WELFARE
"CONNECTING HEARTS AND COMMUNITIES"
At Dorado Cares, our commitment to social welfare is multifaceted. It involves creating both a safety net for families facing challenges such as unemployment, housing instability and mental health issues, but also enriching the lives of all by collaborating with municipalities and community leaders to improve social infrastructure. We understand that social support is crucial for individuals and families to thrive, and we aim to provide comprehensive resources, services and amenities at the community level. Our programs are designed to directly impact communities by empowering individuals and prioritizing projects that offer long-term recurring benefits. We cannot do it alone. Your contributions will enable us to strengthen our outreach efforts and ultimately enhance the quality of life for those struggling in our communities.
CHAIRPERSON: Amelia Carter - 415.299.0143 amelia@doradocares.org
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: TBD
BENEFICIARIES: Levittown section 2, Hogar Santa Teresita, Municipality of Toa Baja, ACUTAS , Sweet Corp, Municipality of Toa Alta, Hospital Wilma Vazquez, San Jorge Childrens Hospital, PR Womens and Childrens Hospital, Hospital Pediatrico Universitario, San Jose Community, APNI, Foundation de Nino de Puerto Rico, Island Corps
VIEW PRINT-READY SOCIAL WELFARE MISSION FLYER
PROGRAMS
Program 29:
Hogar Santa Teresita - $100,000 Grant
Program Overview
Dorado Cares has an extraordinary opportunity to change the lives of some of Puerto Rico’s most vulnerable children—and we need your help to make it happen. In Arecibo, Hogar Santa Teresita is a safe haven for 13 children, ages 3 to 8, who have endured severe abuse and have been removed from their homes by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for their own safety. Here, they find shelter, education, and the emotional support needed to begin healing from unimaginable trauma. But the walls that protect them are in urgent need of repair, and the organization struggles daily to meet its operational needs.
Hogar has already been approved for a $1 million federal FEMA grant to repair and improve its facility and strengthen its operations for years to come. This funding will make the home safer, more sustainable, and better equipped to care for these children’s physical, educational, and emotional needs. But there is one obstacle standing in the way: FEMA requires a 10% local match. For Hogar, that means raising $100,000—a figure far beyond their reach given their limited access to donors and funding networks.
This is where Dorado Cares and our community of supporters can make a transformational impact. By raising the $100,000 match, we will unlock the full $1 million in federal funding. Every dollar we raise doesn’t just go toward repairs—it multiplies tenfold in impact. Your contribution will turn a damaged building into a fully restored, nurturing home for children who have already been through more pain than most of us could imagine. This is a rare chance to magnify your generosity into something truly life-changing.
We have already raised $25,000 toward our goal. Now, in August and early September, we are calling on our friends, neighbors, corporate partners, and donors near and far to help us raise the remaining $75,000. The clock is ticking—if we cannot raise the match, the $1 million in FEMA funding will be lost, and this once-in-a-generation opportunity for Hogar Santa Teresita will vanish.
Your gift is more than a donation—it is a lifeline. It is the promise of safety to a child who has known only fear. It is the chance for a young boy or girl to sleep in a warm bed, learn in a safe classroom, and play without worry. Please, stand with us today. Help Dorado Cares unlock $1 million for Hogar Santa Teresita and give these children the secure, loving environment they deserve. Together, we can make this happen.
Impact Statements
Program 27:
Puerto Rico Wallball Association Sponsorship - World Championships Netherlands
Program Overview
Dorado Cares to Sponsor Puerto Rico’s Delegation to the 2025 World Wallball Championships
Dorado Cares is proud to announce our role as the main sponsor of the Puerto Rican delegation of athletes and coaches traveling to the Netherlands this August to compete in the World Wallball Championships 2025. This prestigious international event brings together elite players from across the globe, and for Puerto Rico, it is a rare and powerful opportunity to showcase our talent, passion, and competitive spirit on the world stage.
For many of these dedicated athletes, participation in this championship would not have been possible without outside support. The financial burden of travel, accommodation, and competition fees often places international tournaments far beyond reach. Through our sponsorship, Dorado Cares is removing those barriers, allowing our athletes to focus solely on their training, performance, and representing Puerto Rico with pride.
This is more than just a sporting event—it is a chance to elevate Puerto Rico’s visibility and reputation in the global sports community. The World Wallball Championships will be a platform where our athletes can display the richness, diversity, and resilience of our island. Every serve, volley, and victory will not only belong to the players but to every Puerto Rican who believes in perseverance, community, and the pursuit of excellence.
Dorado Cares’ commitment to this delegation reflects our broader mission: to invest in opportunities that strengthen our communities, empower individuals, and bring pride to our island. By supporting these athletes, we are fostering the next generation of champions, role models, and ambassadors for Puerto Rico. We believe that success on the court can inspire success far beyond it—encouraging young people to dream big, work hard, and carry their Puerto Rican heritage with pride wherever they go.
As the countdown to the World Wallball Championships begins, we invite our community to rally behind our athletes. Let us cheer them on as they bring their skill, heart, and the flag of Puerto Rico to the world. Together, through sports, we can continue to tell the story of an island that thrives on passion, determination, and unity.
Impact Statements
Program 25:
Hogar Santa Teresita - AC Units
Program Overview
Hogar Santa Teresita in Arecibo is a safe refuge for 13 children, ages 3 to 8, who have endured severe abuse and have been removed from their homes by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for their own safety. Here, they are provided with shelter, education, therapy, and the stability they desperately need during one of the most difficult times in their young lives. But when Dorado Cares visited Hogar earlier this year as part of our larger effort to help unlock $1 million in FEMA funding for the facility, we discovered a critical and urgent problem: the entire home was without air conditioning.
With the hot summer months approaching, this was far more than a matter of comfort—it was about the health, safety, and well-being of the children and staff. Waiting months to raise the full $100,000 FEMA match before addressing this urgent need was not an option. In May 2025, Dorado Cares acted immediately, providing a $10,000 grant to purchase and install new air conditioning units throughout the facility. Our team oversaw every step of the process, from equipment selection to installation, ensuring that the work was done quickly and to the highest standard.
The impact was immediate. For the first time in years, the children at Hogar Santa Teresita could sleep, study, and play in a safe, cool environment—free from the stifling heat that can be both physically exhausting and emotionally draining. Staff members could focus on providing care and support without worrying about overheated rooms or the toll extreme temperatures can take on vulnerable children. This is a clear example of how a small but dynamic charity like Dorado Cares can make swift, decisive action when it matters most, responding to real-life challenges in real time.
While this specific need is now fully met, our mission at Hogar Santa Teresita is far from complete. We are still working to raise the remaining $75,000 needed in August and September to meet FEMA’s 10% match requirement and unlock $1 million in federal funding for critical repairs and operational support at the home. The air conditioning project is proof of what we can accomplish together—and with your help, we can deliver an even greater transformation for these children who deserve safety, stability, and hope for the future.
Impact Statements
Program 21:
Levittown Soccer Complex and Handball Courts
Program Overview
Dorado Cares is undertaking one of the most ambitious community revitalization projects in our history—a $1 million transformation of an abandoned municipal baseball field in Levittown, Toa Baja, into a vibrant 5-field soccer complex and 10 new handball courts. This site, once a symbol of neglect and storm damage, will become a beacon of opportunity, health, and pride for one of Puerto Rico’s most underserved barrios. By restoring this municipal asset and giving it back to the people, we are creating a place where youth, families, and neighbors can come together around sport, connection, and shared purpose.
For years, the field in Levittown has stood as a reminder of damage from past hurricanes and the toll of vandalism and disuse. Beginning September 2025, demolition and cleanup will pave the way for a total rebirth—renovated grandstands, brand-new bathrooms and locker rooms, a functioning kitchen, upgraded utilities, and new lighting for evening play. Where weeds and debris once stood, there will be world-class soccer fields and the largest handball and racquetball facility in Puerto Rico.
This dual-sport approach ensures the facility will serve a wide range of community interests. The soccer complex will become home to Califa CF, a new club committed to delivering a broad community-based program that welcomes all ages and skill levels, while also offering elite training for gifted athletes. The handball courts will serve as the official base for the Puerto Rico Wallball Association—whose athletes, also sponsored by Dorado Cares, will proudly represent the island at the World Cup in the Netherlands this August. These partnerships will ensure the facility is not just a sports venue, but a hub for mentorship, discipline, and athletic excellence.
This is more than an investment in fields and courts—it is an investment in people. Sports provide a powerful platform for teaching teamwork, perseverance, and leadership, especially for youth in communities where opportunity is often scarce. The Levittown Soccer and Handball Complex will give children and teenagers a safe place to gather, train, and dream, while offering adults and seniors a welcoming environment to stay active and engaged. It will unite neighbors, inspire the next generation, and become a proud landmark for Toa Baja for decades to come.
Thanks to the generosity of Dorado donors, corporate sponsors, and vendor partners providing deep discounts for charitable work, this vision is becoming reality. When complete, the site will stand as proof that when a community comes together—with resources, expertise, and heart—we can take what was broken and turn it into something extraordinary. This is the future we are building in Levittown: a place where the roar of the crowd replaces the silence of abandonment, and where the spirit of sport lifts the spirit of an entire community.
Impact Statements
Program 19:
ACUTAS After School Programming
Plus Pallet Jack
Program Overview
In 2025, Dorado Cares deepened its partnership with ACUTAS in Toa Baja by providing an $18,000 grant to sustain and strengthen their vital after-school program. This funding included $3,000 for the purchase of a pallet stacker, enabling the center to more efficiently move and store the food supplies that nourish both children and elders who rely on ACUTAS daily. The remaining $15,000 was dedicated to the operating costs of the after-school program—covering essential needs such as educational resources, recreational materials, fresh food ingredients, and partial support for the dedicated caregivers and educators who guide and mentor the children each day.
The after-school program at ACUTAS is far more than a place to pass the time. It is a safe haven where neighborhood children receive tutoring, discover new skills, enjoy healthy meals, and most importantly, feel valued and supported. Many come from families facing economic hardship, and for them, ACUTAS represents stability, opportunity, and hope.
Our investment in ACUTAS is an investment in the community’s future. By ensuring that this program has the resources it needs, we help create an environment where children can grow academically, socially, and emotionally—laying the foundation for a stronger, more connected Toa Baja. Dorado Cares is proud to stand alongside ACUTAS, knowing that the work they do every day changes lives in real and lasting ways
Impact Statements
Program 10:
Year-End Holiday Gifting 2024
Program Overview
In 2024, Dorado Cares proudly continued its tradition of giving with its Year End Holiday Gifting Program, bringing joy and hope to over 7,000 sick and impoverished children across Puerto Rico for the third consecutive year. By collaborating with community leaders in more than 100 communities and four hospitals, we created a network of support that not only brightened the holiday season but also fostered a sense of unity among the participants. Over the past 26 months, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Dorado community, we have positively impacted the lives of over 20,000 children, ensuring that each child feels valued and cherished during difficult times. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our partners, including Hospital Pediatrico Universitario, San Jorge Children’s Hospital, PR Women and Children’s Hospital, Wilma N. Vazquez Hospital, Fundacion de Nino de PR, and Fundacion Hospital Pediatrico, for their unwavering support in making this initiative a resounding success. A special shout out to Preeti Agarwal from the Dorado community, and her teacup poodle “Cookie” who always has the greatest positive impact with the sick kids, the parents in despair and the phenomenal hospital staff who deal with trauma day and night.
Impact Statements
Program 4:
Dorado Cares Annual Gift Giving 2023
Program Overview
During the year-end holiday season Dorado Cares doubled down on our gifting program and donated over 5,000 gifts to sick and impoverished children around numerous Barrios in Puerto Rico. This year in order to expand both our reach and impact to those with the greatest need, we partnered with several other established foundations including Waldemiro Velez Soto from Acutas and Stepanie Moore from Foundacion de ninos de Puerto Rico. Through these partnerships we were able to gain access to young children facing challenges in their lives including those hospitalized at San Jorges Childrens Hospital and Puerto Ricos Womens and Childrens Hospital including their Oncology wards. These visits were made extra special for the children because Preeti Agarwal from Angel AI brought along service dog Jax and puppy Cookie to lighten up each of the rooms as we made our way around visiting with these children facing these challenges. A special thanks to Patricia Calderon at San Jorge Childrens Hospital and Gabrield Diaz at Puerto Rico Womens and Childrens Hospital for allowing us access and making us feel welcome.
Impact Statements
Program 2:
Dorado Cares Annual Gift Giving 2022
Program Overview
In December 2022 Dorado Cares embarked on the first of our planned annual year-end holiday season gifting programs. This recurring program will seek to donate high quality, often educational or inspirational gifts to sick and impoverished children in Puerto Rico around the Christmas and 3-Kings Day celebrations. In our first year we raised $155,000 which enabled us to implement a year-end gift giving drive to provide over 3,000 children aged toddler through 13 years of age with gifts to celebrate the holiday season. To pull off such an expansive giving program we enlisted the help of the Dorado community including children and parents to actively participate in procuring gifts, wrapping gifts and hand delivering gifts into these surrounding struggling communities. We also partnered with the municipalities of Toa Baja and San Jose and several existing foundations operating in Puerto Rico including ACUTAS and Island Corps.
Specific beneficiaries of the 2022 year-end holiday gifting program included:
358 gifts to Sabana Seca ward
474 gifts to Iglesia Sinai at Campanillas ward
greater than 1200 gifts to children attendees at the Toa Baja 3 kings day festivities.
185 children in San Jose
300 gifts to neuro divergent children ages Pre-K to 2nd grade attending title 1 schools at Escuela Agapito Rosario in Vega Baja and Escuela Comunidad Rafael Hernandez in Oriente Hato Rey.
300 children at Villa Calma 1 and 2, and Villa Del Sol.