THE FUTURE MINDS FOUNDATION STORY

Future Minds Foundation Panama was born as an initiative to improve the very special village of Puerto Piñas. The story begins in the early part of the nineteen hundreds, when the United Fruit Company bought the land with the intention of starting a pineapple plantation. Workers flocked to the area, and the village of Puerto Piña was born. Unfortunately, the plantation failed. The land was sold to Ray Smith, founder of Club de Pesca Panama – now known fondly the world over as Tropic Star Lodge. 

The fishing resort brought in some seasonal work for the people in the village, but other than that, there was no opportunity in the very remote corner of the earth. In the time since, Tropic Star Lodge has grown, and with it – so has the opportunity for the village.

The wellbeing of the people of Puerto Piñas was always a priority for Tropic Star, with Piñeros at the heart of the operation, and they have worked on many initiatives of their own over the years. In 2016, everything changed when the resort was purchased by a Panamanian businessman. His love and passion for his country, and its people, made a significant impact on the entire organization, inspiring everyone to think bigger and bolder. In 2020, the Piñas Bay Conservancy (PBC) was formed as an official Non-Governmental organization dedicated to safeguarding Puerto Piñas and its people, but with a reignited determination, the team behind the NGO asked “Why stop there?” 

Although the goals for Puerto Piñas are ambitious, the PBC team is set on achieving them, and believe that their work could form a blueprint for other rural communities throughout the country. That’s where Future Minds Foundation Panama comes in. Our purpose is to help PBC achieve these goals, and to set the plan of replicating efforts throughout Panamá in motion.