As Promised…Pictures of the Grand Opening in Santiago, Dominican Republic

Well, it’s been a couple of weeks since we opened Children International’s newly remodeled Robert and Paula Larkin Center in the Cienfuegos community of Santiago, Dominican Republic. This center includes a lovely community hall named “Dan’s Place” in honor of Dan Truax. Dan is a sponsor who was critically injured in an auto accident in the Dominican Republic as part of a missionary team involved in improving the homes of a number of sponsored children. He remains hospitalized, and we wish him all the best in his recovery.

I’ll spare you the details of my delay-riddled flight back to Kansas City…but, as promised, I want to share with you a few pictures from the grand opening of the Larkin Center and Dan’s Place.

Photo 1:
I visited this center a number of times prior to it being remodeled. Had I not known the details, I would not have recognized it as the same place! The larger building in the front is the Robert and Paula Larkin Center, while the slightly smaller building in the rear is Dan’s Place.

Photo 2:
Left to right: Sponsor Bennett Scher, Sponsors Alejandra and Frank Moll, Children International Regional Director Connie Keyser and Children International Vice President of Marketing Brian Anderson rise from the head table in honor of the Dominican and American national anthems.

Photo 3:
Sponsor Frank Moll, who sponsors 27 children – 26 of whom live in the Dominican Republic – addresses the crowd. Although Frank and his wife, Alejandra, live in Los Angeles, their roots are Dominican and Cuban. They are excited about the prospect of helping bring hope to an area of the world that has long been dear to their family.

Photo 4:
A sizable audience of community residents and invited dignitaries joined CI’s local staff to celebrate the inauguration of the Larkin Center and Dan’s Place.

Photo 5:
Alejandra Moll officially inaugurates the Robert and Paula Larkin Center by cutting the ribbon, held by Santiago agency director Amparo Guerrero, as the other sponsors, Children International employees and sponsored children look on.

Photo 6:
Later, a medieval musical ensemble from a local university entertained the audience in Dan’s Place.