FLORIDA COMMUNITY OF MINDFULNESS, INC.
TAMPA, FLORIDA

The Florida Community of Mindfulness (FCM) is a not-for-profit corporation recognized as tax-exempt under IRS code 501(c)(3). Founded in 2002 and headquartered at 6501 N. Nebraska Avenue, Tampa, FL, FCM serves as a nurturing environment dedicated to teaching meditation and mindful living inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings. The community provides a variety of practice opportunities designed to support practitioners' aspirations for mindfulness, compassion, and awakened living. FCM meets in its main Practice Center located on Nebraska Avenue in Tampa and holds sessions in additional locations such as Fort Myers, Marco Island, Naples, and St. Petersburg, FL. It includes both member-driven activities hosted by a volunteer Board of Directors along with various committees that support the community's programs. The organization also extends outreach through virtual groups reaching areas like Canada and Alaska. Established by Fred Eppsteiner, who received Dharma Transmission from Thich Nhat Hanh after decades of Buddhist practice, FCM was initially founded in a member's home in Naples, FL, before moving operations to Tampa. FCM maintains its mission through contributions that are tax-deductible and relies on the dedication of volunteers for leadership roles. FCM is actively engaged in building a residential hall named Great Cloud Refuge, scheduled for completion in late 2018 to enhance the capability for hosting frequent residential retreats. The organization encourages public participation at its weekly sanghas irrespective of membership status. The Florida Community of Mindfulness operates with transparency and community support under Florida's corporation regulation, reflected by its File Number N02000000177.