05/08/2026
Buen día,
I am reaching out today with a follow-up request to support Yanarys and her family, by helping raise $600 to support her in acquiring a solar panel system, which will allow her to operate her cake and pastry business in a reliable and sustainable manner. This fundraiser has already raised $500 of the $1,100 goal! With the economic, political, and social situation in Cuba showing no signs of abating in the near future, solar panel and battery systems have proven to be a quick fix for many Cubans households and businesses, given the daily up to 20 hour energy blackouts.
Yanarys is Yannel’s older sister, and she lives in La Habana with her daughter, where she operates an at-home cake business. With very limited electricity, it is nearly impossible for her to sustain her business, since many of the ingredients and finished products rely on refrigeration.
On a personal note, I met Yanarys on my first trip to Cuba, where I stayed with her, Yannel, and their family in the hometown of my grandfather and the place where he met my grandmother and they were subsequently married before departing for the United States in the wake of the revolution. When Yanarys was just beginning her business, my mother-in-law prepared a care package full of cake making and decorating tools, as well as ingredients, which we delivered to her on two separate occasions! Yanarys is like a sister to us, and it has been amazing to see her business flourish as well as her daughter grow up over the years!!!
You can easily donate to this initiative via Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle.
Venmo: Anne-Prucha
PayPal:
Zelle: 407-446-7651
*Note for Money Transfer - “Friends and Family - Solar Panels”. Make sure to Avoid Using the word Cuba!!!”
Finally, it’s important to note that Anne Prucha was one of my Spanish professors while at UCF. Her colleague, Kacie Tartt was also one of my professors and is involved in this fundraiser!!!! Feel free to contact them directly for any questions: [email protected] & [email protected] (both cc’d in this email)
