About Our

Domino Foundation Dominican Republic (DFDR) was established on March 29, 2021.
In previous years, founders Bianca Storms and Jan Riphagen were already active with
activities in the Dominican Republic. In late 2020, the plan arose to join forces.
combine and establish a foundation.

About Domino Foundation

Our Vision

We are trying to make a real difference in a child's future on a small scale. We give underprivileged children access to primary education and then we also want to guide them further into vocational training so that they will later be able to provide for themselves and their families.

Our Mission

Providing assistance to needy people in the Dominican Republic, especially focused on improving the future of children by giving them access to basic education.

Our Purpose

The Domino Foundation primarily provides development assistance to needy people (especially underprivileged children) in the Dominican Republic. We are also committed to promoting animal welfare and promoting sustainability in nature and environment.

Founding

Domino Foundation Dominican Republic (DFDR) was established on March 29, 2021.
In previous years, founders Bianca Storms and Jan Riphagen were already active with activities in the Dominican Republic. In late 2020, the plan arose to join forces and establish a foundation.

President President

Treasurer Treasurer

Secretary Secretary

Our Partners

Tienda Jimenez Puerto Plata

Annual Reports

Bianca Storms

Bianca has been visiting the Dominican Republic regularly since 1994. She got more and more in touch with the locals and saw the big difference between the tourists in the luxury All-Inclusive resorts and a large part of the local population.

She began to help on a small scale, which gradually expanded.
- raising money for school uniform projects
- Christmas party for group of children after the island was hit by 3 hurricanes within a month and there was a lot of damage.
- Basic food packages for families working in tourism, who no longer had income in early days of Covid, in cooperation with the Rotary Club.
- Dogs and Cats Dominican Republic Foundation for shelter, care and ultimately adoption of street dogs and cats.

In addition, Bianca supports the tour vendor Elbia Tours Puerto Plata. Tourists from Elbia Tours regularly asked how they could give something back to the country and regularly left items for distribution.

Jan Riphagen

Jan has been visiting the Dominican Republic several times a year since 1993 In the beginning he was not interested in the tourist areas and enjoyed the culture and relaxed life in the agricultural area of San Juan de La Maguana. The locals here did not benefit from tourism and agriculture was the only source of income. Jan developed friendships and he was occasionally asked for help.

Jan never gave money, but often bought cows and goats. The family took care of the animal and had milk for their own use and sale. The first offspring was for the family, the second for Jan. This animal then went on to a new family.

Jan also saw that young people in this area had few prospects for the future. He made arrangements with a blacksmith and furniture maker so that young people could receive hands-on training.

Jan also began to explore other areas in the DR and became inspired by the sights and natural beauty of the country. He decided to share his experiences with tourists and founded Tours Santo Domingo.

To stay involved with his original passion of helping those in need, he and Bianca founded the foundation.

Kim Plooij

Kim arrives in the Dominican Republic from 2012.

From the first visit, she lost her heart to the island and the people there. She also decided to stay outside the big all-inclusion resorts and soon saw that the locals are rich in a different way as we give meaning to this word. They are super hospitable, friendly, helpful and immensely grateful, all this while painfully themselves sometimes have no money for such things as food, clothes or school supplies for the children.  

Kim resolved to bring something for the locals every time she traveled to the Dominican Republic; toiletries, pencils, coloring books, notebooks, clothes - anything that could go with her in that suitcase. 

In 2022, part of, the island was hit by Hurricane Fiona, Kim did not hesitate for a moment and then launched a support campaign. She had to do something. With the money raised, food was bought (and prepared) for the affected families, building materials were bought to refurbish the houses and school supplies for children who had lost everything. 

That Kim can now also start contributing her bit to the well-being of the Dominican Republic and its residents through the Foundation is fantastic to her.