Friday, March 3 2006 marks a banner day for HELPS International and the ONIL Stove. It was a pleasure to have the First Lady of Guatemala do the honors at the ribbon cutting ceremony.  She was joined by Mr. Steve Miller, President of HELPS International, Mr. Don O'Neal, Director of ONIL Products and inventor of the ONIL stove, as well as by Mr. Juan Carlos Cheves, Executive Director of HELPS International in Guatemala and Mr. Richard Grinnell, Director of the ONIL Products Program in Guatemala.

The event also highlighted the participation of Guatemalan organizations supporting the HELPS program:

CEMENTOS PROGRESO who donates the supplies for stove production and provides technical assistance and support.

FUNDACION PANTALEON who donates funds to support all of HELPS operations in the country.

FUNDACION INFANTIL RONALD McDONALD who funds HELPS education and child welfare programs.

DISAGRO who funds HELPS operations and economic development programs

Many of the NGOs operating throughout the rural areas of Guatemala were present for the grand opening as well as for the demonstration and introduction of two new ONIL products, a Retained Heat Cooker and the water purification unit developed in response to Hurricane Stan.