Ambassador Eaton Remarks at the 2nd Annual Gala of Stars

January 18, 2008

It is my pleasure to welcome you here tonight to celebrate the 2nd Annual Gala of Stars.  Panama shares much with the United States, including its national pastime of baseball.  Baseball in its purest form is a democratic game.  Everyone fields, everyone bats, and to succeed, everyone must work together as a team.

Even though some of us here tonight may not play baseball, we are all here as members of the team of a very special team --  the team of Omar and Sandra Moreno.  Their foundation, the Omar Moreno Foundation, provides opportunities for a better life to Panama’s young people through the transformative power of baseball.  The Omar Moreno Foundatoin  works with children of all social classes free of charge, but most of their nearly 400 kids come from challenging neighborhoods like Chorillo, Santa Ana, San Felipe, and Curundu in Panama City, and Omar’s home town of  Puerto Armuelles.  Many of these children and their parents count on the Foundation for a safe space in which to learn, play, and grow;  get a nutritious meal;  benefit from counseling, guidance and positive role models; learn important life skills like discipline, fair play, teamwork and strong moral values.  But most of all, the Omar Moreno Foundation gives these young people hope.  Hope that they can achieve their potential not only in baseball, but also in life.  Sandra and Omar, we honor you tonight for your service, your vision and your leadership.  You are not only role models for Panama’s youth.  You are role models for all of us, too.  That’s why we’re all so proud to be part of your team.

We also honor tonight all those who make this work possible through their support.  While the U.S. Embassy and Instituto Panameño de Tourismo (IPAT) provide important support for the Foundation, governments cannot do it alone.  The private sector plays a vital role through public-private partnerships.  I’d like to recognize those socially responsible companies that are giving back to their community by supporting the foundation.  In particular, I would like to thank:

Panama Ports
AES Panama
Banco General
TVN/TV MAX
EPASA
The Hotel Miramar Intercontinental
Global Brands
Panafoto
Club de Golf de Panamá
Adidas/Taylor Made
Bavarian Motors Panama
American Airlines
Pan Am Generator
and Major League Baseball

I would also like to recognize all the civic organizations like the Lions Club of Panama, the individuals, like yourselves, and the parents who support the foundation each and every day in a variety of ways.

It is an honor to have so many international, U.S., and Panamanian stars from sports and the arts here supporting the Foundation.  Thank you for all that you do to improve the lives of children in Panama and around the world.  I’d also like to thank my countrymen here tonight who may not speak Spanish.

For those of you who do not speak Spanish, I want to let you know what an honor it is to have you here in my residence.  We share not only affection and respect for Omar and Sandra Moreno, but also a commitment to Panama’s youth.  You all are goodwill Ambassadors, spreading hope and joy by coming to Panama to support this worthy cause.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

In less than a week, a ten-year-old boy from Puerto Armuelles of humble origins by the name of Michael Ibarra will get a life changing operation.  Michael is a good pitcher with an atrophied left arm, the result of a childhood accident.  Foreign doctors recommended amputating his arm.  Michael’s parents then turned to us to see if we could save his arm and his dream of a professional baseball career.  I went with Michael to the U.S. Hospital Ship Comfort last June when it visited Panama.  Although doctors on the Comfort could not perform the operation, they were convinced that Michael’s arm could be saved.

So were three Panamanian doctors, Dr. Luis Picard-Ami, Dr. Heraclio Barria, y Dra. Lolita Pinilla, who have stepped forward to volunteer their services to perform this operation next week at Punta Pacifica Hospital.  These heroic Panamanian doctors, who are donating their services, will help give Michael the chance to fulfill his dreams.  Let’s have a round of applause for Drs. Picard-Ami, Barria and Pinilla.  Thank you.

Sandra and Omar, congratulations on all that you have achieved.  We hope to see your foundation and its supporters continue to grow.  As the ’79 comeback Pirates taught us, “We are Family!”  Our two nations, our two peoples, are united (Estamos Unidos).  Estamos Unidos por la juventud panameña.

Thank you.