When Limitless Horizons Ixil’s founder Katie Morrow left Chajul after visiting for the first time with co-founder Pedro Caba in 2004, her goal was to find 10 close friends who would pay for supplies and tuition to send 10 kids to school. One of those friends was Jimmy Cook.
When Katie reached out to Jimmy, it was an immediate and resounding “yes!”—he was interested in learning about Guatemala and Chajul’s culture and context, and he wanted to support education for indigenous girls. So he began sponsoring a student. Eymi was 12 years old at the time, the same age as his daughter, and he remembered thinking, “Wow, this is a great match.”
Over the years, Jimmy’s connection with Eymi and Limitless Horizons Ixil deepened. Jimmy and Eymi wrote letters back and forth while he began translating for the organization and went on to serve on the founding Board of Directors. Around every corner, it was a learning experience. “It was humbling to learn about Eymi and her family’s life, growing up in a very rural, isolated part of the world where food and health were the primary focus for survival. School wasn’t part of the equation, which is where Limitless Horizons Ixil came in.”
In 2010, as part of their honeymoon, Jimmy and his wife Lucero traveled to Guatemala to visit Limitless Horizons Ixil’s community center, meet Eymi, and get to know the community of Chajul. “It was during Eymi’s high school graduation, so the timing was perfect. We spent the day with Eymi, met her family, and celebrated with the community. It was a really powerful experience for my wife and me,” Jimmy shared. The visit further solidified their commitment to Limitless Horizons Ixil.
Eymi’s journey didn’t stop at her high school graduation—she went on to attend university and, this past year, Eymi earned her master’s degree. Reflecting on this achievement, Jimmy says, “It’s incredible. I had no plans for this to go beyond a school year when I started. But for a small amount of effort, the return on investment is huge.” He hopes others will join him in supporting Limitless Horizons Ixil. “Even a small donation can make a huge difference. For me, it’s about investing in something meaningful and seeing the impact. Plus, supporting Limitless Horizons Ixil just sparks joy for me.”
Jimmy’s belief in Limitless Horizons Ixil’s mission has only grown stronger over the years. “I’ve been supporting female students since the beginning, and Limitless Horizons Ixil’s focus on empowering girls and women is so important. They’ve learned how to move the needle in a country that has historically oppressed girls and women. Now you have LHI graduates, like Eymi, reinvesting in their community and serving as role models for other young women and men. That cycle is where a nonprofit really hits its stride.”
Twenty years ago, Limitless Horizons Ixil began with an annual budget of just $1,000 and the support of Jimmy and nine other donors. Since then, we have grown steadily in both programming and budget, culminating in the build of our middle school and now our beautiful new high school. It’s been donors and volunteers like Jimmy Cook who have made all the difference in our successful and steady growth. Jimmy’s journey with Limitless Horizons Ixil shows how our dedicated community of supporters who have backed us since the beginning have rippled across decades, creating opportunities and changing lives.
Looking ahead, Jimmy envisions continuing his support for the next 20 years and beyond. “As long as I have the capacity, I’ll continue supporting Limitless Horizons Ixil,” Jimmy says. “LHI represents what I hope our community would do for people lacking resources. It’s a privilege. Time and finances invested here don’t just grow—they transform lives. For me, it’s a no-brainer to support. It matches all my values.”