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SOL News 10/01/09 Volume 1, Issue 1 |
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SOL (School of Life) International Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) Public Charity. Through the support of donations, fundraisers and grants, SOL has been able to initiate and support community-based programs designed to promote education, arts and athletics to increase the quality of life in Roatán, Honduras, Central America.
New Little League Baseball teams in Roatán! SOL International Foundation has established a Little League Baseball Park behind the gas station and Banco Lafise in West End. The children's teams ages 8 to 13 yrs. are the: Cardinals (Sandy Bay), Diamond Backs (Berinche, West End), White Sox and the Yankees (children attending the Sandy Bay Alternative School). The league is led by Dave Elmore and the first round of play-off games took place from June 13th to June 19th and the championship games from June 20th to June 23rd 2009. The winners of the championship were the Diamond Backs! Congratulations! Baseball season for ages 14 to 16 yrs. started in early September. SOL would like to share our sincere gratitude to Bill and Daine Etches! Also, special thanks to the coaches: Edwin and Elmer Bush, Wilmer Johnson & Todd Demko! |
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Donate to SOL and receive a free vacation stay! Thanks to our most current partnership with local supporters, we will be able to offer the most amazing vacation opportunity! Donors who provide $100 per month for a year to SOL International Foundation or a onetime $1,200 donation will be eligible to receive a 7 day free stay at a luxury condominium in Roatán. Once, you have set up your monthly donation via our website, or via mail, let us know at least 2 weeks before your desired date of stay. The two black-out dates that apply are Holy week and Christmas holidays. Donations will be used to cover operational costs of our programs and the establishment of community development projects in Roatán. |
SOL International Raffle raised $9,100!The raffle to win a 7-night stay at a condominium in Infinity Bay, Roatán, has been a hit! Tickets were $100 each, for an oceanfront condominium that sleeps 6 people! The drawing was held at Oasis Lounge on 09/01/09. Congratulations to the winner Jose Luiz Falk! Special thanks to Terri and Eldon Bolton, from the SOL Board of Directors for providing the condominium! |
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Sol has initiated the second girls basketball team on the island of Roatan! The team is made up of 10 girls, ages 14-21. The girls are ecstatic and are practicing at the Anthony's Key courts on Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturday from 6pm to 7pm! Girls are mainly from Sandy Bay and a few travel from Coxen Hole. They will be practicing over the next couple of months and hope to play against other organized basketball teams. By providing an all-girls sport, we aim to show them the importance of team work, discipline and exercise. We want to empower girls at such critical age and encourage them to follow their dreams! All girls recently received tennis shoes, thanks to Loretta Zapp from One World Running and will be receiving basketball jerseys. Special thanks to coaches Trish Flanagan and Maura Demko! |
The Roatán Women's Club helps SOL!The last Friday of every month, the Roatán Women's Club meets at a different venue to talk about how to make a difference on the island! The last week of August, a meet-and-greet lunch took place at the beautiful Barefoot Cay Resort. Special thanks to the Roatán Women's Club President Susan Jensen for making SOL International Foundation the beneficiary of the lunch. $265 were raised from the raffle, which was used to cover costs for Children's Day! Partner's website: www.roatanwc.com/ |
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Golden Buoy 2009 raises $16,000! This year's Golden Buoy Fundraiser was incredible and thanks to all the participating dive shops (Native Sons, Ocean Connections, West End Divers, Reef Gliders, Coconut Tree, Banarama and Tylls) and Sponsors. SOL International was able to raise $16,000 compared to the event in 2008 which raised $12,000. Congratulations to West End Divers for their second win in the last 3 years, as they raised over $6,000. Thanks to all the dive shops who came up with all the creative and crazy ways to raise funds! |
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SOL partners with the Roatán Marine Park The Roatán Marine Park has been developing creative environmental education activities with the children from Sandy Bay. The children have created a story which takes place in the underwater world outside of Anthony's Key Resort. The children have been practicing and putting together all the colorful materials to perform a fish/puppet show for their friends and family. Special thanks to Ocean Connections dive shop for providing a Discovery Scuba for SOL's youth leader, Lisa Pinnace.
SOL children and the Roatán Marine Park put together a "float" for the ZOLITUR's Roatán Family Fair with a message to "reduce garbage" on the planet. The children are also participating in recycling initiatives and are in the processes of making a couch out of 500 aluminum cans! We are also collecting unwanted paper from banks and offices for a future recycling paper activity. Future activities include snorkel trips and glass bottom boat visits.
Thanks to the endless support of Malika and Grazzia Matamoros!
Partner's website: www.roatanmarinepark.com |
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SOL is providing learning opportunities for children by offering hands-on ecology activities and other science classes at the Carambola Botanical Gardens in Sandy Bay. Children are able to join after school (3pm-5pm) every Thursday to learn about the coastal flora and fauna of their island. Classes are led by Andrea Rivera with the aim to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills.
This program provides children with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a green environment and learn about the plant and seed ecology of their surroundings. Future activities planned involve educational trips around the island, marine ecology classes and more fun science!
Special thanks to Irma Brady, from Carambola Botanical Gardens.
Partner's website: http://www.carambolagardens.com/ |
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It's time to brush our teeth! Thanks to the volunteer dentists from Clinica Esperanza, a total of 50 children will be able to obtain free dentist visits from September to October 2009. These visits include free of cost services such as teeth cleanings, fillings and extractions. Also the children were all provided with tooth brushes and tooth paste and taught about dental hygiene! Special thanks to Peggy Stranges, Carrie Baldwin, Margo Tomka, Elizabeth Dupay & Jenessa Hill.
Partner's website: http://clinicaesperanza.homestead.com/ |
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Kids learn about Capoiera! On Mondays from 7pm-8pm at the courts of Anthony's Key, children have the opportunity to learn a mixture of Brazilian dance, music and defense moves, which is known as Capoeira! Kids have a chance to stretch, learn about body movements and flexibility. They also get to learn how to play and make their own new musical instruments with materials from their homes. Special thanks to Jorge and Virna for teaching the kids! |
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Celebrating Kids Day! On Thursday September 10th, we celebrated Children's Day at the Anthony's Key courts. The event hosted about 100 children who enjoyed lots of gifts, games, food and music.
This event was made possible by the many community members who provided healthy food and drinks for the celebration. Also, many volunteers were present to share the joy with the children! We aimed to minimize "junk" foods and opted for sandwiches, fruits and lemonade. Thanks to all who attended!! |
Beach Clean-up in West End!Every year there is a 3-day Carnival and Fishing Tournament in West End, Roatán which coincides with the Independence Day Weekend. This event brings thousands of tourists and the beaches and streets are left with tons of garbage! The Roatán Marine Park, SOL, divers, and community members were part of the International Clean-up Day! Participants removed a total of 26 bags from the streets and the sea! The winning team (3 kids from SOL) who collected the most garbage, just received a free discovery scuba class with Ocean Connections!
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Special Thanks to all our supporters!! Anthony's Key Resort Bill and Daine Etches Jeff and Michelle Sanders
Monthly Donors David Robins Devin Biviano Eldon and Terry Bolton Jamie Bailey Linda Jones Marilyn Fisk Mary Beth and Dave Elmore Pam Sara Dean Tony Brown
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To Make a Donation Online Go to the ‘Make a Donation Page' at
By Mail Make Check Payable to SOL International Foundation and mail to Sun Trust Bank, Asheville, One Angle Street, Asheville, NC 28803 Tax ID# 20-4786732 |
