The Foundation itself came out of a need to streamline the donations and volunteer work that the organization was already doing, while capitalizing on the immense strengths of the 20-resort, 10,000-employee-strong group. “Everything we ever did for communities was always funded by our organization,” says Stewart. “My thought process was fairly simple: you’ll never have enough money to do what needs to be done, you’ll never have enough kind, you’ll never have enough time, but we have one million customers and 250-odd corporate partners and some very interested people...the Foundation is bringing all of these different people together for a common cause.” Indeed, many have already jumped on board, like the Canadian Tour Operatoraffiliated Yellow Bird Foundation who donated CDN$50,000 at the launch; Liberty Travel who is committed to match all donations made by customers in their offices during a specific month; and the many emails from guests offering to help by bringing items for the “Back to School” and “Christmas Toy Drive” spearheaded by the Foundation.

The resort team members also promote the Foundation to guests every Thursday through a voluntary donation of US$1 that can be added to their purchases at the gift shop, spa and other revenue areas, should they wish. But cash and kind is not the only way that the Foundation is engaging its stakeholders. Some 500 employees of the global travel company, Flight Centre Limited, are arriving at the group’s Beaches resort in Turks & Caicos this month for their annual conference and will be spending one day doing volunteer work; Stewart says that, in fact, the Foundation’s ability to facilitate this charity project was the deciding factor for Flight Centre in choosing this location. And, internally, the Foundation works with over 2000 team members who help identify worthwhile projects in their communities and volunteer their time to the Foundation’s programmes, including the new mentoring programme. “Team members feel good about it,” says Clarke about the willingness of employees to get involved. “I think they look at it and say, ‘Our company is doing something positive: they’re actually investing back into the country not only through business, but also through trying to give others an opportunity.’ ” With education, community and the environment as the three pillars of the Foundation’s work, it is only natural that the first big project will be the construction of Jamaica’s first Green Globe certified school starting this month (one of the Foundation’s 26 adopted schools) near the Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa Resort on the south coast of Jamaica.

“Sandals is going to build this school and we’re not building it because we’re trying to get the PR,” says Stewart, who is pushing for other local businesses to give back in meaningful ways. “We’re building it because we have 180 kids who need it, and we care.” He then adds, effectively summing up the philosophy not only of this project, but of the Foundation, “We’re going to find a way to do it.” Visitors to Beaches Resorts during September and October are invited to give-back, by taking part in the volunteer programme. Each Wednesday, guests can get involved in community outreach projects, which include everything from fixing local libraries and beach cleaning, to planting vegetable gardens in schools. Contact your Beaches representative for more information For more information e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit: www.sandalsfoundation.orgThe Foundation itself came out of a need to streamline the donations and volunteer work that the organization was already doing, while capitalizing on the immense strengths of the 20-resort, 10,000-employee-strong group.

“Everything we ever did for communities was always funded by our organization,” says Stewart. “My thought process was fairly simple: you’ll never have enough money to do what needs to be done, you’ll never have enough kind, you’ll never have enough time, but we have one million customers and 250-odd corporate partners and some very interested people...the Foundation is bringing all of these different people together for a common cause.” Indeed, many have already jumped on board, like the Canadian Tour Operatoraffiliated Yellow Bird Foundation who donated CDN$50,000 at the launch; Liberty Travel who is committed to match all donations made by customers in their offices during a specific month; and the many emails from guests offering to help by bringing items for the “Back to School” and “Christmas Toy Drive” spearheaded by the Foundation. The resort team members also promote the Foundation to guests every Thursday through a voluntary donation of US$1 that can be added to their purchases at the gift shop, spa and other revenue areas, should they wish. But cash and kind is not the only way that the Foundation is engaging its stakeholders. Some 500 employees of the global travel company, Flight Centre Limited, are arriving at the group’s Beaches resort in Turks & Caicos this month for their annual conference and will be spending one day doing volunteer work; Stewart says that, in fact, the Foundation’s ability to facilitate this charity project was the deciding factor for Flight Centre in choosing this location.

And, internally, the Foundation works with over 2000 team members who help identify worthwhile projects in their communities and volunteer their time to the Foundation’s programmes, including the new mentoring programme. “Team members feel good about it,” says Clarke about the willingness of employees to get involved. “I think they look at it and say, ‘Our company is doing something positive: they’re actually investing back into the country not only through business, but also through trying to give others an opportunity.’ ” With education, community and the environment as the three pillars of the Foundation’s work, it is only natural that the first big project will be the construction of Jamaica’s first Green Globe certified school starting this month (one of the Foundation’s 26 adopted schools) near the Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa Resort on the south coast of Jamaica. “Sandals is going to build this school and we’re not building it because we’re trying to get the PR,” says Stewart, who is pushing for other local businesses to give back in meaningful ways. “We’re building it because we have 180 kids who need it, and we care.” He then adds, effectively summing up the philosophy not only of this project, but of the Foundation, “We’re going to find a way to do it.” Visitors to Beaches Resorts during September and October are invited to give-back, by taking part in the volunteer programme. Each Wednesday, guests can get involved in community outreach projects, which include everything from fixing local libraries and beach cleaning, to planting vegetable gardens in schools.

Contact your Beaches representative for more information

For more information e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit: www.sandalsfoundation.org