The Sandals Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts International, continues to spearhead a variety of programs to better the Caribbean. Whether focusing on education, the environment or the community, the Sandals Foundation’s initiatives always aim to alleviate challenges in the region. Additionally, the Sandals Foundation identifies a number of projects each year in Jamaica, The Bahamas, Antigua, Saint Lucia and Turks and Caicos to be taken under its arms and funded through donations and fundraising events. Here’s what the Sandals Foundation has been up to recently: 

 Sandals Foundation and Flight Centre Teamed Up for Major Community Improvements: The Sandals Foundation and Flight Centre Canada, one of the world’s leading travel consulting companies, joined forces for the fourth year to continue their legacy of providing the largest community outreach program in the Caribbean. Over 600 Flight Centre employees descended on Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa from September 8-15, 2012 to hold their National Leadership Conference and collaborate with the Foundation to undertake a wide range of projects in local communities and schools benefiting over 4,000 Turks & Caicos residents. Flight Centre Canada also continued its tradition of matching its staff’s fundraising efforts dollar for dollar with a $50,000 donation, bringing their total contribution to the Sandals Foundation to $200,000.

Over 100 Turks and Caicos Teachers Trained in Emergency First Response: The Sandals Foundation recently sponsored the certification of more than 100 teachers during a CPR & AED Emergency First Response workshop at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa. The two-day training workshop facilitated by the resort’s training and development department taught participants how to respond in an emergency, assess  the scene and patient, lay rescuer CPR, and use an automated external defibrillator device.

Sandals Foundation Meets Project Goals in Turks and Caicos and The Bahamas: Committed to providing the resources to enhance education and community involvement, the Sandals Foundation has met the goals of two focus projects for 2012: the donation of musical instruments to the Exuma Youth Marching Band in The Bahamas, and the donation of computers to one of its 26 adopted schools – Clement Howell High School in Turks and Caicos. As a result of fundraising efforts and donations, as well as help from Flight Centre Canada employees and Beaches IT manager, Morlon Davidson, who were on-hand to provide assistance in installing 15 computers at the school and a wireless Internet tower, the Sandals Foundation was able to meet its goals.

Environmental Awareness Program Launched in The Bahamas to Educate Thousands of Children: As part of its commitment to environmental protection, the Sandals Foundation has pledged to pay for the transportation of 3,000 New Providence students to visit the Bonefish Pond in an effort to learn about the protected wetlands. Through their partnership with Experimental Education, an organization that promotes learning through field interaction, the Sandals Foundation launched The Ride to Save the Wetlands and students from Akhepran International Academy were the first to participate on September 17, 2012.

Trans-Antigua Cycle Challenge Raised Funds to Benefit the Sandals Foundation: Two hundred cyclists gathered at Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa on Sunday, September 16, 2012 to participate in the third annual Sandals Foundation Trans-Antigua Cycle Challenge, which raised approximately US $2,000 for community projects. The Trans-Antigua Cycle Challenge was held in collaboration with the Antigua & Barbuda Amateur Cycling Association, and consisted of a 22-mile trek from Sandals Grande Antigua to Grand Pineapple Beach Resort.

The Sandals Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was created to continue and to expand upon the philanthropic work that Sandals Resorts International has undertaken.  It is the culmination of three decades of dedication to playing a meaningful role in the lives of the communities where they operate across the Caribbean. The Sandals Foundation funds projects in three core areas: education, community and the environment.   One hundred percent of the monies contributed by the general public to the Sandals Foundation go directly to programs benefiting the Caribbean community. To learn more about the Sandals Foundation, visit online at www.sandalsfoundation.org.