A torrential thunderstorm provided the dramatic background for a small group gathered last Friday night at Portasol Rainforest & Ocean View Living in Costa Rica for a charity dinner to benefit their local Portalon Elementary School. A 5-star gourmet 4-course dinner, created by visiting award-winning chef Randy Siles of Hotel Tropico Latino in Santa Teresa Beach, Costa Rica, was served with wine by candlelight to invitees who came from as far away as the capital city of San Jose.
The Costa Rica sustainable development of Portasol is dedicated to its social responsibility program. Over the past 10 years, Portasol has worked actively within its community on the Central Pacific Coast, between Manuel Antonio and Dominical, on conservation, community education and projects, and small business help.
“If the community benefits from our projects, we benefit. We want to help create a better life and opportunities and education for our community,” noted Portasol CEO, Guillermo Piedra Gonzalez.
The Sept. 19 charity event raised $1,050 for the local school, which is gathering funds to build a roof over the children’s play area for sun and rain protection. There are 107 students attending the school from the agriculture town of 450 persons. Piedra, who is on the Portalon School board, said that over the past decade, Portasol has lent a hand with the school’s computer lab, conservation education, recycling program, sustainability program – on on-site hydroponic garden provides fresh vegetables for the school kids’ lunches – and holds an annual fundraiser with Portasol property owners to provide textbooks for the school.
In the larger area community, Portasol supports the Matapalo Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Project run by the NGO Association of Volunteers for Service in Protected Areas in Costa Rica (ASVO); and the Titi Conservation Alliance in Manuel Antonio that is restoring biological corridors for the endangered Squirrel Monkeys (“Mono Titi” in Spanish) by planting 85,000 trees to help solve the problem of in-breeding among the monkeys in their development-reduced habitat in the Manuel Antonio National Park.
Additionally, Piedra is the vice president of the Association for Prevention, Security & Peace in Aguirre County (COPAZA), which operates a modern dramatic theatre in the town of Quepos to involve at-risk youth in extracurricular activities. The program also helps drug addicts seek rehabilitation.
To contribute to Portasol’s social responsibility program, or to get involved in any of these programs, contact Portasol at info@portasol.net. Portasol offers Costa Rica vacation rentals and Costa Rica property for sale.
Article by Shannon Farley
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