$80 might seem a measly amount to some people but for those of us who live here, earn Dominican wages and have residency but not citizenship, it is a lot of money when we have been used to going for $1. The foreigners visiting with us, without residency, have paid the $11 referred to above on the past few visits, plus the usual "incentives" to speed up the process.
It would certainly make me think twice about whether I could go, or not. The children will also suffer! Whilst people who have already visited might be willing to send in their donations with Dominican family or friends who don't have to pay, the way to really get people committed to helping on a long term basis is by taking them to meet the children, to see how their hard earned donations are being used, etc. Then they go back home and work hard to get support so that they can continue helping. I think it is very short sighted, but we all know about that.