On February 9th HAF hosted a “Friend-raiser” at Marrakesh Palace in Washington, D.C. Over seventy people attended, including Moroccan Ambassador to the U.S., His Excellency Aziz Mekouar, embassy staff, former Peace Corps Volunteers, supporters, and new friends. The event celebrated HAF’s successful launch of its One Million Tree Initiative, marked by the planting of an initial 60,000 fruit tree saplings. The event also raised $1,000 emergency relief funds to assist people living in the villages of Amesgou – a community in the Eastern High Atlas Mountains that is suffering due to severe winter conditions. HAF coordinated with the local village association and used funds to purchase basic supplies to help the community survive the rest of this unusually harsh winter. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this special fund and who helped to make the evening so special.