A sea of smiling faces, the sounds of laughter, children playing games and having fun. That was the scene on the morning of May 3 at Colegio Alamos, a Cancún high school when 300 children were the guests of honor at a very special Children’s Day Party coordinated by Mexican charity Dr. Sonrisas (Dr. Smiles). The Royal Resorts Foundation was honored to participate in this event and to help bring some moments of magic and joy into the lives of these little ones.
With a motto of “Happiness is the best medicine, “ Dr. Sonrisas A.C. is a Mexican charity that works with seriously ill and poor children, organizing events and special activities to put a smile on their faces and make their dreams come true.
On this occasion Dr. Sonrisas teamed up with three Cancún charities to invite children in need to the fun gala.
Aitana Foundation helps children with all forms of cancer. It provides financial help to buy medicines, drives patients to hospitals in other cities for vital therapy sessions and offers psychological support to help these brave little warriors through their ordeal as they fight the disease and start their long road to recovery.
Manos de Apoyo y Vida (Hands of Support and Life) works with vulnerable homeless street children, befriending them and inviting them to join its support group. Volunteers teach them sports, yoga, tae kwon doo, organize art sessions and give them special classes to help them catch up in elementary school.
La Escuelita (The Little School) was founded by a Cancún resident who noticed that many of the children in her neighborhood were not going to school. She began to invite them to her home to give them elementary school classes. More and more children began to turn up on her doorstep and her friends pitched in to help. They now teach approximately 90 children at elementary school level and help them validate their studies with the Ministry of Public Education.
Día del Niño or Children’s Day is on April 30 in Mexico and is celebrated with gifts, treats and parties for children at school and in the home. But sadly many children miss out on the fun due to poverty, illness or because they are homeless. Thanks to organizations such as Dr. Sonrisas and its partners they are not forgotten.
The Royal Resorts Foundation Toy Drive
In the lead up to the party, the Royal Resorts Foundation donated 150 t-shirts for Dr. Sonrisas volunteers to wear at the event and organized a Toy Drive at the resorts to collect new dolls, soft toys, cars, games and other gifts for the children. The response was tremendous and we were able to donate around 100 toys. The Royal Cancun members Charles and Christina A. donated 15 and also volunteered to help at the party.
Let the Party Begin!
At 9 a.m., volunteers from Dr. Sonrisas, Manos de Apoyo y Vida, Aitana Foundation, La Escuelita, Royal Resorts Foundation and a group of Los Alamos pupils and teachers began to welcome the eager children. They divide them into groups with escorts for the different games and activities. Everyone wore a blue nose Patch Adams style!
A rock band played as the children arrived and then a clown and magician took to the stage to entertain them.
Groups of children did the rounds of the different stalls offering games and activities. The nail salon was a hit with the little girls and the face-painting stall manned by a group of Royal Resorts volunteers proved popular with everyone. Pretty soon there were plenty of cats, butterflies, flowers, Spider Man and pirate lookalikes walking around!
Children practiced their painting skills at the art table, played football and other sports and watched another Royal Resorts volunteer making flower, bird and animal figures out of balloons.
The Mexican Fair featured traditional children’s games such as lottery, ten-pin bowling, hoops, jenga, marbles and ring toss. Royal Resorts member Charles A was an ace goalie challenging children to try out their soccer skills and wife Christina A. was in charge of the darts board. She stopped every couple of minutes to inflate balloons to replace those that had been burst by the keen-eyed shots lining up to play. Grand Residences owners Joseph and Julie W helped out with the bowling alley and the Mexican version of penny drop.
A couple of heavy showers couldn’t put a damper on the fun and the soccer action continued despite the rain!
Of course no Mexican party is complete without the traditional piñata and after lunch and cake, children took turns hitting the colorful papier-mâché figures until they burst open to reveal a treasure trove of candies.
At 1 p.m. it was time for the children to depart and they all received a gift and a bag of candy. From Barbie and Brittany dolls to Captain America, Spiderman and Iron Man figures, cars, soccer balls and soft toys for the youngest, there was something for everyone.
More About Dr. Sonrisas
In addition to coordinating massive parties and events for children in need, Dr. Sonrisas also organizes special activities for chronically or terminally ill children. Whether they want to meet a football star or their favorite singer, swim with dolphins, be a fairy princess for a day or go on vacation, Dr. Sonrisas works with donors to make their dreams come true.
Dr. Sonrisas volunteers visit children in hospital and work with schools, inviting pupils to become volunteers and helping them to organize fundraisers to buy wheelchairs and life-saving medicines.
Through Dr. Sonrisas financial assistance is also available to provide treatment and transplants for children with chronic kidney disease.
Founded in 2003, Dr. Sonrisas has more than 3,500 volunteers, works with more than 20 hospitals and 20 NGOS and is currently helping more than 2,000 children in 15 different states and cities in Mexico, including Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Saltillo, Villahermosa and Veracruz.
A Big Thank you
We would like to thank all our Royal Resorts members, guests and employees who donated toys and staff from 20 departments who volunteered for this very special Children’s Day event, helping to spread some happiness. It was a fantastic morning, enjoyed by the children and volunteers alike. Watch the video and see the smiles.
Support the Royal Resorts Foundation
Spreading Happiness events like the Children’s Day Party are just one of the aspects of the work Royal Resorts Foundation is doing in the community. To date, through donations and fundraising activities, it has raised US$116,750 for cancer screening and treatment, nature conservation in the Mexican Caribbean, scholarships for underprivileged children and the employee relief fund.
If you would like to contribute to the Royal Resorts Foundation causes, you can donate online at www.royalresortsfoundation.org. With your help we can change lives.
