MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – Despite its natural beauty, the Caribbean faces challenges in education, community development and environmental preservation. One organization is dedicated to addressing those challenges and partners with many of its visitors in an effort to give back.
The Sandals Foundation, the non-profit arm of Sandals Resorts International, is celebrating its sixth anniversary with the launch of a six-week online fundraising campaign to recognize the years of making a difference. Celebrating 6 Years Together speaks to the partnerships that drive the Sandals Foundation and its efforts to make a positive impact in the Caribbean, where approximately 12.9 million Americans visited in 2014.
Sandals Foundation, the brainchild of Adam Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of Sandals Resorts International, the Caribbean’s leading all-inclusive resort company, is the culmination of over 30 years of giving back and undertakes projects in Education, Community and Environment.
To date, Sandals Foundation has provided educational and infrastructural support for 98 schools in the Caribbean, provided free healthcare for over 190,000 people and facilitated the Pack for a Purpose programme where guests staying at any Sandals or Beaches resort can pack five pounds of school supplies for local distribution. By 2014, over 144,000 books were donated to schools.
“Together, we make a difference and together, we are making a difference,” said Heidi Clarke, Director of Programmes for the Sandals Foundation. “These words speak to our partnership with our guests to have a meaningful impact on the Caribbean, where promise and positivity exists. The results we have seen would not have been possible without our guests believing in us. Giving back through the Sandals Foundation means you play a role in providing education, facilitating development and preserving our natural environment.”
Throughout 2015, the Sandals Foundation will focus on marine conservation, which includes establishing coral nurseries; the Game Changer Programme in partnership with Dwyane Wade and Wade’s World Foundation – a youth development through sports initiative; and their partnership with Great Shape, Inc., which has led humanitarian dental, eye care and literacy projects in the region.
“We are extremely grateful for the donations over the years and we’re inviting as many people as possible to celebrate with us by making a $6 donation online,” Clarke said. “One hundred per cent of donations go into programs benefitting the Caribbean.”
To donate, visit sandalsfoundation.org.
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