Dear families,

This year marks over twenty-two years of work by your organization, Families of FANA.  From what began as a golf tournament of 20 very bad golfers in 1989, we have evolved into an organization raising nearly 1.2 million dollars for FANA!  We have a family picnic of over 600 attending and a full field of 144 plus golfers playing in our annual golf tournament and 300 people attending the dinner and auction event.   I always thought that the reason we were growing and improving so much was because of our very hard work—and in part that is true.  But as I told a friend about this year’s efforts, she very clearly defined the reason we are where we are today:  Because we have so many people who care. 

Our members care about the new families who hope to adopt through FANA.  We know that for every child available for adoption, there are hundreds of applications.  And we are so thankful that Mercedes and her staff so often choose to give one of our families to a precious FANA child. 

Our members also care about the facility of FANA.   Twenty-four years ago, FANA was housed in a busy commercial area of Bogota in two small, older homes.  Today, FANA is located in Suba, a suburb of Bogota with green space for the children to play in and a building of modern medical amenities assuring not only the best of care for the children but also a beautiful environment.  Through fundraising events throughout the world, this beautiful two million dollar facility of fully owned by the children of FANA.

Our members also care about the people of Colombia.  Through FANA’s many programs, the community surrounding our facility can participate in programs designed to strengthen the family.  They learn to budget their meager salary, they are taught basic skills and they are educated in how to function as a healthy family unit.  These programs are fully funded by our donations and receive no financial support from the Colombian government.

While our effort focuses on the children and people of Colombia, we also are citizens of this great country.  Through Families of FANA of Western New York, we have over the past years donated to local charities which serve the needs of children in Western New York. And we hope to continue to make our presence felt this year as well.

The upcoming year will be an exciting one for us and FANA.  It marks the 40^th anniversary of FANA and everyone is invited to attend the events to celebrate this important milestone!  We are fortunate to be able to continue to connect to our children’s first home, with so many of the same people who continue to serve at FANA—those same people who were probably present when your family was given to your child. 

This is a group who is so grateful for what we almost didn’t have—a family.  And we owe our boundless joy to FANA.  Please submit your donation using the donation link on this page to help continue our work for FANA.  This website is secure and you get your receipt immediately—what could be easier? 

If you would like changes made to your directory information, please logon to our member website - http://www.familiesoffana.org/private - and update your Personal Contact Information.

Please submit your donation no later than December 1, 2011!!

Thank you on behalf of all FANA children:  yours, mine and those who continue to live at FANA.

With love,