KKIS 2023 Annual Report
Education Changes Lives
is more than a tagline, it’s a truth!
The KKIS Project is a binational nonprofit working to improve graduation rates in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. We believe education is the most powerful way to change a life—and a community. Here’s who we are, where we began, and where we’re headed together.
Our Short Story
Since 2012, The KKIS Project has empowered students in the Riviera Maya by removing barriers to education. From backpacks and school supplies to full-ride scholarships and mentorship, KKIS helps students thrive in public school and beyond.
As a bi-national NGO operating in both the U.S. and Mexico, KKIS believes that education changes everything: lives, families, and communities. We’re proud to be one of the most trusted ONGs in Playa del Carmen focused on education.
Today, The KKIS Project offers more than just school supplies.
We provide:
- Enrollment fees, uniforms, books, and school supplies
- Specialty items needed for class and class trips
- Access to counselors
- Mentorship, life skills training, and guidance
By combining financial aid with wraparound support, KKIS helps students not only graduate but also succeed in life.
We are rooted in Playa del Carmen and led by a committed team of educators, volunteers, and community members who believe in the power of education to lift entire families and generations. For anyone seeking educational volunteering in Mexico / Riviera Maya, KKIS provides a meaningful way to make an impact.
Our 2025–2026 Goals
backpacks filled with school supplies to local elementary schools
Deliver
30
public High school scholarships
Provide
30
new university scholarships for a total of 47 university students enrolled in 16 universities across Mexico
Grant
2
Board of Directors
Our bi-national Joint Board ensures transparency, accountability, and long-term impact. Members bring experience in education, business, nonprofit leadership, and community development.
Gayle Collins
Founder & US Board President
PRESIDENT
As President of KKIS A.C., Briar has played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s impact. She helped design both the high school and university scholarship programs, which have grown significantly under her guidance. Over the years, she’s served as a Sponsor, Mentor, Advisor—and now, a dedicated Board Member.
Briar Loewen
Mexico Board President
U.S. Board (KKIS Incorporated)
Kelly spent 21 years working in the banking industry as a change manager responsible for large scale technology projects. She moved to Mexico in 2011 and is passionately committed to making a real difference in the lives of young people here.
Kelly Caldwell
Born in Mexico City and raised in the U.S., Suzanne brings a bicultural lens to everything she does. Her upbringing, deeply rooted in education, gives her a unique perspective on both the challenges and possibilities within the Mexican education system—insight she now channels into creating real impact with KKIS.
Suzanne Filsinger
Merry is a nonprofit leader with 35+ years in education, healthcare, and human services. She’s led initiatives in digital inclusion, behavioral health, and nonprofit transitions, and now directs school-based health centers serving underserved youth through Every Child Pediatrics.
Merry Hummel
Mexico Board (KKIS Project A.C.)
A passionate advocate for youth empowerment, Ambar leads KKIS with a deep commitment to equity, education, and local partnership. Her leadership combines strategy with heart, ensuring every student is seen, supported, and celebrated. Ambar has years of nonprofit leadership under her belt and is a Mexican-American and fully bilingual.
Ambar Plasencia
A native of Cozumel, Ruben has built a 26-year career in Cancún and Playa del Carmen, specializing in Notary, Corporate, Civil, and Real Estate Law. He is Public Notary No. 13 for Quintana Roo and serves on the boards of COPARMEX Riviera Maya, the Red Cross in Playa del Carmen, and Riverside Military Academy in Georgia. His dedication to excellence and community leadership drives his commitment to the KKIS mission.
Rubén Barahona
Jordan leads a team-building company in Mexico that designs unforgettable “give back” experiences for KKIS schools and students. From donating bikes to painting classrooms and improving school grounds, his events are both meaningful and memorable. With energy, creativity, and optimism, Jordan inspires participants while strengthening community and shared purpose.
Jordan MacDonald
Our Staff and Mentors
KKIS is powered by a team of local professionals, educators, and volunteers. From program coordinators to counselors and workshop leaders, every member of our team plays a vital role in keeping kids in school. If you’re wondering how to volunteer in Playa del Carmen / Riviera Maya, our team can guide you to opportunities that fit your skills and passion.
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
After 20 years in Los Angeles, he shifted careers toward purpose, gaining expertise in digital marketing and storytelling. At KKIS, he has doubled revenue and student support while elevating the annual gala. Now as Director of Development, he builds partnerships, grows funding, and leads a marketing team dedicated to impact.
Rick Toone
UNIVERSITY STUDENT SERVICES COORDINATOR
Born in Yucatán and trained in Psychology, Gina has dedicated her career to personal development and well-being across schools, communities, and counseling centers. Her international experience in the U.S., Canada, and Germany broadened her perspective on care and connection. At KKIS, she supports university students with both global insight and local heart.
Gina María García Pérez
HIGH SCHOOL SERVICES COORDINATOR
Sara, University Student Services Coordinator at KKIS, combines creativity and strategy to drive social impact. With a background in Social Communication and Industrial Design, she has led communication efforts in education, sustainability, and culture with groups like IDB, Save the Children, and Fundación Coppel. At KKIS, she uses this experience to support and empower students.
Sara Viviana Vázquez López
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM COORDINATOR
From Mexico City, she’s a teacher shaped by her Au Pair experience in the U.S., blending empathy and curiosity in her work. With a background in education, hospitality, and healthcare. She leads team-building and volunteer efforts, always driven by connection and growth.
Daniela De La Torre
COMMUNITY MANAGER
As KKIS’s Community Manager in the Riviera Maya, he builds connections that expand local impact. With experience in social media marketing across LATAM plus skills in photography, video, and PR, he turns ideas into action and community into support.
Emmanuel Flores
ENGLISH INITIATIVE PROFESSOR
Dayra joined KKIS in 2023 and teaches English to high school and university students. Passionate about education, she creates safe, inspiring spaces that foster learning, growth, and personal development.
Dayra Isabel Cano Vargas
Annual Reports
We believe that trust is built through transparency. Each year, we publish an Annual Report that includes:
Program outcomes and student impact
Financial summaries and audited statements
Partner and donor recognition
Goals for the year ahead
Want to see your impact in action?
KKIS operates with full nonprofit status and financial accountability in both the United States and Mexico. All donations are tax-deductible (organizations that accept tax-deductible donations in Mexico) and carefully tracked for local impact.
If you’re ready to give back, you can donate to education in Mexico, sponsor a student in Riviera Maya, or support us as part of a trusted 501(c)(3) nonprofit Mexico education initiative. Together, we’re building stronger communities through education.