cafe de la leche

This post is also available in: Spanish

Last Friday July 5th, a wonderful Café de la Leche celebration was held at the Casa de Campo villa of Phyllis Berney – a generous member of the community who is passionate about supporting local charities, such as the Hogar del Niño in La Romana. Casa de Campo’s beautiful ladies dressed in tropical attire, spent a magnificent afternoon at Mrs. Berney home, Barranca Este #66, whose spectacular view over the pool, the La Romana Country Club golf course and to the ocean was certainly a focal point for the occasion.

Ladies having fun during the Café de la Leche

Apparently Mrs. Berney, apart from being a true believer in the Hogar del Niño, is a lover of flowers. In her garden and even in her home, we spotted and admired many different types of flowers, including orchids, bromeliads, ginger, frangipani, and bougainvillaea, among others.

Phyllis is especially proud of her incredible orchid garden – a really stunning collection blooming in a variety of different colors. With the help of family and friends, Phyllis has been cultivating her orchid garden for more than 7 years.

Phyllis Berney with her beautiful orchid garden

Between conversations, cocktails and some snacks catered by the Casa de Campo hotel, the guests who regularly gather on the first Friday of each month for the Café de la Leche, undoubtedly enjoyed a charming afternoon. This year the Café de la Leche, a gathering held to collect milk for “Sala Cuna” (crib room) of the Hogar del Niño celebrates its 12th anniversary.

“This program was started by Alexandra Avanzini. About 40% of the milk necessary for our babies is provided by this program. It is such an easy way for people to do something for our community and have an enjoyable time too.

I am also involved with the Adopt-a-Crib Annual Giving Fund. Although it was originally developed as a program to support the care of infants specifically, the AAC program now enables us to support the medical, educational and emotional developments of a child from infancy through adolescence. By Adopting a Crib, so to speak, you are not just giving money, but invaluable aid to Dominican Children, who are seeking desperately to break the vicious cycle of poverty and attain a better future. “

— Phyllis Berney, Casa de Campo villa owner

To read more about Phyllis and the Hogar del Niño, click here.

Amongst the attendees, was a special guest – a young Haitian boy called Luís Cancú. Cancú is a student of the Hogar del Niño’s Hearing and Speech Impaired School, who got a scholarship this summer to do a drawing class at the Altos de Chavón School of Art and Design in their “International Summer” program.

Phyllis Berney with Luís Cancú

Also, Miss Romana 2013, Ivette Rivera Objio, who we met recently in Altos de Chavón, attended the event to show her support for the Hogar del Niño and to get to know the Casa de Campo community. Traditionally a woman-only event, the organizers of the Café de la Leche are now encouraging the ladies to bring along their husbands, boyfriends and male friends, on this occasion we spotted Philip Silvestri, Founder and CEO of Silgon Inc. (responsible for CasaLife, Casa de Campo Living, TODO Casa de Campo and more) as well as famous artist Leopoldo Maler. The more the merrier when it comes to raising awareness and gathering supplies for a great cause! The following pictures were taken during the Café de la Leche at the Casa de Campo villa of Mrs. Phyllis Berney located in Barranca Este, Casa de Campo, on Friday July 5th, 2013: 
About the Café de la Leche The Cafe de la Leche is a monthly charitable event, a little like a coffee or a tea party held for the ladies of Casa de Campo (although men are occasionally invited) and usually takes place on the first Friday of the month, hosted by a member of the Casa de Campo villa at her Casa de Campo villa or occasionally restaurant/business. Click here to find out more and for PHOTOS of previous Café de la Leche events!
 The Hogar del Niño The Hogar del Niño is a children’s daycare and educational center for over 1500 children, located in La Romana town, just outside of Casa de Campo. Children from as young as just a few weeks old up to 18 years old are cared for and educated daily, from as early as 5:30am and staying as late as 7pm. The organization also provides special schooling to over 75 hearing impaired and blind children, as well as a vocational school where over 235 students receive classes in different areas like: sewing; industrial preparation, installation and electrical maintenance; plumbing and management of computer office programs.
Contact the Hogar del Niño on: Tel: (809) 523-8901 or (809) 556-3181 Email: info@pbo.org.do Website: www.hogardelnino.com Click here to read more about the Hogar del Niño!