Hello Friends,
Spring has arrived and it’s time to think about hope and renewal. As we look forward to a safer 2021, I want to thank you for your incredible generosity in supporting the work of HOPe - Helping Other People Foundation this past year. You help us continue to honor the promises we made to the children and families who still need our help. Together we can make a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable people.
We’re happy to report HOPe completed some important work in the Dominican Republic to make life a little easier for children living on the edge. We have a few special events in the planning stages to make 2021 memorable. While some of them will still be virtual, we are working with a corporate member to organize a socially distanced GOLF Classic in September. The Board also has a Special Appeal for general operating expenses underway. More information below. But first, here is a spotlight on our most recent.
Focus on Dominican Republic
Through your donations, HOPe has funded several education and construction projects in the Dominican Republic over the years. Although the country is a popular tourist destination in the Caribbean, poverty and inequality are major issues. This is especially true in the rural areas where HOPe works. Here local families live in substandard homes with limited access to healthcare and basic services.
Primary School in Los Coco, Puerta Plata gets the HOPe treatment.
In 2020 and 2021, HOPe donors funded the extension of a public elementary school in the village of Los Coco, located outside Puerto Plata. Residents of Los Coco are primarily Haitians and are not allowed citizenship and the social services that come with it. Families live in huts, and are vulnerable to recurrent flooding and droughts. Some local schools in the region are inadequate and in disrepair.
Long time HOPe members, Billy Sullivan and Paul Greene oversaw the construction of a multi-function hall in the main primary school which will serve as an auditorium, adult education center and student gathering area. The project also included the pouring of a concrete floor in the courtyard, an area that frequently floods and becomes too muddy to be used.
2013 – 2018. Previous projects included renovations to an orphanage in Cabia located on the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and building an extension to an elementary School in Cofembar, Puerta Plata.
Both projects involved construction of classrooms, sleeping quarters, bathrooms and procurement of school furniture and supplies. We’re happy to report that both facilities are in operation benefiting from HOPe’s support.
– Special Appeal –
A Special Appeal is underway to raise funds for general operating expenses of some key projects. Look out for a letter in your mailbox or email.
We work with community partners on the ground in all of the vulnerable areas we serve. They provide impact reports on an annual basis to gauge success. Some current HOPe Projects:
Honduras: Fund operation of a holistic care center that provides health care services to a local impoverished community, and outreach to remote areas.
Dominican Republic: Fund construction of multi-use schoolroom which will serve as an adult education center and student space.
Peru: Main funder for a three-story brick community center and community kitchen where children get healthy meals and mothers learn cooking skills.
Upcoming Events
– Virtual Concert. We are delighted to be in the planning stage of a Facebook Live concert with Joanie Madden, a champion flute and whistle player of Irish traditional music. She is best known as leader of the all-female group Cherish the Ladies. Stay tuned for more information.
– September Golf Outing. Corporate member Ralph Capria, CEO of A-V Services and his wife, Sylvia plan to hold a golf outing in September in New Jersey. HOPe is pleased to be the charity partner. We want every one of our guests attending to feel comfortable and safe throughout the day. Therefore, the golf committee working with guidance from the Country Club will create a format that will allow for greater social distancing. More information to come.
Thank you again for your most generous continued support for the children and families that we help. In many cases, they do not have anybody else to call on and we are their lifeline to survival.
You can also send a check to:
HOPe Charity at 941 McLean Ave, Suite 476 - Yonkers, NY 10704
On behalf of the HOPe Helping Other People Foundation Board,
we wish you a Happy Spring!
Attracta Lyndon, HOPe President