Wife, Mom, Business Owner, Loyal, Honest, Giver, World-traveler, Baseball fanatic…

PASSIONATE…

All words to explain the reason behind Dominican Baseball Adventures.

This journey began long before I knew it was MY journey.

The Cardinals have unknowingly journeyed with me through some of my most meaningful life events. To name a few, both my husband and myself were born in a year when the Cardinals won the World Series and we officially met when the Cards won the 2006 World Series. Our son was due to be born on Opening Day 2009, though his strength came through as he willed himself to holdfast one more day.

Still, I was blessed with my own mini baseball star. His light shines through and his drive and love for the game was bred into his DNA. Baseball was no longer simply entertainment and a night out. It grew to be a passion watching my son foster his own love for the game. Watching him master skills, develop friendships, and exhibit sportsmanship brings a peace to my soul that is almost unexplainable. Thus, baseball had more meaning, more depth, and was more than just a game.

As my son explored other sports, I began to explore my own personal interests. Travel came to the forefront of my mind. I’ve traveled since a young child, but I knew there’s still so much to see, so much to explore, so many different cultures and lifestyles, all on this one planet.

In 2015, Go! Travel…Getaways was born. My second baby. I’ve poured my heart and soul into nurturing the growth of my travel agency and providing families with the support and guidance to make long-lasting memories together. As the agency grew in success, I noticed I was still not completely fulfilled. My heart wasn’t as satisfied with the future of the agency as I wanted it to be. After a visit to Mexico, staying in one of the most luxurious rooms and resorts I had ever seen at that time in my life and witnessing the despair on the drive to the resort, I knew I had to do more for the people of the countries that served my clients and myself so well.

Time went by as my business continued to grow and prosper leading me to my first trip to the Dominican Republic (DR) in October 2017. Right away I was in love. I made friendships exchanging numbers with local business owners, resort staff, and fell for the people and the culture with my heart and soul. One such friendship was with a local Dominican, Renny Avila, owner of Renny Travel. I expressed in my most passionate way the urge in my heart to travel and give back to the communities in need. Renny filled me in on the biggest needs the Dominican children have… school supplies and baseball equipment. We immediately built a wonderful partnership in both business and our desire to help those less fortunate.

Thus, GTG Gives, soon to be known as Vacation Foundation, a non-profit organization, was formed. GTG Gives provides traveling clients the ability to take an extra suitcase (or 2!) filled with school supplies, clothing, hygiene products, and/or baseball equipment to the children in the DR. On multiple occasions since 2017, GTG Gives provided supplies for the children and families after Hurricane Irma swept through the vulnerable Dominican communities.

The DR became my second home. As near and dear to me as family. So of course, I had to take my family and my GTG Groupies (clients who attend my annual group trip aka the GTG Splash) and introduce them! My son quickly fell in love and developed his own relationships with locals. Every time we travel, he reconnects with his new "brother", Victor Jose. His light continued to shine through as he too could see the needs of the people and wanted to join me in sharing the blessings his life has given him.

Together, we gathered suitcases filled with school supply donations. We personally traveled to the DR, donations in tow, and hand-delivered them to the students in need. I’ve never in my life seen children so excited about pens, paper, binders, and notebooks. In the Dominican culture, school supplies are a luxury. As I watched my son, I could see he was all in his feelings as he too was deeply humbled to the visual differences between our lives in America compared to life in the DR.

We continued to travel to the DR and sent GTG clients with school supplies, baseball equipment, and received in return the biggest smiles from the happiest kids. Our hearts were filled. We shared a common love for baseball and through that we were blessed with new friendships and a new outlook on life. While the children may speak a different language we all speak the same language when it comes to expressing gratefulness and love.

My heart remains in the DR and my soul wants to give. Hence the birth of Dominican Baseball Adventures. We are committed to providing educational and athletic supplies to support the youth in the DR on their journey to success in school and on the field. Both my American and Dominican family extend the offer for you and your family to join Dominican Baseball Adventures on a family vacation of a lifetime experiencing baseball and the island through the eyes of a Dominican.

We’re here to guide, support, and educate so that you too have the opportunity to truly experience the culture and build lasting relationships with the Dominican people through a “baseball-eye-view.” Share with your children that all it takes is finding common ground for friendships to flourish thus nurturing a worldly knowledge that we’re all people of the same human race.

5 Simple and Effective Ways to Reduce Stress

Thoughts, musings, and ruminations.