help us help 700 students in need!

Two smiling students of the Ann & Ted Kheel Polytechnic School

Grupo PUNTACANA’s efforts to maintain a natural and healthy ecological environment is something we, PUNTACANA Resort & Club, are very proud of. Protecting our ecosystem is crucial for maintaining bright

and balanced surroundings. Similarly we take a special interest in educating and helping the people around us as well. Helping cultivate the PUNTACANA and its neighboring community has proven to be a rewarding adventure we look forward to bettering the education in the Dominican Republic.

Due to this philosophy the PUNTACANA Foundation built the Ann & Ted Kheel Polytechnic School which is the only semi-public high school within many miles of the Punta Cana International Airport.
The Ann & Ted Kheel Polytechnic High School was built and equipped by the PUNTACANA Foundation in 2004 in the nearby community of Veron. It is serving young people from poor families. Students receive a basic high school education as well as technical training in areas like computer science, hospitality, electricity, plumbing , cooking and refrigeration, as well as English language. An Administrative Committee headed by the Catholic Church, the PUNTACANA Foundation, the Dominican Republic Ministry of Education and an Association of Parents and Friends of the Institution currently manages the Polytechnic. An Elementary School (5th to 8th grades) has been functioning during the afternoons in the same facilities since August 2011.

---

Ann & Ted Kheel Polytechnic School

The Polytechnic is dedicated to the late Theodore W. Kheel, co-founder of Grupo PUNTACANA, and his late wife, Mrs. Ann S. Kheel, who served on numerous educational commissions and was instrumental in the civil rights movement in the United States.

Poverty in the Dominican Republic has caused a rift in the educational system whereas trade skills have proven to help student interest and productivity.  Students take general computing classes and are also trained on software applications commonly used in the workplace. The Polytechnic school understands the importance of English Literacy for employment opportunities, internet and computer usage, as well as developmental training.  

---

The PUNTACANA Foundation is looking to raise enough money to help 562 students, 11 teachers, and 138 young adults. By receiving donations through Global Giving, here, The implementation of an suitable and innovative educational program would make a big difference in the teaching methodologies. All donations are appreciated and taken into account, simply raising $10 extra dollars allows for our team to buy cement and help improve infrastructure, $15 allows for three different classroom setting English Games! The immediate effects of this tremendous funding effort are beautiful, like seeing a teacher receive the appropriate materials to give a lesson and in turn motivating a student.  Yet, what is even more impressive are the long term affects and potential impact. "More effective English classes will increase the students' skill and improve their rate of knowledge absorption, also affecting the students' future. ”

So far this project in particular has raised over $170,000 with only a tenth of that amount left in order for the total goal to be reached. We are excited to keep you updated with our latest progress and hopefully a few happy pictures along the way! If you’re interested in  learning more about our pro bono projects please visit globalgiving.org and type in Puntacana.

---