In Bedford, Pennsylvania \u2014 a rural town of roughly 3,000 people \u2014 global issues can feel far away. But each year, the Bedford International Celebration shows how a shared sense of purpose can bridge that distance. Longtime FINCA supporter Alyson Dehmcke took the helm of this year\u2019s event, raising $8,000 for FINCA and demonstrating what\u2019s possible when people come together around the belief that opportunity should not be limited by geography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An adult literacy teacher and devoted advocate, Alyson has spent years getting her community involved in FINCA\u2019s mission to expand economic inclusion worldwide. Guided by her conviction that \u201cwe\u2019re just one planet and people need help everywhere,\u201d she has turned a local gathering into a celebration with global reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At its heart, the Bedford International Celebration is about connection. Neighbors not only attend but actively take part \u2014 contributing dishes, organizing activities, and pitching in wherever needed. This year\u2019s event captured their cooperative spirit in every detail, from food representing two dozen countries to live performances by local artists, creating an atmosphere of joy, appreciation, and awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The annual event is a true collective effort and a fun, hands-on approach to supporting FINCA. Alyson worked alongside close friends and community members to bring it all together. Melvina Elizmerli assisted with planning and decorating; Karen Choan and Connie Way kept things running smoothly throughout the evening; and Alyson\u2019s daughter, Bryn Keller, generously provided the event space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FINCA believes that people everywhere can play a role in building a more equitable global future. Bedford is part of a growing network of communities working toward the same goal of expanding opportunity far beyond their towns. \u201cWhat draws me to this work is how universal it feels,\u201d Alyson says. \u201cA steady income, the ability to invest in our children\u2019s education, and a sense of security in our daily lives are what we\u2019re all striving for \u2014 and that\u2019s something we have in common with FINCA\u2019s customers around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At FINCA, we are immensely grateful to our donor community for showing up with so much passion and creativity. The Bedford International Celebration reminds us that meaningful change often begins close to home, with people like Alyson and her neighbors. Their dedication inspires our work and helps create lasting change for the people and families we serve.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Each year, the Bedford International Celebration demonstrates what\u2019s possible when a community comes together to create change. Read more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":383,"featured_media":67277,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[151],"tags":[159],"class_list":["post-67274","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-en-ca","tag-donor-stories"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n