Sandals Foundation- Working for the good of the Caribbean

[JenniferSS]

This is one of the many reasons that as a professional TA, I support Sandals resorts! Mr Stewart and his family have quietly been doing charitable works for over 30 yrs!

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SANDALS RESORTS INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES CREATION OF PHILANTHROPIC ARM, THE SANDALS FOUNDATION

~Caribbean’s Leading Resort Company Establishes Organization Aimed at Bettering the Region through Community, Educational and Environmental Outreach~

 

Adam Stewart, CEO of Sandals Resorts International Announces Creation of The Sandals Foundation on Sandals Cay on March 18th

 

On the evening of March 18, 2009 at Adam Stewart, CEO of Sandals Resorts International (SRI), Chairman, Hon. Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, announced the creation of The Sandals Foundation, the Caribbean resort company’s official philanthropic arm. The newly established organization will aim to unite the region under one common goal: to elevate its people and protect its delicate ecosystem.

 

Distinguished guests, including Prime Minister Bruce Golding; Anita Stewart, Vice President of Corporate Sponsorship for Sesame Workshop; Gerard J. Arpey, Chairman of American Airlines; and local dignitaries were on hand for the official announcement.

 

Supporters of The Sandals Foundation – including Yellowbird Foundation and Flankers Peace and Justice Center – also presented generous donations to the cause during the ceremony. After receiving the CA$50,000 donation from Yellowbird Foundation – the largest donation given to The Sandals Foundation thus far – CEO Adam Stewart announced that it will contribute to building Jamaica’s first environmentally-friendly school designed specifically to Green Globe Certification standards at the Culloden Early Childhood Institution in Westmoreland.

 

According to Adam Stewart, the work of the Foundation is both a mission and passion for his family. “It is my great pleasure to put a formal and transparent face on the work my father [sRI founder and chairman Gordon “Butch” Stewart] began more than thirty years ago: to make the Caribbean a better place for the people who live and work here,” Stewart said. “We are the Caribbean. As my father taught me long ago, we have the means, and therefore the responsibility, to act.”

 

 

Sandals Resorts International Founder and Chairman Hon. Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart presents a cheque for JA$500,000 on behalf of the newly launched Sandals Foundation to Marilyn Nash of Flankers Peace and Justice Center

 

The Sandals Foundation seeks to harness the resources, talents, partnerships and awareness behind the Sandals Resorts brand to tackle a myriad of issues affecting the Caribbean under three broad headings: 1). community, 2). education and 3). environment.

 

The Sandals Foundation is led by Adam Stewart, as well as a board of directors comprised of top SRI executives, who have been selected for their commitment to the Foundation’s mission, their range of experience, as well as their personal life experiences. According to Adam Stewart, the Foundation will make a real difference in the Caribbean through “changing lives, shaping futures and lifting spirits” and will enable SRI to significantly increase its financial commitment to people and communities most in need from the current US$11 million (per year) by 2011.

 

Citing that education “provides the best opportunity for individuals as well as nations to improve their lot,” Adam Stewart emphasized that this will continue be a cornerstone of the Foundation’s work. All SRI resorts across the Caribbean are required to adopt schools and, in some cases, entire communities to ensure that the message of health, safety, environmental concern and opportunity is filtered throughout. From procuring new computer labs and building additional classrooms, to funding scholarships for top performing students and hosting career days, resort staff members continually share their resources with the Caribbean’s youth. Under the Foundation, mentorship programs will also be expanded and fostered further to encourage and nurture the success of local residents.

 

Healthcare and empowerment are also top community priorities for The Sandals Foundation. The company sponsors several health clinics to help ensure that all members of the community have access to proper healthcare. Each year, the company supports the international humanitarian group, “Great Shape 1000 Smiles Project,” that provides communities in Jamaica with free dental care. Through this backing, more than thirty dental professionals from the U.S. provide a range of complimentary services including cleanings, fillings and sealants at temporary dental clinics.

 

Education programs aimed at healthy living are also part of the Foundation’s work including HIV/AIDS awareness, senior citizen wellness and youth arts and sports programs. Hospitality training programs for resident citizens and agricultural partnerships with local farmers are among the empowerment programs that teach lifelong skills and provide economic opportunity.

 

The final component to the Foundation’s mission is the environment and here, Sandals Resorts has a long tradition of protecting the region it calls home. Today, all Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts are certified by Green Globe– the worldwide benchmarking and certification program for sustainable travel and tourism. This was achieved in concert with the local community where SRI, and now The Sandals Foundation, work tirelessly to restore, clean and maintain the region’s delicate coral reef; educate fishermen on environmentally-friendly fishing practices; and regularly conduct beach clean-ups and tree-planting programs.

 

In December 2008, Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa became the world’s first and sole recipient of the inaugural Green Globe Platinum Certification Award. Green Globe recognized that Sandals Negril, which was also the first all-inclusive resort to earn Green Globe Certification, had reached an entirely new level of achievement in its sustainable tourism practices. Green Globe Certified Platinum acknowledges Sandals Negril’s continuous certification under the Green Globe Company Standard for the past ten years. Among the resort’s most notable achievements, as outlined in a recent Onsite Certification Audit, are the preservation of local flora and fauna; housekeeping staff expertly trained on the latest environmental practices; eco-friendly signage and postings located throughout the resort; and an onsite Green Team that executes activities such as beach and coral reef cleanups.

 

 

Anita Stewart, Vice President of Corporate Sponsorship for Sesame Workshop and long-time partner of Sandals Resorts International SRI brand partners, some of the best known names in their respective fields, such as Sesame Workshop, have joined with The Sandals Foundation to expand its impact. Throughout the year, the Sesame Street characters, who have been delighting Beaches Resorts guests for more than four years, journey into local communities to participate in anti-litter campaigns, teach children about road safety awareness, deliver holiday gifts to the poor and comfort the sick. Sesame Workshop has also worked closely with Beaches Resorts to create ongoing educational programs such as “Story Time with Elmo,” designed to instill a passion for reading in children, and “Exploring with Grover,” an environmental program that emphasizes oceanography and teaches children how they can participate in making their world better.

 

Guests of Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts, The Royal Plantation Collection or Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts may also participate in the work of the Foundation through: cash donations made at the resorts; special purchases in the gift shop, with a percentage of proceeds going to the Foundation’s efforts; or community work, where guests can roll up their sleeves and donate some of their vacation time to work alongside resort team members out in the community.

 

To learn more about The Sandals Foundation, please visit Sandals Foundation, or send inquiries to: [email protected] or call 876-684-8613.

[ACDCDCAC]

wow jennifer thats really cool! thanks for sharing!