Ken and Debbie Wanovich fell in love with Mexico over the course of many winter vacations. Ten years ago, they were married on Isla Mujeres, a small island just off the coast of Cancun.
As their friendships with the locals deepened, the couple starting spending time in Guadalupana, a village of 250 families. Most of the residents work low-paying jobs supporting the thriving tourism industry on the island’s northern beaches, but the Wanovichs were humbled by their generosity and gratitude for what little they had. “We were shocked to see those living conditions,” recalls Ken Wanovich. Most of the village’s one-room homes had dirt floors, leaky roofs and no running water or electricity. “My wife and I felt that God was telling us he’d brought us here, and that was the start of Keys 4 Life.”
The Wanovichs formed the nonprofit in early 2013 with the mission of providing resources and opportunities for the island’s children and families in four key areas of life: educational, spiritual, emotional and physical. Ken, a professional musician, recorded a Christmas CD entitled Give It Away, and the proceeds from its sale provided the starter funds for the organization.
In the four years since, Keys 4 Life—with the help of dedicated volunteers, many of whom are Woodbury residents—has raised nearly $100,000 and completed projects from pouring cement floors and installing new roofs in homes to replacing whiteboards and updating outdoor spaces at the middle school.
“The beauty of it is that we’re not telling them what they need,” Wanovich says. “We ask ‘What do you need and how can we help?’”
School supplies and uniforms are often in short supply, and when a fashion design teacher at the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus attended an in-home concert by Ken, she enlisted her students to create 30 school uniforms and donate them to the children of Guadalupana as part of a class project.
Giving back, Wanovich points out, is not just about donating money. “You can give time and talent,” he says. “Debbie and I feel happiest when things are flowing out from us. The more we give, the more we receive, and we just can’t give enough.”
Their latest venture, begun last February, is a collaborative effort to install solar panels on residents’ homes to provide a sustainable source of electricity. Keys 4 Life covers most of the costs, but families contribute a small portion to give them an ownership stake in the project. Initially, 10 families signed up, and another nine received solar panels last July. There’s now a waiting list of 20 families.
This month, after years of traveling from their Woodbury home to Mexico twice a year, Ken and Debbie moved to Isla Mujeres permanently. The move allows them to work year-round on improving the lives of Guadalupana’s residents, and they’ll be better positioned to field requests to get involved from volunteers coming down to vacation with a purpose.
For those who can’t make it to Mexico, the annual Keys 4 Life Fundraising Gala is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the cause. The event features live music from Ken Wanovich and a chance to win a private concert from the acoustic guitarist and singer.
“I always tell people that you don’t need to be a professional Christian to have a ministry,” Wanovich says. “There are needs all around you; as my dad used to say: ‘If you see something that needs to be done, do it.’”
The annual Keys 4 Life Fundraising Gala will be held on Saturday, December 2; it features a silent auction, three-course dinner, dancing and live music from the Ken Wanovich Band. Tickets start at $100. 6-10 p.m. Hotel Metro St. Paul East.
