Happehatchee is a Center
For Peace and Healing ~
A Park in the Heart of the Village
Under new Management in partnership with the Village of Estero
and the Bonita Springs WMCA. Please scroll down for an important letter from
Dr Genelle Grant on behalf of Happehatchee Center Inc.
Dream Come True!
February 2021
Dear Friends of Ellen Peterson and the Happehatchee Center,
In 2006, Ellen invited four friends to create the Board of Directors for a new, not-for-profit Happehatchee Center, Inc. Her goal, the reason for the organization, was to “protect the Land at 8791 Corkscrew Road.”
Fifteen years later we rejoice. The Land is now protected “in perpetuity” by the Village of Estero, also with an obligation to provide environmental education. The YMCA of Bonita Springs manages the facilities at 8791 Corkscrew, and they offer summer camps, environmental education, and Yoga classes.
The sacred Land at is now and forever connected to the forested acres around it. The area will become an environmental center and riverside park for public education and appreciation.
There are a few extraordinarily dedicated friends who stayed with Happehatchee through demanding times. The Happe Staff, Patty Hughes and Edric Braithwaite, carried the responsibilities and physical needs of the bookkeeping and facilities, respectively, for the last five years, and we deeply appreciate their loyalty. The Land chants Songs of Gratitude to Ruth King Fotovat, Mary Cline Golbitz, Marta Matias Sicajan, Holley Rauen, and Richard Shine. Through many years they supported Happehatchee and Ellen’s wishes; they gave blood, sweat, and tears to reach our goal.
The Land is Safe. Ellen can rest. The Happehatchee Center, Inc., her powerful legacy, will be a public treasure for years to come.
With Love and Gratitude,
Genelle
Genelle G. Grant, Ed.D.,
President, The Happehatchee Center, Inc.
Ellen’s Social Justice and Environmental Education Fund
The Happehatchee Center invited numerous organizations to apply for funds to support a Social Justice or Environmental Education Project in 2020. Qualified applicants proposed creative and relevant social justice and environmental education projects for children, youth, women, and indigenous peoples.
Congratulations to those organizations who have now received awards from Ellen’s Fund:
February 2021
Dear Friends of Ellen Peterson and the Happehatchee Center,
In 2006, Ellen invited four friends to create the Board of Directors for a new, not-for-profit Happehatchee Center, Inc. Her goal, the reason for the organization, was to “protect the Land at 8791 Corkscrew Road.”
Fifteen years later we rejoice. The Land is now protected “in perpetuity” by the Village of Estero, also with an obligation to provide environmental education. The YMCA of Bonita Springs manages the facilities at 8791 Corkscrew, and they offer summer camps, environmental education, and Yoga classes.
The sacred Land at is now and forever connected to the forested acres around it. The area will become an environmental center and riverside park for public education and appreciation.
There are a few extraordinarily dedicated friends who stayed with Happehatchee through demanding times. The Happe Staff, Patty Hughes and Edric Braithwaite, carried the responsibilities and physical needs of the bookkeeping and facilities, respectively, for the last five years, and we deeply appreciate their loyalty. The Land chants Songs of Gratitude to Ruth King Fotovat, Mary Cline Golbitz, Marta Matias Sicajan, Holley Rauen, and Richard Shine. Through many years they supported Happehatchee and Ellen’s wishes; they gave blood, sweat, and tears to reach our goal.
The Land is Safe. Ellen can rest. The Happehatchee Center, Inc., her powerful legacy, will be a public treasure for years to come.
With Love and Gratitude,
Genelle
Genelle G. Grant, Ed.D.,
President, The Happehatchee Center, Inc.
Ellen’s Social Justice and Environmental Education Fund
The Happehatchee Center invited numerous organizations to apply for funds to support a Social Justice or Environmental Education Project in 2020. Qualified applicants proposed creative and relevant social justice and environmental education projects for children, youth, women, and indigenous peoples.
Congratulations to those organizations who have now received awards from Ellen’s Fund:
- Quality Life Center, Fort Myers for “Don’t Sell Grandma’s House.”
- Gulf Coast Humane Society “GCHS Children’s Programs.”
- Sierra Club, Calusa Chapter partnering with the SWFL Pachamama Alliance for “Solar Installation Project in Lee County Schools.”
- Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers (UUCFM) for “Ellen Peterson Labyrinth.”
- UUCFM Social Justice Ministry for “Youth Involvement with Green Sanctuary Lighting Retrofit Project.”
- Guatemalan Rural Adult & Children’s Education (GRACE) Project for Human Trafficking Prevention and Reproductive Health Education in SWFL and Guatemala.”
- Special Needs School Jolom Konob in Huehuetenángo, Guatemala for “ Drinking water and two bathrooms.”
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- In addition to these initial grants given to the above organizations, Happehatchee Center awarded the following organizations and projects listed below with the rest of the funds that remained before Happehatchee Center Inc. dissolved their non-profit corporation 501C3 Status.
- SongFest, three-year underwriting, UUCFM/CUUPS, to create an annual self-sustaining Women’s Music Festival
- Camp Maya Cosmovision, UUCFM/GRACE Florida, two-year summer camp with Maya Scholars for local Maya youth
- GRACE Guatemala, Reproductive education workshops for teens, teachers, and midwives in rural Guatemala, two years
- Our Mother’s Home,two years trauma counseling,in Spanish, for teenage survivors of Human Trafficking and sexual
- abuse
- Quality Life Center, Dunbar, Ft. Myers
- Planned Parenthood, Fort Myers
- Gulf Coast Humane Society, Fort Myers
- OILE, Organización Internacional para Latinos en el Exterior: for Immigration, citizenship and women's health classes,North Fort Myers
- Fair Food Alliance, Immokalee; farmworker advocacy
- National Organization of Women, SWFL Chapter, Ellen Peterson Scholarship for Young Women In the Lee County School District
- Unity Development in SW Florida and Guatemala: for a Special education School in Huehuetenángo, GT and parents’ classes in SW Florida
- Indigenous Grandmothers- Center for Sacred Studies: for COVID assistance and sermons at UUCFM
Enjoy our Happe Slideshow!
We Remember and Honor Ellen Peterson, Our Beloved Founder.
Click here to see her page and slide show of her remarkable life.
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