Foundations Report for June 2010

Abriendo Mentes: Formed in Playa Portreo in June 2009 by Meradith Leebrick and Drew Ragland, Abriendo Mentes is a grassroots, non-profit foundation aimed at community education. They have created an afternoon program available to the entire community, which meets at the open-air community center near the town's main plaza. While their major focus is placed on English language instruction, there are also classes in creative arts, guest speakers, and excursions centered on cultural and environmental awareness. What began with just fifteen students has bloomed to more than one hundred participants in less then a year. Their goal for their students, as well as the entire community, is to empower and raise the standards of living for each individual. Volunteers and donations are an integral part of this equation. For a more detailed look at this deserving foundation, visit their website at http://abriendomentes.com.

CEPIA: A four-year dream has become a reality as CEPIA is pleased to announce the opening of the first public library in the Santa Cruz area. Congratulations! The library offers books in both Spanish and English and invites everyone to attend their opening from July 5 – 9. CEPIA also benefitted from the recent Salsa dance competition at Bar One, which donated half their door proceeds to the library. On June 23, CEPIA, in collaboration with PANI, will be conducting workshops with all taxi drivers from Tamarindo and outlying areas to help prevent the sexual exploitation and violence towards children and teenagers.

Surfrider Foundation: International Surfing Day will be celebrated this year on June 19, with the Foundation offering a huge variety of activities, including the Junior Jam Surfing Contest in front of Witches Rock Surf Camp, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and open to all surfers twelve years of age and under. All contestants will be awarded prizes.

The Beach Barbeque/Masters Contest is an all day family romp and feast-a-thon on the beach at Playa Tamarindo. There will be a long board and a short board competition for surfers willing to admit they are over thirty-five years old, followed by an all-age best trick competition.

Nighttime activities will include the Tamarindo Waterman's Ball at the Langosta Beach Club from 7:00 p.m. to 12 a.m. with a small $10 cover. There will be a silent auction with all kinds of cool goodies, food from all the good local restaurants, and live music from our own Avelino. This has historically been a night not to be missed. All proceeds go directly to Surfrider Foundation and the Lifeguard Program. Last year's Ball was held at Hacienda Pinilla and people are still talking about it. For more info, phone Brian Bratton, Chairman of the Tamarindo Chapter of Surfriders Foundation, at 8825.4563 or email him at brian_bratton@yahoo.com.

The monthly Tamarindo Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation will meet at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 24, at the Surf Club Sports Bar in Playa Langosta. The monthly beach clean-up will be at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 12, with all interested participants meeting at the beach access across from Aqua in Tamarindo.

Beach Community Church: The church has recently been hosting a group of twenty-five students from the University of St. Francis, who are here voluntarily to help with some local projects, including painting the elementary school at El Llanito and putting sand under the swing sets and jungle gym at Oneida Park. Nice work and thanks to all of you! From June 14–18, the church will be returning to Nicaragua to work on some of their ongoing construction projects in the impoverished areas of Manchester and Huellas de Jesus. As always, any contributions of second hand clothing, shoes, etc. are always appreciated. They accept cash donations, too! Interested parties can email Lyle Watson at tamarindochurch@aol.com.

If you know of a local foundation that you would like to have participating in this page, please contact us at info@tamarindonews.com