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Important dates!

 from

Edwin Rivera A celebration of family, friends, life, community and love! 

A year to remember!

During this year a chapter ended in my career. I left HealthNet, a place where I had the fortune of meeting many peoplethat are now like my family. I am so grateful for theopportunity that I had to work with a marvelous team of people. They were not only very dedicated professionals, butalso people with a heart of gold. I learned so much from themand I am lucky to call them my friends. Thank you all!

New PresidentJanuary 20

Washington DC

receives President

Obama, and I am

planning to attend!

Madeleine is 15February 4

Believe it or not,

my older daughter 

is turning 15 in

February!

Emmeleine is 13May 12

That day I

officially become a

parent of two

teenagers!

H A P P Y N E W Y E A R 2 0 0 9

2008Another year goes by... I am so

glad that you are part of my life

today. As many of you are aware

this was a really interesting and

historic year.

My personal journey was filled with

many exciting things, the highlight

 being my participation in a historicPresidential campaign, that brought

me into many places and helped me

get to know so many wonderful

people!

I decided to create a different kind of 

holiday letter this year summarizing

2008 and giving you a “peek” of what

awaits me in 2009!

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 THE RIVERAS HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

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Presidential CampaignDuring 2008 I had the honor and privilege of 

working in the Obama Presidential campaign.

The best Democrat candidateAs many of you know I am a big admirer of Hillary

Clinton and supported her during the primary. When

my candidate did not win the majority of delegates, I

supported Barrack Obama, who I think will be one of 

the best presidents in history. I was able to work on his

campaign and it was an incredible experience!

During the Presidential campaign I was able to work with many people here in California as well asvolunteers in Nevada and Colorado during theDemocratic National Convention.

That was an experience of a lifetime. Being able to see

and listen to Barack Obama accept the Democratic

Nomination brought tears to my eyes, it gave me hope,

and it encouraged me to give more of myself to my

community.

I have always liked politics, although I have never been

as involved in politics as I was this past year. On one

side, the winning presidential campaign and on the

other, a ballot initiative that my side lost, a loss that

have ignited an important discussion on civil rights for 

all Californians. The now famous Proposition 8.

It seems like I will continue to be involved somehow,

as I believe that there are so many things I could do to

help advance the causes that I believe in… I will be

officially running to become a DNC delegate next year!

A great experience…

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 THE RIVERAS HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

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Reconnecting with friends and contributing to mycommunity

The year 2008 was also special because I was

able to reconnect with so many of my friends

whom I had lost contact with because of 

distance. I thank God for social networks like

Facebook, that contribute to close the gap that

distance creates. This year my childhood

phrase: “Summer cannot dry true friendship”  

 became very true… as many Summers have

passed, and those friends are still there!!!

I was also very lucky to do some community

work as I continue to serve in Board of 

Directors of The Wall las Memorias Project,

here in Los Angeles. As many of you know, for 

many years I have been an advocate to end HIV

and AIDS, and my role with “The Wall” has

helped me to help my community and try to

educate people about this sad disease.

This year I had the privilege of being elected

Chair of the Board of Directors. I am so proud

to work with so many dedicated individuals on

the Board and a staff that deserves kudos for the

magnificent work that they do. I am looking

forward to continue the work with organization

for the coming year, and contributing my

“granito de arena” (little grain of sand) to

educate and move people to action against that

terrible disease. Hopefully some day we will say

that AIDS is a disease of the past!

My other “son”

This is my other baby Max who turned 3 on New

Year’s Eve

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 THE RIVERAS HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

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My Princesses

Madeleine (Maddie)

Maddie will be 15 on February 4, she is currently in the

9th grade and enjoys dancing, which she has been doing

since she is 2 years old! She loves the arts and this year 

participated in a couple of plays at church and school.

Emmeleine (Emmie)Emmeleine will be 13 on May 12, she is in the 7th grade

and also enjoys dancing. She is quite the daredevil and

enjoys gymnastics and is in a few Pep and Cheer teams,

where she competes regionally and nationally.

Family vacation 2008This year we were able to do some travel. We visited

our family in Florida and Puerto Rico, and enjoyed

good times, good food, family and friends.

In Florida we visited the Disney Parks thanks to our 

friend Tomas! Thanks for the treat Tomas!

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