Ataco Official Drops by to Personally Thank The Community of Fountain Hills for its Generosity......
Marielena Hernandez, Ataco’s first female County Supervisor, pays a visit to Fountain Hills. She has worked closely with former Ataco Mayor Oscar Gomez caring for the elderly in Ataco.
Fountain Hills Sister Cities’ Ataco Chairperson Byron Roman met up with her during the recent “Meals for Elders” food distribution campaign in Ataco. He invited her to stop over in Fountain Hills on her way to Los Angeles to visit her family which she graciously accepted.
The 2024-2025 Humanitarian Relief Campaign “Meals for Elders” organized by Fountain Hills Sister Cities raised $8000 for Ataco then hit by torrential rains and disastrous flooding. Generosity is a beacon of the Fountain Hills community and shone brightly as we came to the aid of one of our Sister Cities in its time of desperate need.
She was deeply moved by this outpouring of support and sought to repay our community’s kindness with sincere thanks and a renewal of the wonderful partnership we share as Sister Cities.
While Visiting Fountain Hills Marielena Hernandez Was Provided With a Special Treat......
As a special recognition for Marielena’s visit to Fountain Hills, Ataco Chairperson Byron Roman organized a dinner at his home to share a culinary tradition straight from El Salvador; a feast of Pupusas!
These thick, handmade tortillas are stuffed with cheese, beans, chicharrón, loroco, and other fillings, then cooked on a hot comal.
More than a meal, the pupusa is an edible emblem of Salvadoran culture. It connects modern city life with ancestral roots, linking families across generations and continents.
Master pupusa chef Ana Benavides was on hand to lead the process to a delicious outcome. You can read more about Ms. Benavides’ masterclass pupusa skills by reading this article from a 2024 fund raising event supporting the “Meals for Elders” Campaign.
The meal, the conversations, and the togetherness capped off a truly remarkable visit from Ataco’s Marielena Hernandez and reconfirmed just why we here at Fountain Hills Sister Cities treasure and adore the relationship we share with Ataco.
She expressed personal thanks for her time spent here in lovely Fountain Hills, and deep gratitude for all the hard work and fundraising done by Fountain Hills Sister Cities during the 2024-2025 humanitarian relief campaign supporting her beloved community of Ataco.
We sincerely hope she gets a chance in the future to once again come visit Fountain Hills.
