[Your Name]
[Street Address]
[City, ST ZIP Code]
[Recipient Name] [Title]
[Street Address]
[City, ST ZIP Code]
Dear [Recipient Name]:
This year I will be participating in the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) / Center for Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies 2009 Alternative Spring Break to the Dominican Republic (DR). The three credit course entitled, “A Visit to the Santo Domingo and Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic: History, Culture, Globalization and Community Involvement” is part of a collaborative effort between UMass Amherst and the Community Service Alliance (CSA), The CSA "is an organization based in Santo Domingo, DR that facilitates connections for individuals and groups interested in engaging in experiences in community service and cross-cultural study”. Through various dynamic study abroad programs, CSA offers (students) opportunities for personal growth, development of critical thinking skills, and a chance to immerse oneself in the unique culture of the DR.
Under the guidance of Gloria Bernabe-Ramos, students will be introduced to the history, social norms and cultural traditions of the DR through class lectures. We will then travel to Santo Domingo and Hato Mayor from March 13th-22nd to perform community service. Hato Mayor is a small, rural town located approximately two hours east of the capital city of Santo Domingo. In Hato Mayor, the class will help to finish the construction of a pre-school which involves setting up the water system, installing fences around the school for security, building an additional bathroom, setting up a garden/play area in the patio, installing windows and doors and decorating the classrooms. In Santo Domingo we will be able to attend lectures given by community leaders and professors about the politics of the country. CSA will also give us a tour of the colonial sites of Santo Domingo. After the trip, the remainder of the class will focus on final papers and oral presentations to share our experiences with the broader UMass Amherst community.
The Alternative Spring Break will be funded in part by UMass Amherst. Unfortunately, traveling to the DR and participating in the CSA program is very costly. Our goal is to fundraise as much of the cost as possible to cover the program fee, airfare, and room and board. I have made a commitment to this class and this volunteer effort cannot be a success without help from family and friends. I have set a personal goal to raise $ 1,915 for the trip and I sincerely appreciate any donation you are able to offer, please remember that any amount helps! All checks can be made payable to Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies. Please write my name on the memo section of the check and then you can send it to:
CLACLS Alternative Spring Break Director / Center for Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies / 520 Thompson Hall, UMass Amherst, MA 01003-2977
Tel.: (413) 545-4868/4648; Fax: (413) 545-1244
Email: gbr@cas.umass.edu or las@econs.umass
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]