ABOUT THE FOUNDERS

Victoria De Peña

Victoria De Peña is the Co-Founder and Development Director for The Dr. Louis & Victoria De Peña Foundation and The Family Medical Center in Panajachel, Guatemala. Victoria moved to Guatemala in 2003 from Syracuse, New York, following a career in public relations and fundraising for one of the country's largest supermarket chains. She served as Spokesperson and Director of Consumer Affairs & Public Affairs for the 220 store supermarket chain and was responsible for overseeing the $3 million foundation, which provided donations and funding for various non-profit organizations throughout the United States.

Victoria first visited Lake Atitlán, Guatemala in 1999 and had an immediate heart felt connection with the Mayan people. Her dream was that she would someday be able to live in the Lake Atitlán area and focus her talents on assisting the impoverished indigenous people. She lived in Santa Cruz La Laguna on Lake Atitlán for approximately 2 years, helping local children and families. Victoria moved to Santa Catarina Palopó with her husband, Dr. Louis De Peña, where they now have a foundation for assisting children, families and people in crisis and a medical clinic, which opened in nearby Panajachel in 2005.

In 2006, Victoria and her husband Louis returned to the United States to attend to urgent family matters. It is our great desire to one day return to Guatemala to continue helping the beautiful people of Guatemala.

There are many fine individuals and organizations who continue to work diligently to help the indigenous people of Guatemala. If you are interested in helping, see www.mayanfamilies.org to learn more about how you can assist those most in need.

Dr. Louis W. De Peña

Louis W. De Peña, M.D., is the Medical Director and President of The Dr. Louis Foundation (The De Peña Family Foundation), located in Panajachel, Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. Dr. De Peña first came to Guatemala with his family when he was 13 years old. Even as a child, he was concerned by the poverty and high death rate among the indigenous people. With a mortality rate of almost 80% for children under 5 years of age, there was a hopelessness among the Mayan people and a great need for education and health care. Dr. De Peña decided as a young child that someday he would become a doctor and return to help the people of the tiny little villages of Lake Atitlán.

Dr. De Peña graduated from The Medical School of San Carlos of Guatemala and worked in a rural clinic outside of Guatemala City. He later moved to the United States to enhance his medical experience. Dr. De Peña also worked in the surgery department of Santa Rosa Hospital, San Antonio, Texas, USA.. Posterior studies included the University of San Antonio, Texas, United States. De Peña returned to Lake Atitlán to fulfill his promise of helping the impoverished Mayan people.

Dr. Louis De Peña recently completed a 4 year assignment as physician for the Ministry of Health of Guatemala working in conjunction with the non-profit organization, Vivamos Mejor, where he was responsible for the health needs of over 13,000 indigenous Mayan people in 16 medical clinics located in rural communities of Lake Atitlán. During Dr. De Peña's tenure with the Ministry of Health, he was troubled by the incredible need for extended health care, education and especially for assistance to indigenous people who were in crisis. Dr. De Peña collaborated with many non-profit organizations including CARE, USAID, Airline Angels, WINGS and others to aid in assisting those in need. Dr. De Peña, along with his wife Victoria, decided to establish a foundation and clinic to help address the overwhelming need for assisting people in crisis and helping the people of the tiny little pueblo of Santa Catarina Palopó and surrounding communities.