Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation makes donation

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation has today announced a donation of US$25,000 to the community impact organization Curaçao Cares, thanks to the Foundation’s annual fundraising golf tournament.

The tournament—held in Curaçao in its 11th year and raising a total of US$125,000 for the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation—brought together over 90 participants made up of a variety of C&W’s technology, programing and administrative partners, and donors of the Foundation.

The donation from the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation will be used towards CURA DOET, the biggest volunteer effort in Curaçao. Celebrated annually in March, the DOET weekend unites people who serve their communities across cultural and geographical differences. The activity consists of two national days of service whereby people in the communities are encouraged to get out and do something to help local worthwhile causes and NGOs.

Since it was set up in 2013, CURA DOET has engaged more than 21,000 volunteers who have collectively participated in more than 100,000 hours of service. During CURA DOET, NGOs get an opportunity to spruce up their location and grounds, parks and schools get a makeover and elderly people and those with special needs are treated to a special day.

The announcement comes one week after the Foundation confirmed funding of over US$290,000 to go towards rebuilding and equipping five schools in the most badly impacted areas of the Caribbean, following last year’s hurricane season.

Gina Colesanti, Director of the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation, said: “We’re extremely proud to give back to the communities we serve, and worked with our local team on the ground to choose Curaçao Cares as the deserving beneficiary of this year’s annual fundraising golf tournament. We’re very fortunate that we continue to have the assistance of C&W’s technology, programming and administrative partners, who support the annual fundraising event through their participation and financial contribution.”

The annual charity golf event has previously been held in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, St. Kitts and Nevis and Panama. Last year, in Panama, the funds were donated to three institutions that focus on supporting children: the Pro Niños de Darien, the San José de Malambo Orphanage and the Olga Sinclair Foundation. A variety of youth-centered programs have benefited from the tournament’s fundraising efforts over the years, including the SOS Children’s Home in Jamaica, the Sunshine Achievement Center for under-privileged children in Barbados and the Rainbow Rescue team in Trinidad. The tournament has also helped fund orphanages in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, and previously funded support programs for the Wilhelmina Fonds Breast Cancer Center in Curaçao.

Lysaye de Windt of Curaçao Cares, said: “As Curaçao Cares continues to grow in its fifth year, partnerships are vital to its success. This generous contribution will help us fulfill our mission of cultivating active citizenship and creating opportunities for individuals to contribute their time, skills, talents and resources towards positive social development, and to connect communities and transform lives. On behalf of the entire Curaçao Cares team, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation.”

The Cable & Wireless Charitable Foundation was set up by C&W Communications initially as response to the humanitarian crisis caused by devastating hurricanes in 2017. The Foundation is increasingly the company’s platform for advancing social development, as it strives to fulfil its mission of connecting communities and transforming lives, by funding education and empowerment programs across the Caribbean and Latin America.