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This past Saturday the 16th of August, not only did we celebrate Dominican Restoration Day (click here to read what that means), but we also enjoyed the annual Fundación MIR Family Weekend!
On a day when the entire Dominican Republic was celebrating and commemorating the restoration of Dominican Independence from the Spanish who had occupied the island from 1861 to 1865, here in Casa de Campo we were honoured to take part in a celebration for a cause also fighting for the future of the Dominican Republic – through education. The Fundación MIR runs 3 schools in La Romana; the MIR Esperanza (boys vocational school), the Escuela Técnica Vocacional Fundación MIR (girls vocational school) and the Primaría MIR (infants school), with a total of more than 1500 students.
And as Lian Fanjul de Azqueta, founder and president of the Fundación MIR said at the opening of the golf tournament “every time you tee off, you’re helping a child get a good education”, for every single one of the many attendees of the event, it was a pleasure to know that by taking part we were making a difference in the life of a child, giving the greatest gift of all- knowledge & education -the means to making a better life.
The day started bright and early at Casa de Campo’s La Terraza Tennis Center, where our tennis-loving community turned out in force to show-off their tennis skills. While busy spearheading the event, Lyanne Azqueta, executive director at the Fundación MIR also took the time to take part, with Lian Fanjul de Azqueta joined by her granddaughter, also called Lyanne, cheering her on from the sidelines. Click here for photos of the tennis tournament!
Next came the golf tournament played at the La Romana Country Club which saw more than 100 golfers tee off around the Pete Dye designed golf course. Click here for photos of the golf tournament!
And as the day came to an end, the night was just beginning, as despite some untimely rain, the dinner, dance and party opened at Minitas Beach. Beginning with a cocktail hour around the Coco Mar bar, guests enjoyed champagne, as well as Chivas 18, and Ron Atlantico mojitos- the perfect concoction of tipples to get the celebration started!
From there, as cocktail hour drifted into hours, the last few stragglers were encouraged to take their seats for dinner, as Lian Fanjul de Azqueta and Lyanne Azqueta took to the stage for the presentation. With the beautiful Pamela Sued once again acting as Mistress of Ceremonies, the ceremony saw the faces of the future of La Romana and indeed the Dominican Republic also take to the stage, and indeed centre stage, which, as the focus of this philanthropic occasion was exactly where they belonged.
Meanwhile, before the evening continued with dining and dancing, the winners of the golf and tennis tournaments were awarded their much-deserved trophies, as well as a bottle of Chivas Regal 18 each!
And so it was that the Fundación MIR Family Weekend for Life closed with a magnificent dinner, catered by Casa de Campo, live music with Dos en la Via and then a magnificent after-party with DJ Gringo flown in from Miami!
It was quiet the night to remember! And here, my friends, are our favorite photos to remember it by:
