This past weekend; Friday the 15th and Saturday the 16th of February 2013, the Patronato Benefico Oriental (PBO) – the umbrella organisation for the Hogar del Niño hosted it’s 16th annual fundraising weekend – with great success and more people than ever joining the celebration.
With so many events and activities planned – literally the entire family could get involved and have fun for this great cause which runs a children’s daycare and educational center (the Hogar del Niño) in La Romana – supporting more than 1,500 children – from babies to 18 year olds – every single day.
Starting on Friday morning, the celebrations began with a tour of the Hogar del Niño facility, followed by later that day the popular Homes and Gardens Tour and then the finals of the Hogar del Niño polo tournament. On Saturday morning the fun for all the family continued with the tennis and golf tournaments, as well as the 2nd annual MTB bike marathon and a Zumba masterclass – ending in incredible style at Minitas Beach with a “beach party” themed gala dinner!
Here we recall the good times we a few of our best pictures – we promise to publish many more soon!
Visiting the Hogar del Niño is an experience you never forget. To be greeted by so many happy, smiling and adorable children is one thing – but to then see all the incredible facilities and services the Hogar provides; the educational programs, the medical and dentistry, the crib room….and so much more – is something which brings hope for a brighter future.
“They do amazing work, all the people in the Hogar del Niño do their work with love and passion” — Maria Battle, artist in residence at the Altos de Chavón School of Art and Design
The opportunity of a sneak peak inside the home of someone else is almost irresistible – which is why every year the Hogar del Niño organises the Casa de Campo Homes and Gardens Tour – giving the supporters of the cause the chance to ohh and ahh over some of Casa’s most incredible casas (houses). This year the tour visited “Casa Favorita” (pictured above) the incredible Casa de Campo villa of Dominique Bluhdorn, “Pía” in Vista Catalina, Punta Aguila #63 and Rio Arriba #17.
The annual “Hogar del Niño Cup” polo tournament was battled out between 7 teams from the 6th to the 15th of February, coming to a close on Friday the 15th when La Carbuccia met Pitirri with Pitirri finishing the champions!
Played in mixed doubles in a “round robin” format, Casa de Campo’s philanthropic tennis community battled it out to be named the champions at the La Romana Country Club.
With more than 200 players, the annual golf tournament played at the Pete Dye designed La Romana Country Club golf course, teed off at both 8am and 1pm. Playing in a best ball format the golfers enjoyed a fabulous day in the sunshine – as well as some treats along the way; Brugal rum and Macdonalds burgers and fries!
With record participation, the 2nd annual MTB Bike Marathon was a huge success. Bike enthusiasts of all ages and sizes raced around the Casa de Campo resort along 2 routes; one for the adults and one for the children.
The Zumba Masterclass led by the Casa de Campo Zumba team (Daniela Diazgranados, Lia Matos, Gaby Grisolia and Fefi Diazgranados) was, as Xiomarita (President of the Hogar del Niño) put it – “a way to burn off the calories we’re going to enjoy putting on later [at the dinner].”
For the last 15 years, the Hogar del Niño has celebrated the closing activity of its fundraising weekend – the gala dinner – at the La Romana Country Club, typically a themed and elegant affair with cocktails, dinner, music and dancing. But this year in the spirit of “love, peace and life” the celebration took place at Minitas Beach, where guests were encouraged to kick off their shoes and dance the night away in the sand!
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.
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