EVENSBURG, Pennsylvania – In memory of Adam founder Debbie Fowler, board members and volunteers met Monday to celebrate the organization’s 23rd anniversary of the substance abuse education program by screening a new murder mystery film that is the organization’s fundraiser. Did.

Fowler, who founded the program after the death of his son Adam, believes the 23rd anniversary is an important milestone for nonprofits, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, so it’s important to celebrate the anniversary. said that he felt

“Many nonprofits don’t last 23 years,” she said. My understanding is that many nonprofits have not. … It’s time to come together and celebrate how well we’ve done things over the years and how many children we’ve had through our program. “

Fowler said the organization had to get creative during the pandemic. Just before the pandemic began, we began moving our Pledge Together program online with the help of Visual Element Media, which puts all the tools our students need at their fingertips.

She added that while the organization has hosted large-scale murder mystery fundraiser events in the past few years, it has not held an in-person murder mystery event for several years due to the pandemic.

When this year’s fundraiser was canceled, Fowler said the group decided to come together and put their heads together to create a virtual fundraiser.

“Murder at the Pour on Center” was filmed at the Pour on Center in Evensburg and features local actors and volunteers. Kimberly Hester is a friend of the Fowler family and has been volunteering at Fowler’s since returning home eight years ago.

Hester is a local theater teacher who writes and takes part in the filming of a murder mystery fundraiser every year. Knowing Fowlers, she said, makes her personally invested in remembering Adam’s mission.

“I thought this was a very positive message to get around,” said Hester.

For more information on this year’s virtual fundraiser, visit rememberingadam.org.

Katie Smolen is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow her on her Twitter @KSmolen1230.