And a good time was had by all....

The event was a success, and I would like to thank everyone who helped, especially my wonderful wife and our good friend Flora.  View the pictures here!

So, let me explain…

Yes, February 20th is my birthday and yes I turn fifty on that day! Yes, it’s the big 5–0! So, I’ve had a birthday party on my mind for the last two years: “You only turn fifty once!”, “Any reason for a party!”, and my favorite, “At fifty, you’re half way there!” With that being said, it had to be fun! It needed to be a bit different from most parties and perhaps a bit on the edge… A toga party it is!

The more I thought about it, the larger it got, in my mind at least. And then one day it hit me: “Wow, if we can all come together and have a great time and if we pay an entrance fee, maybe some of the suppliers reduce their costs, perhaps we find a few sponsors along the way, we can raise a substantial amount of money for local charities. And everyone will have a great time doing it!”

Personally, I love this concept! I liked the idea so much that I put together an entity called Peninsula Strong, Inc., a non-profit organization made up of volunteers who wanted to give back to their community. The motivation behind Peninsula Strong events is to put together fun events, raise some money, and give the funds to local charities. Our long range goal is to spotlight different local charities with upcoming events throughout the years to come. Our tag line of “Having Fun and Doing Good” basically says it all!

So, the toga party, now called TogaFest, has come together nicely. A lot of great people have put in a lot of time and effort and I am very thankful for that! Most of the details have been ironed out, but we still need one more thing: YOU! Come and celebrate with us! Come have fun and help strengthen the charities for this event: the American Red Cross, Youth Challenge and Trinity Lutheran School!

I look forward to seeing you then, hopefully in your toga!

Michael F. Carpenter