Press Release - Donkey Sanctuary and Youth Community Service Initiative

Donkey Sanctuary and Youth Community Service Initiative
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BONAIRE, N.A. (April 24, 2002) Support Bonaire, Inc. (SBI) announced today that a donation of $1,530 (USD) was made on Earth Day to the Donkey Sanctuary on Bonaire for food and medical supplies needed for the care of the 60 donkeys currently at the sanctuary. The bulk of the donation ($1,200) was contributed to SBI by two frequent visitors to Bonaire – Hugh Frame, an American, and his partner Sarah Byrett – both currently living in England. SBI was created to encourage support of Bonaire’s community non-profit organizations by providing a mechanism for American donors to receive income tax deductions in the U.S for their contributions to support Bonaire charitable efforts.

Marina Melis of the Donkey Sanctuary said, “we are very grateful for the support of Sarah and Hugh, and so many other frequent visitors to Bonaire who see the wild donkeys as a unique and gentle symbol of Bonaire and the unique experience it offers visitors and residents. SBI makes it easier for more visitors to help in our work and to care for the sick and injured animals who must now live apart from the wild lands they know.”

Last week, SBI also donated nearly 200 books, worth hundreds of dollars, to Jong Bonaire. The students of Jong Bonaire will sell the books in their own book fair at Wilhelmina Plaza on April 28th. The students will donate funds raised to the Bonaire Animal Shelter. According to Inge Berben, director of Jong Bonaire, “supporting young people in performing community service builds their character, strengthens their personal values and broadens their connection with the ommunity and the its needs. Social research consistently shows that community service holds life-long benefits for the young people who do it.” Tom & Becky Starkweather, who reside in Utah, donated the books.

These latest donations bring the total 2002 contributions to Bonaire’s community service organizations to more than $5,000 so far. In other donations announced last month, the largest recipient has been the Maria Hoppner Foundation The Foundation was among a recipient group including Aliansa, STCB, Stichting van Kunst & Cultuur, and Wowo di Bario.

Support Bonaire Inc. has identified community non-profit groups providing important social services and environmental conservation activities that directly improve the quality of life on Bonaire and directly contribute to the generous hospitality foreign visitors enjoy in the local community. Many repeat visitors to Bonaire find the unique warmth of Bonaireans inspires them to help preserve this community spirit through financial contributions, in-kind donations and volunteer efforts.

SBI has approved a variety of qualified community organizations for contributions and ongoing support, with additional local groups being identified and invited to submit funding requests. This provides donors with a variety of worthy beneficiaries for their contributions including youth, senior citizens, education and training, marine and land parks and environmental and wildlife preservation.

Further information for potential donors, or community service groups interested in submitting funding requests can be found at www.supportbonaire.org and by e-mail at info@supportbonaire.org or by phone locally at 717-6773.

Linda Richter, president of Support Bonaire, Inc. feeds Isabel, a baby donkey at the Donkey Sanctuary while Marina Melis, operator of the Donkey Sanctuary, displays the donation made by Support Bonaire, Inc.

About Support Bonaire, Inc.
Support Bonaire, Inc. is an organization dedicated to helping fund non-profit environmental and social projects on the Dutch Caribbean island of Bonaire, by being a U.S. Internal Revenue Service-approved non-profit organization, which in turn allows donors to take a tax deduction on funds they donate to Support Bonaire, Inc. Support Bonaire, Inc.’s virtual offices can be found at http://www.SupportBonaire.org, and an on-line discussion group for the organization is located at http://www.BonaireTalk.com/sbi. The organization’s mailing address for monetary donations and other paper correspondence is 109 E. Main Street, Suite 400, Norfolk, Virginia 23510-1647, U.S.A. Voice mail can be left at +1-703-783-1314, and FAXes can be sent to +1-703-783-1315. Contact via e-mail is preferred, at info@SupportBonaire.org. A Miami shipping address is available for donations of goods.