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A Message from N. Y. Nathiri, Executive Director
Dear Supporters of the annual ZORA! Festival and of the Historic Eatonville Community,
On January 7, 2021, the Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community, Inc. (P.E.C.) will kick off the 32nd Annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities (ZORA! Festival) by celebrating Zora Neale Hurston's 130 birthday. Although COVID-19 is preventing us from presenting our award-winning, nationally recognized event in the same traditional way, nonetheless our organization has created a wonderfully vital, month-long hybrid event, combining virtual and in-person programming designed to capture the attention and contemplation of our audience.
Please visit www.zorafestival.org for all the details.
Eatonville, Florida was incorporated in 1887 and is the hometown of literary icon Zora Neale Hurston, who has made the community known around the world as "the oldest incorporated (self-governing) African-American town in the U.S."
Eatonville has survived the atrocities of the Jim Crow era, and because of our organization's successful advocacy, over a 20-year struggle, we were able to STOP a “community-busting” road-widening project first approved by Orange County (Florida) in 1987. In addition, we led a decade-long effort to list an Eatonville Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.
2020 has been a wake-up call for all of us. COVID-19 has shown us that regardless of our past achievements, the future is not certain. That said, we realize that we must plan by providing our organization with "A Cushion," a 5-year fiscal contingency fund, dollars which will be an insurance policy to protect our pre-K - grade 12 education as well as our cultural heritage programs, which are key to preserving Historic Eatonville.
Now, we need your help. Your financial investment will make an immediate impact on the lives of our community. For example, your investment will support the on-going operations of the Excellence Without Excuses (E-WE) Community Computer Arts Lab and Learning Center. This facility serves as a resource hub for the community; a place centrally located and which provides after school academic support for elementary and middle school students as well as year-round internet access to children, the majority of whom do not have computers at home. The E-WE Lab is just one reason we are making this extraordinary appeal to our friends and supporters.
Our 1st Benchmark?
To raise $150,000 by December 31, 2020. With Your Support, we know we CAN!
The proceeds from this end-of-year campaign will help kick off the start of "The Cushion Campaign (T.C.C.)," our 12-month fundraising effort.
Our Overall Goal: $1.5M by December 31, 2021 -- To provide a 5-year (2020 - 2024) cushion for P.E.C. operations.
We greatly appreciate any investment you make, and your gift is fully tax-deductible. Names of those donating $100 or more will be listed on our digital Honor Wall and photos will be included for those contributing $1000 or more.
Learn more about P.E.C. at preserveeatonville.org.
Thank you for your generous help and support. Click below to give.
DONATE NOW
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