available to tourists. They are funded strictly by donations. The library is stocked with about 4,000 books. Almost 2,000 are in Spanish, 1,500 in English, and 500 are mostly French and German but include Hebrew, Danish, Swedish, Italian and Japanese.

In addition to loaning books, the library is also a center for the children of San Agustinillo. A class in English and a pen pal program with school children in Chicago are two of the activities for the children of San Agustinillo. They are especially in need of Spanish language books and, of course, cash donations are greatly appreciated and sorely needed.

Also, Carole & Nancy have graciously offered to name their forthcoming computer center in Michelle's honor, something that would have meant a great deal to her. She also would have gotten a good laugh about the irony of a computer center being named after her. All donations made to La Biblioteca will go to support this computer center, in one way or another.

Many of you know that Michelle was dedicated to teaching young children and spent many years as an educator in both Arizona and Chicago. Michelle inspired all us and her spirit remains strong in the lives of her family, friends and students. She was an incredible woman and will always be missed, however her presence will always be felt and she will continue to have the power to teach through La Biblioteca de San Agustinillo.

Please help us to allow her spirit to continue on & her presence felt.

Love, Bob, Krista, Ali & Adam