PASTA LUEGO!

Dear Friends of TESSA:

We want to update you on TESSA’s Pasta in the Park, which was unfortunately cancelled August 16^th due to safety and weather concerns.  We, like many of those we spoke with that day, were very disappointed about the turn of weather and the resulting tent troubles that cancelled one of the most fun and meaningful Colorado Springs outdoor events of the season.  A HUGE thank you to all of our volunteers, vendors, sponsors and ticket holders for supporting our mission and helping to create a community free of domestic violence and sexual assault.

While we were disappointed in the event cancellation, now it is important to keep our eyes on the future and the many other activities that sustain TESSA’s programs to support survivors of family and sexual violence.   We are not rescheduling Pasta in the Park 2008, however, we are moving forward with some other creative opportunities to make a difference for the women and children we serve.

We hope that you might consider a PASTA LUEGO opportunity to support TESSA.

• Your Pasta in the Park “Cookbook” will be mailed the week of September 8, 2008.  The books will go to all sponsors, ticket holders and vendors who pre-paid to attend the 2008 event. So, if you’re still hungry for the Pasta experience this year – consider holding your own PASTA LUEGO COOK-OFF!
1. Invite a few friends, neighbors or co-workers to create cook-off teams. Divide up some of the Pasta in the Park Cookbook 2008 recipes for each team to follow and create your own mini pasta sauce cook-off at your home, business, book club meeting or church!
2. Use the ballot in the back of the Pasta 2008 Cookbook to cast your vote for the best sauce. Mail the ballot it to TESSA at 435 Gold Pass Heights, Colorado Springs, CO 80906. (If you would like to send a financial contribution  to TESSA along with your ballot, the donation would of course be 100% tax deductible.)
3. Winners will be announced on our website October 15th, at www.tessacs.org.
• EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN THE PASTA LUEGO ON-LINE AUCTION at www.rubberdollar.com
  Sept 23^nd, 6 a.m. to Sept. 29^th, 9 p.m.  Bid on more than 90 beautiful items donated by generous businesses to TESSA to help raise money for our mission. Easy to follow instructions will be posted on the website, and all proceeds will benefit TESSA.
• Sponsors and Vendors:  Our sponsors and vendors are so generous, and we want to say thank you to all of them.  Unfortunately, they did not get the exposure and recognition that they had planned to because of Pasta in the Park’s cancellation.   The entire month of October, our  website www.tessacs.org will list all of the sponsors and vendors and have a link to their website or other information.  Please support the businesses that support TESSA’s mission to help women and their children achieve safety and well-being while challenging communities to end sexual and family violence.
• Refunds available: If you prepaid a sponsorship or ticket price for Pasta in the Park August 16, 2008, please consider turning your support into a 100% tax deductible contribution to TESSA’s programs. If, however, you would like your money for the event participation refunded, we would be happy to do so. Please contact Staci or Shawna at TESSA at 719- 633-1462.

TESSA works hard year-round to give people and organizations the chance to support our mission.  Because we take our responsibility to help survivors seriously, and because generous donors have trusted TESSA’s work for more than 30 years, we have a small reserve fund that will help us to weather the loss of funds caused by the cancellation of Pasta in the Park 2008. (Talk about a “rainy day” if ever there was!) If you are able to assist TESSA with an additional contribution this season, we would be very grateful. 

Cancelling Pasta in the Park 2008 was a difficult but necessary decision. We appreciate your generosity and understanding – and here’s to a great Pasta in the Park 2009!

With Warmest Gratitude,
Michelle Valdez
Executive Director
TESSA
mvaldez@tessacs.org