Fundacion Patria is making reality the new north coast slogan of ?window open to
the sea and door open to the community?. The non-profit organization began in
2001 when Riu Merengue general manager Ramon Ripoll Santana went on a touristic
outback trip that took him to visit a small rural school where he noticed a
notebook that had the name of one child on one side, and by turning the notebook
around, it became the notebook of another child. Tears came to his eyes when he
found out the notebook was shared by two brothers that could not afford two
notebooks. This motivated him to begin a drive to secure school supplies for
Puerto Plata students and schools. The enthusiasm for the drive he has found
among fellow hoteliers in Puerto Plata, including Roberto Casoni, Mario Mattana,
Carolina Berges and others has led to major accomplishments such as improving
the buildings of the schools themselves and holding summer camp activities.
Public school children and rural school children are bussed for a day to Puerto
Plata resorts and attractions, such as Ocean World Park, so they can get an
early insight into what could be a future career. The effort helps channel
tourism good will.Fundacion
Patria is proud of his achievements so far ? 9,628 children received school
supplies, and three new schools were built. Tourists can donate funds or bring
school supplies for distribution. The slogan for Fundaci?n Patria is ?help us
help.?
For more information, see
http://www.fundapatria.com
or email info@fundapatria.com or
call Tel. (809) 261-2033