As the devastation in Haiti continues to unfold, it is hard not to feel extreme sadness at the sight of so much suffering, especially in a neighbor country. But the resiliency and strength of the Haitian people and the amazing response of the rest of the world which has reached out to help relieve conditions on the island also has made me feel a lot of hope and convinced me that slowly, but surely, things will get better in Haiti. Especially if we continue to do our part!

I mentioned last time that The Sandals Foundation, through the establishment of the Haiti Relief Fund was launching a series of initiatives to aid the Haitian people in their recovery from this disaster. Well, I’m proud to report the very latest news about our efforts. The Sandals Foundation has joined forces with American Airlines, and their regional carrier American Eagle, to deliver much-needed supplies, including water, food, shoes and medicine, as well as medical personnel to the island. Through the incredibly generous donations that we have already received from our Sandals Resorts' team members, from Unique Vacations employees and from caring people like you all over the world, The Sandals Foundation is underwriting the cost of 10 humanitarian relief flights from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Haiti, which will start flying on February 2nd and continue three times a week through February 23rd. Our partner in this mission, American Airlines, will coordinate the relief supplies and will fly them down to the island on American Eagle ATR-72 aircraft, which have the capacity to transport 10,000 pounds of supplies and relief workers per flight!
 

So, while Haiti continues to struggle with the aftermath of this awful natural disaster, at least we can keep on doing everything in our power to reach out and deliver the help that they need in order to begin rebuilding their country and their lives.

I’ll keep you posted on the progress of our ongoing initiatives as we move forward. Thank you for all that you’ve done and given and please know that any further contributions that you are able to make will surely be appreciated.
 

Together we are helping Haiti to emerge from the rubble and start over!

These photos, provided by Salesian Missions, one of The Sandals Foundation’s partners in carrying out our Haiti Relief Effort, really show the spirit and resilience of the Haitian people, especially the kids, even in the face of so much destruction.
 

Still smiling even in front of all the ruins behind them.

Even with very little resources available, the people make do and create makeshift shelters and temporary homes.

Signs that the aid relief efforts are starting to make an impact can be seen in this tiny tent city.

Even small children are doing their part to make sure that water gets delivered.

In the middle of so much chaos and rubble, this little girl is determined to offer hope for a better day ahead.

Words cannot express how truly saddened we are by the recent catastrophic events that took place in Haiti. Our hearts go out to the folks and their families who have been affected by this terrible tragedy. The unspeakable devastation that has taken place with our Caribbean neighbor has deeply affected me and the entire organization, and we’re stepping up to do what we can for our sister-island to help get her back on her feet.

I must say, though, that at times like these, I’m very proud of how we’ve all come together so quickly to help make a difference, so that Haiti can recover as fast as possible from this unfortunate incident.  In the name of disaster, you surely see how small the world is, and it’s during times like these that we have to put aside our own goals and reprioritize in order to help out in whatever way we can.

So naturally, The Sandals Foundation, the non-profit arm of our organization, immediately snapped into action to initiate a Haiti Relief Effort and Fund for our friends going through this earth shattering time.   We tried to figure out what kind of resources we had that could make the most impact.   And Thursday, we used our corporate jet to fly the Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Hon. Bruce Golding, to Haiti to officially dispatch the Jamaica Defence Force that would assist with disaster relief efforts.  We also joined forces with the Jamaica Hotel & Tourism Association, to bring in much needed supplies like linens, non-perishable items, and clothing to the island. 

The Haiti Relief Fund we’ve set up is delivering support and monetary donations to several organizations including the Salesian Missions and Popular Services International (PSI), which have more than 100 years of combined experience and presence in Haiti and a taskforce made up of hundreds of workers and volunteers that are out in the trenches right now trying to lend their support.   A companywide initiative across all of our resorts, on all five islands, is taking place to collect much needed funds for Haiti, and many of our team members on-property have started their own unique fundraising relief efforts.

We’ve been getting so many calls from our partners asking what you and your clients can do to lend support and make a difference. And what Haiti needs most right now is funds to bring this island back to life. We know we can always count on you to help out when we ask, and whatever you can do to support this nation, however small, will surely be remembered. So, through the Haiti Relief Fund, you and your clients can donate money directly through The Sandals Foundation just by logging on to www.SandalsFoundation.org to see how you can help out now.

Haiti has a long road to recovery, but together we can do our part to help make a difference!

Thanks again for all that you do!

Jamaica Prime Minister, Hon. Bruce Golding (second from left) talks with Lt. Col. Jamie Ogilvie (far right), alongside Leader of the Opposition Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller (far left) and Information Minister Hon. Daryl Vaz (third from left). This was at the airport right before they boarded the jet for the trip over to Haiti.

I’ve been glued to the news and the internet, but no matter how many times I see photos like these, I just cannot imagine the devastation and demise that has taken place in Haiti.

All of my life I’ve had a strong connection to and love for the ocean. I’ve spent countless hours and days swimming, fishing and boating in the waters of the Caribbean. Without the incredible crystal-clear seas and white-sand beaches of the islands, there would be no such thing as Sandals and Beaches Resorts. Basically, the very success of entire populations across the region relies on a healthy and strong marine environment to help sustain a whole slew of industries ranging from tourism to fishing.
 

That’s why the Sandals Foundation, in conjunction with the Jamaican government and with the cooperation of local fishermen and community members, has been working so hard to create a series of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) throughout the island. By prohibiting fishing within their boundaries and allowing the fish population to rebound from decades of overfishing, these MPAs will eventually cause a chain reaction that will restore Jamaican coral reefs to health, which will build up the beautiful beaches and spawn even more fish for the fishing industry. So, in the long run, this will benefit not only the environment, but also the economy of the local community as well.
 

After all the hard work and planning, we just officially opened our very first MPA in Ocho Rios. Everyone who attended the official launch ceremony at Beaches Boscobel for the very first of what we hope will be many MPAs was excited about this project. For those who were instrumental in bringing this first sanctuary online, including Christopher Tufton, the Agricultural Minister of Jamaica, and Heidi Clarke, the Senior Coordinator of the Sandals Foundation, this was a very proud moment. It’s taken a lot of blood sweat and tears and required a ton of cooperation, but now that we’ve established this first MPA, I am convinced that we’re on our way to preserving our marine ecology and rejuvenating our coastal communities. Great things lie ahead!

It was a great honor to say a few words to officially kick off this very first Marine Protected Environment in Jamaica.

Looking out towards the new marine sanctuary, with a plaque marking the area and describing the project in the background.

I look on with a big smile, as Jamaican Agriculture Minister, Christopher Tufton, gets ready to cut the ribbon officially opening up the MPA.

Agriculture Minister Christopher Tufton and I read the plaque that sits in front of and explains the MPA. It felt amazing to finally see all our effort paying off.

Jamaican Agriculture Minister Christopher Tufton, Sandals Foundation Coordinator, Heidi Clarke, and I commemorate the start of this amazing project with big smiles, as we stand next to the MPA plaque.
 

The work of the Sandals Foundation, our charitable arm focused on uplifting and improving the Caribbean in the three areas of community, education and environment, is something that is really dear to my heart. I am firmly convinced that there is so much that we can all do to make a difference in these islands that have given so much to me, to my family and to every single person who’s ever enjoyed the beauty and culture of the region.

That’s why I was so thrilled recently when we joined together with Flight Centre Canada, one of the world’s leading travel consultants, to launch a massive, weeklong initiative, involving several separate projects throughout Turks & Caicos, designed to help clean and green the island and spruce up many of its schools and community areas. You can’t imagine the excitement that was in the air on the day that we kicked everything off. Along with teams from the Sandals Foundation, close to 400 management personnel from Flight Centre Canada headed out across Providenciales and began pouring all of their time, effort and enthusiasm into this really worthy causes.

It was really inspiring to watch and be a part of something that was so big, yet so organized and so successful. Some of the projects we worked on included repairing and rebuilding a conch farm; creating a brand new playground and reading garden at a local Primary School; establishing an outdoor, landscaped study area at the High School; planting trees at the Frenchman’s Creek Nature Preserve; and constructing a new basketball court facility for the local kids to enjoy. If you want to learn more about all of the amazing initiatives that are part of this program, please log on to www.sandalsfoundation.org and take a look!

Aside from their unbelievable contribution of time and muscle power to aid the Sandals Foundation in supporting and uplifting Turks & Caicos, Flight Centre also donated $50,000 USD to the Foundation to help us with our goal of making the Caribbean region a better place to live, work and play. As Flight Centre President Greg Dixon said so well: “Working on these projects gave us a chance to give back to the destinations that help us make a living. Our hope is that we are leaving a legacy and starting a trend that will last for years to come.”

I have literally been blown away by people’s commitment to charity and their community spirit. In fact, just the other day two guests at Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios, Jamaica—husband and wife, Freddie and Mitzi Rick from West Virginia—were so psyched about our mission that they wrote a check for $5,000 to the Sandals Foundation! With incredible acts of generosity like this, I firmly believe that, together with the Sandals Foundation, we are on our way to making sure that great things lie ahead for the Caribbean.

Here I am with 250 fired-up managers from Flight Centre Canada, as we get ready to go out there and make a difference in Turks & Caicos!

A smiling Flight Centre manager gets her hands dirty as she plants a reading garden for the students of Clement Howell High School.

A big thumbs-up from a Flight Centre Canada volunteer, as he and his 32-member team help to rebuild the world’s only conch farm, which was destroyed by two major hurricanes.

Check out the big smile as this Flight Centre crew member does her part to install and beautify a new recreation area for the kids at the Osetta Jolly Primary School.

Flight Centre Canada President Greg Dixon presented the Sandals Foundation with a much-appreciated check for $50,000. As you can see from our happy faces we both know just how much good this money will do throughout the Caribbean.

You won’t find a more generous couple than Mitzi and Freddie Rick from West Virginia. These two Royal Plantation guests simply donated $5,000 to the Sandals Foundation out of the goodness of their hearts!

I sometimes get to meet the most amazing people...it's truly one of the great perks of my job.
 

I was recently down visiting Beaches Turks and Caicos and I got to spend some time with one of my long-time musical idols, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, a founding member of the legendary hip hop band, Run-DMC.
When he wasn’t onstage or performing at the Scratch DJ Academy, I got the chance to hang out with him. What a cool guy! I found out that he is really, really interested in offering children the opportunity to lead a better life. When he was 35 years old he discovered that he was adopted and that drove him to try and give kids some of the same breaks that he had received. In fact, he even won the Congressional Angels in Adoption Award for his work with children in foster care.
 

Since one of the main initiatives of the Sandals Foundation is to give back to our community by uplifting the lives of children all across the Caribbean, DMC and I talked a lot about our mutual interest in transforming kids’ lives. He was so excited by what the Sandals Foundation has going on across the region that he immediately signed up to help.
 

So, stay tuned because DMC will be coming back to the islands to work with the team and the Sandals Foundation. He’ll be giving benefit concerts and donating his talent, time and financial resources to aid the children of the Caribbean. Together DMC and the Sandals Foundation can really make a difference for so many young people. I’m totally psyched and can’t wait to get started!

DMC and I strike a pose. A larger-than-life musical icon and me—what a rush!

DMC looks on with a smile as DJ Immortal from the Scratch DJ Academy works the turntable and Shock from the Electric Company rules the mic in an intimate performance for the local Turks and Caicos kids.

DMC and Shock, from The Electric Company, hang out with some lucky Turks and Caicos youngsters in front of a cool mural of Bob Marley in our very own, Trench Town.

DMC raps for the island kids in the Scratch DJ Academy, with DJ Immortal spinning by his side.

DMC rocks the house.

Two very talented guys strut their stuff—Joey Fatone joins DMC onstage and together they heat things up!

A priceless moment, as DMC interacts with one of his littlest fans. You can really see his strong connection to the kids.

Last Sunday, some of my friends and supporters came out to break a sweat, all for a great cause… The Sandals Foundation. The 12-hour Spinathon was hosted by GoodFit, Mobay’s own, state-of-the-art spinning, power yoga, sculpt and spa studio and Island Entertainment Brands. Enthusiastic teams from Sandals Resorts International, Unique Vacations, Inc, Wisynco, Fontana, Rainforest Seafoods, Biokinergo and others raced to show their concern and raise money for the betterment of the Caribbean.

No coasting here!!! Check out Lisa Lake (SRI) and me, as I’m getting coached on how to put the pedals to the metal and spin my heart out for The Sandals Foundation!

Parrot Heads from Team Margaritaville give a “thumbs up” to the Sandals Foundation Spin-a-thon held last Sunday on Mobay’s “hip strip” hot spot.

A "Unique" bunch of spinners from Miami’s own Unique Vacations Inc., the worldwide representatives for Sandals and Beaches Resorts, were proud to sweat it out for the Sandals Foundation!

But, the fun didn't start there...we hosted the ‘spinners’ at a special Carb-Up-Cruise the day before the spin-a-thon to ‘pump up the energy’ with some carb-filled dishes prepared by the Sandals Montego Bay's F&B team.

Here's Fredrick Moe a Jamaican socialite and long-time friend of Sandals, who found some friends to lean on with Spin Instructors Natalie Desnoes, Mia Mikoljev, and Sandy Lee