On March 18, 2009 the Sandals Foundation-the long awaited philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts International-was officially inaugurated with a kickoff celebration at Sandals Cay, the offshore island at Sandals Royal Caribbean resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Attended by illustrious supporters and enthusiastic contributors to all of the Sandals Foundation's worthy causes, this event really set the tone for all the wonderful accomplishments and advances that are planned for the future.

Jamaica's Prime Minister, the Honorable Bruce Golding, delivered a heartfelt speech in which he eloquently described the Sandals Foundation's strategies designed to introduce much-needed funds, empowerment initiatives and improvements throughout the Caribbean region in the three target areas of community, education and the environment.

Sesame Workshop's Vice President of Corporate Sponsorship, Anita Stewart signaled her company's intention to join in our effort, when she pledged their firm resolve to work with the Sandals Foundation to reach out to communities across the Caribbean.

Gordon "Butch" Stewart, Sandals Chairman, presented a generous check to Marilyn Nash of Flankers Peace and Justice Centre (one of our very first projects).

Finally, one of the evening's greatest highlights came with the announcement, by Foundation Board Chairman Adam Stewart, of our intention to build the world's first environmentally friendly, Green Globe certified school-an aim which was immediately bolstered by a CDN$50,000 contribution offered by Canada's Yellow Bird Foundation. This grand example of cooperation perfectly sums up the spirit of uniting forces and working together that underlies the very fabric and goals of the Sandals Foundation.

This event was a great start, yet it was just the beginning. In the days and years to come, we at the Sandals Foundation, with the aid of all of our partners and contributors, intend to implement plans, share ideas and give freely of our time, expertise and resources-in order to help make the Caribbean and the world a healthier, safer, greener and happier place to call home.

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Less than two weeks after the launch of the Sandals Foundation, on March 29th, 2009, we kicked things into high gear with a grueling, all-day Spinathon in Montego Bay, Jamaica, led by locally based fitness center, GoodFit. With all the proceeds from this energy-filled affair going towards the building one of the world's first Green Globe certified, environmentally friendly school at Culloden Early Childhood Institution on Jamaica's South Coast, a whole host of energized spinners turned up, from around the island and as far away as Colorado, to pump pedals in unison for an amazing cause!

Enthusiastic teams from companies, such as Margaritaville, Rainforest Sea Foods, Wysinco, Island Entertainment, Cafe Blue and Sandals & Beaches Resorts (who all acted as event co-sponsors), participated in hour-long stints of non-stop pedaling that lasted from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sandals Foundation Board Chairman and Sandals Resorts International CEO, Adam Stewart, set the pace on this amazing day as he worked up a sweat for a truly inspirational cause.

And, at the end of this marathon spinning extravaganza, our tired, but satisfied band of bikers had actually raised an unbelievable JA$1.8 million, bringing the Sandals Foundation goal of an almost unprecedented, totally green school set on Jamaica’s beautiful shores one step closer to fruition. Once again, we were able to see just how much can be accomplished when people get together, give what they can and work as one to make a difference—right here in the Caribbean and around the globe!