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22 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday July 4, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Beyond the Beach makes vacation more rewarding By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Talk, ask, get, give. It's the process Chris Willott relies on to generate the donations he seeks on behalf of children in his favourite vacation place, the Dominican Republic. Willott is one of nine volunteer directors who run the By the Beach Charitable Foundation. It's a completely non-profit effort that runs without expenses and actually requires its executive members, who hail from Canada, the U.S. and the U.K., to each pay $100 for the "privilege" of serving. Willott has asked his dentist for some freebies netting 200 "We will continue to work to obsolescence, when poverty in the developing country is erased." Chris Willott, of Beyond the Beach Cahritable Foundation toothbrushes from the request, and when he and his wife Nenita have some extra cash they head to the dollar store to buy up toothpaste, or other hygiene products. He also clears out the unclaimed remains on the prize table after his company's annual golf tournament, to auction off online for the charity's annual fundraiser, and gathers Canadian Tire money from all kinds of sources to buy school equipment such as DVD players, gardening tools, Tupperware and rope, to name a few items on a lengthy three-page list. It all started when he discovered Debbie's Dominican Republic Travel Forum website in 2004. It's a blog where people like the Willott's -- who "immediately fell in love with the kids on the beaches of the Dominican" -- exchange ideas, information and conversation about their latest travels to the island. The Beyond the Beach Charity Foundation encourages travellers to make the journey to the Dominican and other similar resort destinations, more than a vacation, but a mission to help the children of these countries learn, live, dream, achieve and therefore empower themselves to determine their own future, free from poverty. So far the group has raised $250,000 in cash over four years to buy educational, personal hygiene, health supplies and clothing. "We will continue to work to obsolescence, when poverty in the developing country is erased," added Willott. Just as it is polite to take a gift to a hostess who puts you up for the night, Willott urges visitors to the Dominican Republic to do the same. He and Nenita, pack an extra suitcase of necessities every time they head there. (Most airlines allow passengers to carry 25 to 40 kilograms for humanitarian aid). The Willotts have been eight times...and counting. Another trip is planned for January 2009 to a completely different place on the Caribbean island. Some of the items needed include construction paper, stickers, balloons, glue sticks, pens, pencils, books written in Spanish and Creole, plant seeds, disposable tissues, wall clocks, Lego, Hula Hoops, musical instruments, video cameras, vitamins, Velcro, and non-perishable goods. Donations can even be picked up at resorts, thanks to volunteers. Beyond the Beach primarily relies on the charities in the Dominican to define the needs. Donations are made regularly to the Dream Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving education for children in rural areas and small communities on the country's north coast; and to Mustard Seed, which cares for the most vulnerable and handicapped children by building housing, community and economic projects. To support Beyond the Beach in another way, Willott urges people to make a $10 donation. In turn they'll receive a voucher to win a trip for two for one week at the five-star Majestic Colonial resort in Punta Cana plus $1,500 toward airfare. There are up to 1000 vouchers up for grabs and the draw is held annually on Dec. 31. Visit www.beyondthebeach.ca for further details.