Primavera Annual Report FY 2006 - 2007

“Don’t spit in the soup,

we all got to eat.

--Lyndon Baines Johnson

Dear Primavera Community,

The Primavera Foundation had an excellent year-if you measure success by providing services and programs to those in need, balancing the budget, responding to community needs, advocating for social justice, giving opportunity, and providing hope.

Other society measurements were not so successful, such as the widening gap between the “Haves” and the “Have-Not’s”, or how greed can spoil the future for so many. These conditions explain the use of LBJ’s quotation, which reminds us of our shared community needs and responsibilities. He speaks of human issues that we, as a community, need to resolve together for our own mutual benefit. What happened to those shared values? Rather than assuring that everyone has their share of soup, 2007 was typified by…

The greed of a few in the real estate, mortgaging, banking, and investment industries led to a housing crash. Some families will lose their homes and become homeless. Investors will lose money. Homes will decline in value, so owners lose equity. Jobs have been lost.

Short-term business decisions were made motivated by bonuses and wealth for a few, but putting others at risk. Already wealthy corporate executives got millions in bonuses if they were right, or millions in separation packages if they were wrong and got fired. Meanwhile, their former employees got laid off and their investors and firms lost money.

Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan continue. Heroic men and women answered the call of duty. Whether you support or you oppose the war, we all need to recognize that the experiences endured by those now fighting create physical and mental problems which, in previous wars, have resulted in a high level of homelessness among veterans.

You and I cannot change all of these conditions for the better. We can, however, change the lives for some in our community through direct service and action. This newsletter reports many examples of what the Primavera Community, made up of volunteers, staff, donors, governmental agencies, businesses, and foundations, is doing to meet our shared community needs.

As we begin 2008, with all of the challenges it will bring, we are thankful for our new partners, our dedicated staff, our volunteers, and our donors. We are especially thankful for the homeless members of our community who struggle daily to survive and to succeed.

Let us all eat the soup, together.

Love and Peace,

Leslie L. Hunter

President of the Board of Directors