Oliva’s Helping Hands Foundation Invests In Nicaraguan Youth
Established in 2021, the Oliva Helping Hands Foundation was launched by Oliva Cigar Co. with the aim of building a better future for the children of Nicaragua and their families. The foundation focuses specifically on poverty in Nicaragua by targeting critical areas such as education, job opportunities and childcare. The long-term vision is to eventually build schools and daycare facilities in various cigar-producing regions throughout the country, but for now the main focus is in Estelí. While plans for large projects are underway, the foundation is concentrating on more immediate initiatives such as providing vitamins, school supplies and other essentials to children.
The inaugural project for the Oliva Helping Hands Foundation is the Oliva Escuela Elemental, a school the organization plans to build in Estelí. The school will have the capacity for classes from preschool to 8th grade. When it first opens, Escuela Elemental will start with three preschool classrooms and a first-grade class. Every year after, a new grade will be added, eventually reaching a capacity of 350 students.
Most of the funds raised by the foundation will go toward purchasing the land and constructing the 30,000 square-foot school, with hopes of opening its doors in 2024. In the meantime, the foundation has used the $50,000 raised this year to acquire and remodel a smaller facility which 70 preschool students will attend in January of 2023.
The foundation has already made an immediate impact by way of an annual holiday toy drive, which, this year, aims to send 3,000 toys to the children of Nicaragua during the holiday season. So far, 1,000 toys have been collected. The foundation is currently taking on sponsors for the toy drive and offers five levels of sponsorship. Potential participants can also simply make a donation or buy gifts directly on the Amazon registry which can be found in the bio of their Instagram account here.
Earlier this month, Casa de Montecristo, the retail arm of Altadis U.S.A., selected the Oliva Helping Hands Foundation as one of its beneficiaries for the Casa de Montecristo 2022 Tampa Cigar Bash at the Tampa Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. The foundation will also be hosting a fundraising event at the Carnegie Club in New York City in partnership with The Balvenie, a single malt Scotch, where attendees will be able to pair the whisky with an Oliva smoke. The event takes place on November 30. Tickets are $100 for regular admission, $150 for VIP access. Tickets can be purchased here.
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