Panama hat mountain range. Hat weaving and wearing grew steadily in Ecuador through the 17th and 18th centuries. In 1835, Manuel Alfaro, a man who in many ways can be considered the grandfather of the Panama hat, arrived in Montecristi to make his name and fortune in Panama hats. He set up a Panama hat business with his main objective being exportation. Cargo ships from Guayaquil and Manta were filled with his merchandise and headed to the Gulf of Panama. His business prospered as more and more Gold Rush prospectors arrived and passed through Panama needing a hat for the sun. One
Hats Off for Cancer Hats Off for Cancer Hats Off for Cancer (HOC) is a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides support for children affected by cancer. The signature activity of the charity is to collect donated hats for distribution to children battling cancer—especially children with alopecia resulting from their treatment. The organization estimates that it has coordinated the distribution of over 1.5 million hats since 1996. The organization was founded in 1996 by Tara A. Lawrence, whose grandfather died from prostate cancer in 1992. Lawrence initially volunteered with the American Cancer Society, where she was exposed to children battling cancer who were