Supporting Children and Families in Puno, Peru
Supporting Children and Families in Puno, Peru
The Mary Bloom Center provides education, health support, and community care to children in one of the poorest regions of the Western Hemisphere. Through consistent support, the Center helps children remain in school, grow academically, and experience hope for their future.
The Mary Bloom Center is a legally recognized Peruvian nonprofit foundation based in Puno, Peru. The Mary Bloom Center Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the United States, officially approved in February 2025.
Founded in 1994 by Father Philip Bloom, the center was established to provide medical care, education, and related services to the people of Puno. Working alongside Canadian missionaries Denis and Liane Bruneau and Peruvian obstetrician Luz Marina Marron, the center grew out of early efforts to offer marriage and family classes to couples and young adults. In response to the needs of the community, this work developed into a medical and educational center that continues to serve the people of Puno today.
Today, the Mary Bloom Center provides medicine, treatment, supplies, food, educational materials, toys, programs, and more in direct response to the needs of the people it serves. The center works closely with the Vincentian Sisters (Daughters of Charity), supporting their orphanage and school and assisting with building and operational needs.
Medical care and education are carried out through the dedicated work of Dr. Luz Marina Marron, who oversees daily operations, and Dr. Ana Cotacallapa, who serves both patients at the center and in surrounding rural communities.
The Mary Bloom Center also contributes to education through regular class offerings and the Major Robert Lindenau Tutoring Program, which provides support for secondary students. The program also offers a small stipend and a meal to local college students who serve as tutors.
Supported by a board of advisors and donors in the United States, the Mary Bloom Center continues its mission of service, providing medical care, education, and essential support to the people of Puno.