ThankyouforsupportingEPFin2024!
ImagineIt!Gala
Over75peopleattendedtheevent onDecember11 TheKeynote Speaker,Dr LeticiaThomas, deliveredaninsightfulmessage aboutPanamaniancultureandthe needsofitspeople.GrupoMambos energizedthecrowdwiththeir livelysalsamusic,keepingeveryoneonthedancefloor Cynthia Westwonthepopular60/40raffle andgenerouslydonatedthe$220 prizebacktoEPF Manyattendees walkedawaywithexceptional itemsfromtheSilentAuction, includingbeautifullycrafted clothing,Nativebaskets,jewelry, art,andmore Afantastictimewas hadbyall!
BIGTICKETraisedthebaronthe Raffleevent;$50ticketsforthe possibilityofwinning$2000 Not abadspend Winnershappily enjoyedgettingtheirnumbers calledbytheRandomNumber GeneratorApp Thewinners
BigTicket
Linda & Ruth
Big Ticket Grand Prize Winner
VolunteerSpotlight
2024volunteeroftheyear MARCTIMMONS
Manyofourfriendsoffertheirassistanceat events Theyselflesslygivetheirtimeto helpmakesurethingsrunsmoothly Sometimeswecallonvolunteerstohelp withextrathings,likemovingfurnitureor goodsintoourstoragefacilities.
In2024MarcTimmonsmovedmountainsof thingsfromthestoragetotheGarageSale thenhelpedmoveawasher/dryerunitinto ourstorage
Wenowhaveagrowinglistofcommitted volunteers Thankyouallforeverythingyou dotohelp Wearetrulygratefulforkind andgivingpeoplelikeyourselves
Founders’Corner
Although2024wasachallengingyear,yetwe remainoptimisticandexcitedaboutEPFandwhat weseearoundthecorner 2025willbeatransition yearforus Wedon’thavethefullpictureyet,but weknowforcertaintherewillbemajorandminor changestohowweoperateandwhatwe accomplish OurinvestmentinEPFishuge,in termsoftimeandenergy Ourgoalistocontinue buildinganorganizationPanamácanbeproudof andsupport Seeingourfamiliesimprovetheir conditionsisuppermostinourmindsandhearts Evenminorstepsareimportant
Duringthe4thquarterof2024,theEPFBoard engagedinstrategicplanning Ourgoalsfor2025 include:
1.Providescholarshipsforatleast3womentotake partina3-monthsewingtrainingofferedby Tejidos.
2 Identifyacapableleadertorestartthetraining programwithregularclassesofourcurriculum
ValuedPartners
Wehavebeenfortunatetogetnewlycommittedpartnerstojoinourquesttoelevatethe standardoflivingoftheneediestPanamanian families.Wearegratefultoyouforthefinancial supportyouareproviding,eithermonthlyor yearly
Inadditiontothesepartnerships,we appreciatetheaudio/visualservicesprovided foroureventeachyear.Wewelcomesupport fromanyonewishingtodoaneventwhich benefitsEPF
Dennis&PatriciaDoss KarenLott Celso&MariaWhite Wendell&OyaTownsley Jax&DyanOneil Charito&GilbertoPeren SandraLautenschlager.
3 Implementaminimumof3successfulfundraising eventstosecureourabilitytobuylandoncewehave ourRUCnumberandasuitablebuildingsite
4.Developablueprintoftherules/regulations/ expectationsforfamilieslivinginFenix Communities.
5 Securecommitmentfromprofessionalswhowill takeconstructionoftheFenixCommunityhousing fromstarttofinish
What are we planning for 2025?
One of our new Partners, Sandra Lautenschlager of Thursday Market fame, is lending her expertise for an Art Show featuring 12 or so local artists Event will have taken place by the time this newsletter is published The door proceeds will go to EPF We expect great attendance from all the art lovers in the area
Foremost on the agenda for 2025 is finding that piece of land for the first Fenix Community Although we have looked at several possibilities, nothing has really proven to be the ideal location and price for us yet The search continues with the help of Tom Larroquette
We are expecting to have the much awaited RUC number issued to us very soon Once we have that piece in place, we will be able to accomplish so much more in Panamá
EPF’s very successful Garage Sale which took place last summer will be just as important to the community this
year. The storage units continue to receive goods from donors and we are already starting the sorting and pricing process pricing process Look for this event’s announcement soon We will keep you posted
BIG TICKET may be coming back soon. It may be updated with more prizes. It generated a lot of excitement among those who like a little bit of gambling in their lives
It’s time for a change for our annual December event We are already thinking about what to do and how to do it. Regardless of what we end up with, it will be a great opportunity to have fun while helping support our very necessary cause Remember, your support will be financing the Fenix Communities of the future as well as providing necessary funding for training and subsequent stipends to the graduates.
Thank you for reading!
