Friends & Family,
As some of you know, I'm going to be running another half marathon in just a few weeks. I've been training, but my dad-bod and I need your help. This will be the first year of (hopefully) an annual tradition wherein I choose a worthy charity for which I'll raise funds to give me the added motivation I need to get across the finish line.
This year, I've chosen the Guatemalan-Maya Center, a community-based non-profit that's been serving uprooted children and families in Palm Beach County for more than 30 years. Initially, their mission was to provide much-needed prenatal care for immigrant women, but today they've expanded their scope to include early education, health services, immigration advisory, family preservation, and general advocacy for Mayan and other underrepresented refugees. Many of these people, thanks to the Guatemalan-Maya Center, are able to work legally because of special agricultural work visas that they wouldn't have had access to otherwise, but even then, their pay is low, and language and cultural barriers make life difficult for the workers and their families.
A very close friend of my family, Fr. Frank O'Loughlin, founded the center in 1992, but began working with the Mayan immigrant workers long before that, and has essentially devoted his life to advocacy of the Mayan people and underrepresented and underappreciated immigrants generally. He's nothing short of a hero, in my eyes and in the eyes of the thousands of immigrants he's helped over the years. I'm very proud to call him my friend, and couldn't be happier to be supporting his life's work. Today, his organization serves more than 1,000 families from 28 countries, and each dollar donated goes a very long way.
I've started the fundraising effort off with a $1,310 donation ($100 for each mile I'll be running) and would be honored if you'd participate with me in what is a very worthy cause. Any amount is greatly appreciated.
With Sincere Gratitude,
Spencer
PS -- Below is a link to an article and video from a couple of months ago that goes into some of Frank's history, and helps to explain why he's, truly, an "icon" for South Florida's migrant communities.
https://www.wptv.com/news/hispanic-heritage/celebrating-father-frank-oloughlin-icon-for-south-floridas-migrant-communities
guidestar.org/profile/65-0355018