Cigar Family Charitable Foundation Inc

TO PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT HUMANITARIAN IMPACT TO COMMUNITIES IN THE (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) DOMINICAN REPUBLIC RESULTING IN A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE TO THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE A LACK OF EDUCATION, POOR ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND NUTRITION AND WHO HAVE LITTLE OR NO SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYMENT.

EDUCATION: PRIMARY SCHOOL - THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FUNDACION HUMO DE AMOR (FHA)(DOMICILED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC THAT OPERATES THE CFC COMPLEX), THE CIGAR FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION (CFCF) PROVIDES A FREE EDUCATION TO OVER 450 STUDENTS, PRESCHOOL THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE IN THE BONAO COMMUNITY. TO ATTRACT THE BEST TEACHERS, CFCF HAS PARTNERED WITH THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION TO SUPPLEMENT TEACHER SALARIES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO SUPPLIES STUDENTS WITH SCHOOL UNIFORMS, INCLUDING SHOES, T-SHIRTS AND PANTS, AS WELL AS BOOK BAGS. CLASSES IN GRAMMAR, MATHEMATICS, SCIENCES, COMPUTERS AND THE ARTS PROVIDE A WELL-ROUNDED CURRICULUM RIVALING MANY AMERICAN SCHOOLS. IN ADDITION, ENGLISH AND FRENCH CLASSES ARE TAUGHT, WITH MANY STUDENTS BECOMING BILINGUAL UPON GRADUATION. (SEE SCHEDULE O)(CONTINUED FROM PART III)HIGH SCHOOL - STUDENTS OF THE CIGAR FAMILY SCHOOL HAD NO PLACE TO GO TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION AND FINISH HIGH SCHOOL. TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THESE CHILDREN, CIGAR FAMILY HIGH SCHOOL WAS OPENED IN 2005. NOW OVER 250 STUDENTS EXPERIENCE A WELLROUNDED CORE EDUCATION OF GRAMMAR, MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE, LIKE MANY AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOLS. ADDITIONALLY, OTHER PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED, SUCH AS COMPUTERS AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING. STUDENTS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN MANY EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AT THE COMPLEX SUCH AS THE SPORTS PROGRAMS AND THE ORGANIC FARMING INITIATIVES. STUDENTS ARE LEARNING HOW TO BECOME LEADERS, BE SELF MOTIVATED AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES, THUS BREAKING THE CYCLE OF POVERTY THAT HAS BEEN PREVALENT IN THIS AREA FOR SO LONG.TECHNICAL SCHOOL - STUDENTS OF THE CIGAR FAMILY HIGH SCHOOLS WERE FORCED TO TRAVEL MANY HOURS A DAY OR MOVE TO BIGGER CITIES TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. FOR MANY THIS WAS DIFFICULT OR NOT POSSIBLE DUE TO THE ECONOMIC RESOURCES THEY HAD AVAILABLE. IN 2019 THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL FINISHED THE CONSTRUCTION AND ACCREDITATION PROCESS TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO NOW COMPLETE A BROAD RANGE OF SUBJECTS AND EARN DEGREES AT THE CIGAR FAMILY COMPLEX. WE ARE PROUD TO OFFER THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR STUDENTS AND TRUST THAT THE BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY WILL BE FELT FOR GENERATIONS.

THESE PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES ARE ATTRIBUTED TO THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FUNDACION HUMO DE AMOR (FHA) (DOMICILED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC THAT OPERATES THE CFC COMPLEX) FOR PROGRAMS SUCH AS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, SPORTS AND RECREATION, CONSTRUCTION, AND MAINTENANCE AND LAND DEVELOPMENT. ONE OF THE GREAT BYPRODUCTS OF THE CIGAR FAMILY COMPLEX HAS BEEN TO INSTILL COOPERATION AND SUPPORT AMONG THE PEOPLE AND LEADERS WHO LIVE IN THE REGION OF CARIBE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC THAT, PRIOR TO THIS COMPLEX, EACH REGION WAS VERY TERRITORIAL WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES. OUR PROGRAMS TRAIN COMMUNITY LEADERS TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE DECISIONS OF THE COMPLEX AND HOST A MYRIAD OF ACTIVITIES INCLUDING CULTURAL EVENTS, EDUCATIONAL MOVIE NIGHTS, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING TOWN ANNIVERSARIES AND FESTIVALS. OUR GRANT PROGRAMS HAVE ALSO BEEN INTEGRAL IN PROVIDING SANITARY WATER THROUGH A FILTER DISTRIBUTION CAMPAIGN TO THIS AND SURROUNDING REGIONS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD ONLY HAVE ACCESS TO CONTAMINATED, PARASITIC WATER.

HEALTHCARE: GENERAL HEALTHCARE - THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FUNDACION HUMO DE AMOR (FHA) (DOMICILED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC THAT OPERATES THE CFC COMPLEX), A COMMUNITY COMPLEX IN BONAO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC PROVIDES AN ARRAY OF SERVICES TO STUDENTS AS WELL AS THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY. SERVICES INCLUDE OB/GYN, PEDIATRICS, LABORATORY TESTING, PHARMACY AND EMERGENCY SERVICES. PROBLEMS RANGE FROM MALNUTRITION TO THE PREVENTION AND EARLY DETECTION OF CERVICAL CANCER. SINCE ITS OPENING, DEADLY DISEASES IN THE REGION HAVE BEEN DIMINISHED THROUGH IMMUNIZATIONS, MALNUTRITION HAS BEEN NEARLY WIPED OUT, AND LIVES HAVE BEEN SAVED THANKS TO EARLY DETECTION AND REGULAR CANCER SCREENINGS. (SEE SCHEDULE O)(CONTINUED FROM PART III)DENTAL PROGRAM - BEFORE THE CLINIC OPENED, IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL FOR A CHILD 18 YEARS OLD AND YOUNGER TO HAVE NEVER SEEN A TOOTHBRUSH, NEVER MIND RECEIVING ANY DENTAL CARE. THANKS TO THE CIGAR FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, A DENTIST IS ABLE TO VISIT THE COMPLEX ONCE A WEEK, PROVIDING STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WITH AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SERVICES RANGING FROM REGULAR CLEANINGS TO CAVITY WORK AND OVERALL GOOD DENTAL HYGIENE. TOOTHBRUSHES AND TOOTHPASTE ARE GIVEN OUT AT THE COMPLEX, ENSURING A BRIGHTER SMILE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.WATER PURIFICATION - PRIOR TO THE HELP OF THE CIGAR FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, CHILDREN HAD TO WALK MILES TO THE NEAREST RIVER TO COLLECT UNSANITARY WATER FOR THEIR FAMILY TO DRINK. THROUGH THE GENEROUS EFFORTS OF MANY CIVIC GROUPS AND VOLUNTEERS AT THE CIGAR FAMILY COMPLEX, THESE SAME CHILDREN NOW HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN, SANITARY DRINKING WATER.EYE GLASS INITIATIVE - SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO PROVIDE OPHTHALMOLOGICAL SUPPORT FOR THE CIGAR FAMILY COMPLEX. PARTNERING WITH THE TAMPA, FL MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND CHAMPIONED BY ONE OF THE FOUNDING BOARD MEMBERS, A TEAM OF MEDICAL DOCTORS, CERTIFIED OPTOMETRISTS, ASSISTANTS AND VOLUNTEERS TRAVEL TO OUR COMPLEX AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES VISITING, EXAMINING AND OUTFITTING THOSE IN NEED WITH PRESCRIPTION EYE GLASSES. EACH DAY THE TEAM WILL EXAMINE HUNDREDS OF LOCALS IDENTIFYING THOSE THAT HAVE EYE RELATED PROBLEMS. TO DATE OVER 10,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SERVED UNDER THIS INITIATIVE IN THE BONAO REGION OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

NUTRITION AND AGRICULTURE: THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FUNDACION HUMO DE AMOR (FHA) (DOMICILED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC THAT OPERATES THE CFC COMPLEX), THE PRIMARY SCHOOL WITHIN THE CIGAR FAMILY COMPLEX GIVES STUDENTS A NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AT NO COST. FOR SOME, THIS MAY BE THEIR ONLY NUTRITIOUS MEAL OF THE DAY. THROUGH SOME OF THE VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFERED, THE CIGAR FAMILY COMPLEX GROWS A PORTION OF THEIR OWN FOOD BY PLANTING CROPS. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE A VALUABLE, COST-EFFECTIVE MEANS TO FEED THE CHILDREN AND ALSO PROVIDE INVALUABLE TOOLS TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES FOR THOSE THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO LEARN HOW TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR OWN FAMILIES. (SEE SCHEDULE O)(CONTINUED FROM PART III)THE SPORTS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, BASEBALL, KARATE AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. THE COMPLEX ALSO HOSTS SEVERAL SPORT TOURNAMENTS AND CHILDREN'S SUMMER PROGRAMS. OUR GRANT SUPPORT OF MAINTENANCE AND LAND DEVELOPMENT ARISES FROM THE SEVERE WEATHER OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC WHICH REQUIRES CONTINUAL MAINTENANCE OF THE PROPERTY AND THE OCCASIONAL REPAIR NEEDED DUE TO STORM DAMAGE.