On May 9th, 2012 our 2nd Annual Denver, CO Fundraising Event for Friends of ENCA Farm, built on the success of last year's inaugural fundraiser. With 43 people in attendance we raised $2,187.22, a very substantial amount that will fund our seed campaign and other special projects at the farm next year. Vine Street Pub and Brewery at 17th and Vine, (just east of downtown Denver), provided a wonderful venue for the evening, offering delicious beer and food to our members and guests.

While the raffle, featuring Filipino handicrafts and Banti Civet Cat Coffee fresh from the Phillipines, was a huge success, the three guest speakers took center stage as the highlights of the evening. Former Colorado State Senator Andrew Romanoff spoke about the soon-to-open Greenhouse Project. Last spring, Friends of ENCA joined this exciting collaborative center for Denver-based international development organizations.

Event Guest excited to win Banti Civet Cat Coffee

Candice Orlando, Founder of UrbiCuluture Community Farms shared the ways in which this local community garden organization ensures that healthy, local food becomes available to everyone in Denver. Candice also discussed her project Arise, a documentary she and her mom wrote and directed that focuses on the many ways women from around the world lead the sustainable food revolution.

As a featured speaker at last year's event, Dana Miller returned to talk about Grow Local Colorado's important work of building edible gardens in Denver City Parks. Dana also revealed their newest local food movement, the Produce for Pantries Program, which connects local gardens to the nearest food pantry.

With these informative and thoughtful speakers, the excitement of the raffle, and the opportunity for the diverse group of attendees to interact and network with one another, our 2nd Annual Fundraiser made it clear that we are growing as an organization and that we are prepared for another energetic year at Friends of ENCA Farm.