Fundacion Amigos de Boquete was founded in 2004 by Edy Tribaldos, Irene Hanes, Jack Bute, and Mary and Vernon Lloyd to provide better food to local school children. The Boquete area has a large, generally poor, indigenous population in which malnutrition is a problem. Amigos has found that when food is provided to a school, attendance often grows by over 30%.
The first two schools to which Amigos provided food were Palo Alto and Jaramillo Arriba. By 2006, the number of schools served by Amigos had increased to five with the addition of Estrella Ballis, Alto Quiel, and Jaramillo Abajo. In 2007, Volcancito and Palmira Arriba were added for a total of seven schools. In addition, during 2007 Amigos began providing food to the Medalla Milagrosa and Hogar Trisker orphanages, to Casa Esperanza, and to Buenos Vecinos which aids Boquete residents who are elderly or infirm.
During the 2007 school year, Amigos fed approximately 600 children a nutritious hot meal each school day.
In addition, during 2007 through the opening of the 2008 school year Amigos was engaged in the rehabilitation of six schools in the Boquete area: Volcancito, Jaramillo Arriba, Jaramillo Abajo, Palmira Arriba, and Alto Quiel. Club Rotario de Boquete had prepared an in-depth Report on the needs of the various schools in the Boquete area. Based on that Report, Amigos was able to use its funds to accomplish a number of the rehabilitations recommended. Projects included kitchen expansion and enhancement, bathroom and septic system repairs, and electrical repairs. In certain cases, roofs were repaired or built and concrete walkways were constructed.