Taos’ Not Forgotten Outreach receives largest monetary donation to date

Not Forgotten Outreach in Taos has received a monetary gift from the William Penn Foundation through one of its board members, Andrew Haas.

The William Penn Foundation was founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas. While it is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the greater Philadelphia region, Not Forgotten Outreach (NFO) was awarded through Haas’ recommendation.

According to Don Peters II, NFO executive director, Haas wanted to help further his organization’s mission of providing recreational and therapeutic activities to military families.

“[We] were quite shocked to receive not only one check from the William Penn Foundation matching gift program from Andrew Haas, but also a second check from [its] special gifts program on [his] recommendation,” said Peters. Peters said the total amount given to NFO was more than $24,000.

Haas chose NFO as his directors’ discretionary gift for 2016, Peters said. He was not aware of how Haas knew of NFO.

“Mr. Haas is one of the thousands of people that care for military families,” said NFO founder Kym Sanchez. “We will forever be grateful and hope Mr. Haas joins us skiing at [Taos Ski Valley] in January.”

Peters said the funds represent the largest single monetary donation to the organization to date.

Sanchez said the funds would be used toward NFO’s annual Taos Ski Valley “outreach appreciation week,” which is scheduled for Jan. 17-22. Sanchez added that funds will also be used for the military family respite center remodel and the Taos Veterans Farming Project.

NFO is dedicated to military veterans and their families and Gold Star families of fallen heroes. NFO served more than 3,600 military families in 2016.

Contact Peters at don@notforgottenoutreach.org or (575) 224-1503.