Grace generously promised again to donate a percentage of sales, this time to Children’s home Casa Cuna in Aruba. Recently, Corina Linssen, Director of the home, accepted a generous check from the artist in presence of Astrid Muller. Casa Cuna surprised the artist Grace Ashruf with a beautiful thank you painting, created with colorfull prints of the little hands and feet of all the children residing in Casa Cuna. In 2009 Grace donated in the same way part of her proceeds to Kinderhuis Imeldahof. One of her art collectors added an extra amount to the donation, Just like in 2009,

Casa Cuna Progreso Foundation is a children’s home society and was founded on April the 4^th 1957. (The foundation has an important place within the Aruban Community)

Children between 0-8 years old, residing in Aruba and that are subject to the inclusion criteria of Casa Cuna Progreso are cared for and supervised. The assistance that Casa Cuna Progreso offers focuses merely on children who are in a difficult parenting situation. With difficult parenting situation is meant that there could be a crisis situation in the family, educational or emotional neglect, abuse, behavioral or emotional problems.

Contact information Artiest Grace Ashruf:

Grace Ashruf

rahusen@setarnet.aw

Cel phone: 5042614

Home: 5865877

Contact information Casa Cuna:

Corina Linssen

Directeur

Email : casacuna@setarnet.aw

Tel:  00297-5857177

Fax: 00297- 5853010

Friends of the Handicapped, FOH, is holding its annual fundraising Sweethearts’ Ball at the Radisson Aruba Resort Casino & Spa on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 2012.

Many of Aruba’s not-for-profit organizations working on behalf of the mentally, physically or emotionally challenged rely on the generous annual donation of funds raised via various activities among them a Superbowl event and the Sweethearts’ Ball on Valentine’s Day.

Friends of the Handicapped is a volunteer organization of tourists wintering on the island at Casa Del Mar, Aruba Beach Club, Costa Linda and Playa Linda. They solicit direct donations and also receive some contributions from CEDE Aruba, Centro pa Desaroyo Social di Aruba—the Center for Social Development of Aruba, a Dutch initiative which rewards local fund-raising activities by matching additional funds for social projects.

To date, the extraordinary visitors have collected much more than one million florins and have donated the funds to local associations and organizations, dedicated to the welfare of Aruba’s mentally and physically handicapped.

Among recipients of annual generous checks Mi Por, an organization of mothers with handicapped infants, Foster Home Imeldahof, the Edmund Harms Hospice Foundation, the hearing-impaired Funari school & FEPO, Fundacion Respeta Mi which guards against child abuse, Ambiente Nobo, sister Philothea’s home for the handicapped, Ambiente Feliz & AVA, catering to special-need kids, Centro Kibrahacha a recreation facility for the elderly, Bibito Pin, a school for children with disabilities, Fundacion Cas Marie, dedicated to those suffering from dementia, Clown Doctors who visit the elderly and also kids in the children’s ward at the hospital, the Red Cross dedicated to disaster first response and management and Fundacion Pa Nos Muchanan whose name indicates care for children, Falpa, foundation Arubano pa lectura, Adopt an Addict, FAVI, helping the visually impaired, Thuiszorg Aruba, Sea-Epilepsie and Samba, a rehab center.

Foundation President Art Stark spearheads the efforts and together with other volunteers orchestrates events and consequent check presentations. The funds given to the NGOs usually pay for transport, renovations, educational materials, kitchen equipment, wheel chairs and conferences, promoting understanding and acceptance of handicapped members of our society.

This year, Stark reports the Sweethearts’ Valentine’s Day Dinner & Dance at the Radisson Aruba Resort Casino & Spa, offers tickets for $90.00 per person or Awg 150, and includes cocktails, dinner, live music with NBO, dancing, and door prizes, from 7.00pm, on the 14th, with a casual elegant dress code, no jackets required. Another event is a mega Bingo on the 24th of February, at the Renaissance Convention Center downtown, starting at 8:00pm.  Call 586-3273 for tickets or information.

Pictured here FOH and NGO representatives at check presentation!

The Aruba Heart Foundation is a volunteer-based health organization, which is nonprofit and non-governmental. It is exclusively concerned with the promotion of a healthy heart.

Dr. Rollyn Angela, a house doctor, educated the resort associates about the importance of heart health, especially for women since heart disease is the #1 cause of death among females. He also explained how to prevent and control heart and cardiovascular diseases.

All associates received a red dress pin which is a symbol of the fight against heart disease, as wearing the pin confirms participation in the movement.

The evening included an Anniversary Celebration, an award-presentation to the Colleague, Supervisor and Manager of the Year, a three-course lobster and steak dinner, festive dessert and dance music with Tsunami.

Attended by the resort’s managers and department heads who mingled and welcomed their peers, the evening was a much enjoyed success, as colleagues celebrating silver anniversaries were escorted by family members, who also got to share their moment of glory and appreciation.

Just before dinner, General Manager Rob Smith asked family members to get up and be acknowledged for their support of the hard-working anniversary celebrants. He also praised the unchanging spirit of hospitality which prevails at the resort, and while physical changes take place every day, he said, the soul of the Grande Dame remains evergreen, offering genuine Aruban warmth and welcome, treasured by resort guests

Among those honored that evening: Rugia Siliee, Albert Tromp,  Regenita Arends, Nuria Cafarzuza, Clive Courtar, Rosindo Richardson, Margarita Vries, Augustin Kelly, Joan Hodge, Judith Koeiman, Marvinia Richardson, Glenn Farro, Frank Erasmus, Orving Croes, Norman Dijkhoff, Thomas Giel, Dominico Martilia, Monico Ruiz, Rofino Ruiz, Hector Wilson, Rosa Maduro, Bibi Ohab, Esther Simmons, Lidwina Rasmijn, Juan Semerel, Marina Carti, Ruthmila Pieternella, Henry Scott, and Kenny Solognier.

When talking to General Manager Rob Smith, Soal brought up the subject of hearing aids and Smith immediately pledged a complimentary vacation stay against hearing aid expertise.

This week Soal is back at the resort and at work since Monday having delivered not just one but twenty six hearings aids. Renny was his first client, at the beginning of the week, having received and having been fitted with the latest model, at no charge.

Angelique Croes from the Human Resources Department got in touch with neighboring resort and before long thirteen hearing impaired individuals received Soal’s expert care; some were introduced to the world and the way it sounds for the very first time!

Soal reports the manufacturers he supports via his business in Georgetown were happy to donate the apparatuses, and while on vacation here with wife Jennifer and baby Iyla, also enjoying the company of a loving set of grandparents, Soal is able to make time for his passion, making a difference, one hearing aid at a time.

Pictured here Cory Soal at work in his room at the resort, supported by his family; also pictured a group picture of all recipients. Special molded ear pieces will be customized upon Soal’s return to the US the sent back to the island to make the hearing aids even more comfortable for their wearers. Renny will be the technician making the installations, having been taught how to, by Soal.

Incidentally,  in June of last year, Rendolf Richardson was nominated by resort executive Randell Boekhouder to the Colleague of the Month award, citing Renny is dedicated to making guests’ stays at the pool as enjoyable as possible, taking ownership of all areas of responsibility and providing guests with special services. Renny was awarded the coveted title for June, and presented with a special plaque by General Manager Rob Smith.

The Starks have been coming to Aruba, and the Radisson Aruba Resort Casino & Spa for the past ten consecutive years, and at different times, to different hotels on the island since 1984, more that 22 trips to date. “We are grateful for your economic contributions to the island,” said Darline,” but mostly we are grateful for the relationships you forged with our people, considering Aruba your home away from home.”

Pictured here the Distinguished Visitors ceremony, at Mira Solo Sunrise Café.

Notary Yarzagaray who purchased the building from Cohen spearheaded the project of renovation and restoration studying Antillean architecture and collecting information regarding the efforts made in Scharloo, Willemstad, Curacao.

Having completed the project, the building now serves Notary Yarzagaray-Bodeker & Partners, as a second location, in addition to L.G. Smith 20.

L.G. Smith 12 is presently a gem of Caribbean architecture featuring many typical colonial elements including French doors, louvered windows, polished wood floors, vintage lighting fixtures, color glass vitrages, and plantation wall and ceiling moldings on the inside.

On the outside, painted a cheerful shade of yellow the building shows off Dutch gables, a colonnade with porticos, and rows of potted flowering plants.

Every detail, down to the ornamental gates and garden walls, are true to the original colonial building style. “I knew we could not bulldoze this monument,” says the Notary, “it had to be restored to its own former grandeur, and given a total facelift.”

The building is also nicely decorated. The white walls in the marble tiled foyer display art by the late Juancho Dijkhoff,  one of the pieces finished after his passing by artist Elvis Tromp. Several works by Eliza Lejuez grace the office walls, all themed around the renovation of the property.

Many original features were preserved such as the typical Dutch wooden staircase leading to the second floor, constructed in the early 1940s, the colorful mosaic floor tiles, and plaster-of Paris corridors, the style of the old Delft Blue inspired kitchen was reproduced paired with modern bathrooms.

We wish the firm success in its new location, L.G. Smith 12 is certainly something to be very proud of.

The tournament, traditionally held at Tierra Del Sol, will include an award ceremony, a charity auction with valuable offers and an elegant reception catered by Ventanas del Mar restaurant at the end of the golfing day.

Teams of 4 players are invited to sign up with Director of Resort Operations Robert Curtis and with Tierra del Sol’s Head Golf Professional Adam Williamson. Local and international companies and individuals are also invited to become golf-hole sponsors during the event.

The annual golf event is dedicated to the memory of the late Gary Jutz, who was the Radisson Aruba Resort Casino & Spa General Manager, until mid 2009, when he lost his battle with cancer.

Last year, the tournament raised a total of $20,235.78. The amount was divided among three charities, the World Childhood Foundations which works on behalf of most-often ignored and forgotten street kids, especially girls, living in institutions, including young mothers and sexually abused children. The World Childhood Foundation received $10,117.89.  Two local foundations, the Wilhelmina Kanker Fonds and the Edmund Harms Hospice Foundation, received $5,058.94 each.

Many Aruban companies were among generous local tournament players and sponsors, too numerous to mention, and the Radisson Aruba Resort Casino & Spa would like to recruit their help again, to make this year’s edition of the tournament equally successful.

In our picture, Lili Prince of the Koninging Wilhelmina Fonds,  and Juliska Harms on behalf of the Edmund Foundation, receiving a donation from the Radisson Aruba Resort Casino & Spa representatives, tournament organizers Glenn Farro, Bob Curtis, Tasha Agana, Raquel Lesire, Germaine Wever and General Manager Rob Smith.

John from Amazonia Churrascaria explains most staffers gained weight since the food is so good, and are trying to get back to their original body-frame ruined by the holidays, with the incentive of winning an all paid spring vacation, when Awg 2,800 will be handed to the leanest contestant!

Michael Blair, Mary Ann Kock, Sharon Solognier, Andy Mendez, Roxana Vrolijk and Otmar Ponse completed five years on the job, while Deborah Kelly, Mariela Gietel, William Salazar, David Francis Lishbourne, Eliseo Guerrero, Fausto Cabrera, Ramon Rosendo Garcia, Maybeline Wester and Josanne Jones counted ten years of service. Ingrid de Marchena, Pedro Lozano and Luz Marleny Agudelo Bermudez, concluded fifteen years and were all presented by handsomely engraved crystal plaques and words of appreciation from  Managing Director Bas v/d Nieuwenhuijzen who thanked his core employees for their loyalty and steadfast assistance.

Pictured here and anniversary celebration, complemented by food, music and drink, under the stars in the club house garden.