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Last Friday the 1st of June, the female community of Casa de Campo gathered at the Casa de Campo Yacht Club for a most unconventional and fun Café de la Leche celebration!
Usually a relaxed affair with a few nibbles, coffee and occasionally a few cocktails or glasses of wine hosted at a Casa de Campo villa, the Café de la Leche is a monthly charitable event which gathers milk supplies for the “crib room” at the Hogar del Niño, daycare and educational center in La Romana. However, this month’s Café de la Leche could very definitely be considered “out of the ordinary”……with live entertainment, an art exhibit, a live DJ and even a cocktail bar sponsored by Brugal rum!
The occasion started tranquil enough, with all the Café de la Leche regulars enjoying cocktails and nibbles, whilst lounging on the club’s comfy sofas or enjoying the view on the beautiful outdoor terrace overlooking the Marina, where they were joined by a crowd of teenage students from the Abraham Lincoln School, who, taking a break from their exam revision, were only to happy to join the celebration and contribute to this great cause!
Argenis with his art class from the Hogar del Niño
In amongst the varied crowd was Argenis Lebron, graduate of the Altos de Chavón School of Art and Design, who is currently working as a volunteer at the Hogar del Niño’s new “Zona Verde”, where he is passing on his artistic skills and talents to the next generation. Taking part in the Café de la Leche with a collection of his own paintings, Argenis also took the opportunity to showcase the students in his class – conducting an informal art lesson on the outdoor terrace, which several of Casa de Campo’s young ones enjoyed too!
Bianca, Andrea and Miranda and the fashionable painted shoes!
At 7pm, the time when the Café de la Leche gatherings normally come to a close, rather than calling it a night – volunteer at the Hogar del Niño, Dan Hogan took center stage with a young and very talented pupil, Kenny, who sang and played the guitar to popular songs such as “Stand by me.” A moving and magical performance of passion and talent, which ended with several solo numbers from Kenny, much to the joy of the gathered crowd and Xiomarita Matos, President of the Hogar del Niño, who beamed with pride. The performance was yet another example of the excellent work being achieved at the Hogar del Niño’s new “Zona Verde,” an extra-curricular activities center where enthusiastic students are given the opportunity to do arts, crafts, music and even learn English.
Following the live music, DJ Rafael Gonzalvo, the son of Josie Gonzalvo, Director of the Marina Casa de Campo, who had for the first few hours of the event orchestrated a mellow yet fun ambience with his clever mix of “lounge music”, gradually “upped the tempo”, with increasingly more up-beat music which transitioned the gathering from relaxed cocktail to fun party – the perfect excuse for just one more Brugal mojito!
DJ Rafael Gonzalvo on the decks!
ABOUT the Cafe 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.
The aim of the Café de la Leche gatherings are to boost the milk supplies of the Hogar del Niño (a daycare and educational facility in La Romana) – which uses the milk to feed more than 200 babies cared for daily in it’s crib room. Everyone is welcome to attend these great events and it’s totally free – you are just requested to bring some dried/powdered milk, cereals or baby formula to contribute.Click here for PHOTOS of previous Café de la Leche events!
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.
Click here for more articles and information on the Hogar del Niño!
