PITTSFORD - Tricia Thorndike Suriel didn't ask what she could do to help the schoolchildren of the north coastal town of Cabarete in the Dominican Republic. Traveling the area for her adventure tour company, she saw that their crowded buildings lacked libraries and proper washrooms.
She used some of her profits to fund improvements. Now, as executive director of the philanthropical Dominican Republic Education and Mentoring (Dream) Project, the 41-year-old Thorndike Suriel is recruiting more donors and volunteers to help improve the education for poor children of the region.
She was honored, with three others, last month by the American embassy, which recognizes the contributions of U.S. citizens who've made a difference in the Dominican Republic. U.S. embassies around the world bestow the honor on Americans overseas.
"To get this award makes me think I wasn't the only one listening to John F. Kennedy," said Thorndike Suriel, formerly of Pittsford. She is the daughter of Ed and Liz Thorndike of Pittsford.
Thorndike Suriel is married to Freddy Suriel of Cabarete. The couple and their to children divide their time between homes there and in Lansing, Tompkins County.
The award, which has been given for about 10 years, was presented by the U.S. Ambassador Hans H. Hertell. The ceremony, usually held on July 4, was pushed back to July 11 at San Souci naval base in Santo Domingo to coincide with a visit by the Eagle, a Tall Ship used as a Coast guard training vessel.
Nominations can be made by anyone familiar with the person's educational, cultural or charitable work and are considered by embassy staff. "It has to be sustained, kind of long term," said Patricia Hawkins, counselor for public affairs at the U.S. embassy in Santo Domingo. "Ms. Thorndike has invested so much of herself in the project."
Lisa Kirkman, manager of a resort on the north coast of the country and a sponsor of the DREAM Project, nominated Suriel. "I should have done it before. She's made a difference in the lives of Dominicans. She has improved their education and given them something they otherwise wouldn't be getting."
After making her first visit to the Dominican Republic in 1992, Thorndike Suriel returned a year later and founded the adventure tour company Iguana mama in Cabarete. The mountain biking and hiking outfitter was believed to be the first ecotour company in the Dominican Republic when any sort of tourism was new to the country.
She took the "eco" part seriously, offering discounts to clients who brought books in Spanish for the local children, working to improve school buildings and bringing volunteers from Dartmouth College to work with schoolchildren. She also paid the tuition for a local girl to attend private school.
Thorndike Suriel sold iguana mama in 2002 and expanded her philanthropy into the DREAM Project. The mission is to enhance the education of rural children by improving the school buildings and recruiting volunteers for community service projects. She hopes to raise $200,000 this year for projects; as of mid-July the DREAM Project was $70,000 short.
Receiving the award may raise the profile of the project in the Dominican Republic and elsewhere. Recognition by the embassy also may help when it's time to seek grants. "It shows we're not fly-by-night," she said.
