These are the families Dominican Starfish Foundation is currently raising funds for in 2018.

1. DOMINICAN STARFISH FOUNDATION and
Pal Humanitarian
2018 Home-Building Projects in the Dominican Republic.
Building Homes, Changing Lives

2. We have significantly upgraded our home-building projects. We are
now building completely in concrete (because of termite problems
with wood), and we are using aluminum doors and shutters.
The cost for the average 2 bedroom home is $13000 USD and $15000
USD for 3 bedrooms. This applies if the people already own their
own land. If they do not, it is much more. We try to chose those
who do. These are two of our recently completed homes.

3. HOW YOU CAN HELP
These are the homes were are raising funds for in
2018.
As you read these, you may see if any speak to your
heart. We would love to have you join us in the
funding for these families. We have additional
families on our waiting list for homes.
Contact information is on the last page of this
slideshow.

4. Ali and Manuela and family• Ali, Manuela and family live in extreme poverty in the Dominican
Republic. We visited their tiny, one-bedroom, rented
apartment. Several times, they have not been able to pay their $50 per
month rent and have been put out in the street in the middle of the
night with their 3 small children.
• They are amazing parents and are trying their best to support
themselves selling cooked chicken in front of their home. We were so
taken by their plight and feel a strong desire to help them have a
home. The day we met with them, a generous person donated $5000
for a piece of land on which to build their home.
• Recently, they had to send two of their children to live in the country
with their grandparents because they couldn’t afford to feed them as
well as pay rent.
• Sharon Jones and friends from Highland Utah are helping to raise money
for this family.

5. Their livelihood
The kitchen
With Sharon Jones who is
raising money for their home
The new bed we bought for Ali and Manuela

6. The grandparents home in the country.
The girl wearing her birthday dress we gave
her is their oldest daughter.

7. The Flores family
• The Flores family lives in great
poverty in the Dominican
Republic. They have 5 small
children. Their home is deep in the
ground. Whenever it rain, which is
often, they are flooded. This year
has been particularly bad.
• We want to help them by replacing
their home with a new one. The cost
of a new home for them is so little in
comparison to North
America. Please open your hearts
and give whatever you can.
• Kevin and Melanie Keech from
Kamas, Utah are heading the
fundraising for this family. The other 3 children were in school the
day this photo was taken.

9. Their walls
are being
eaten by
termites so
are being
replaced by
cardboard. The kitchen
Two of the 5 children

10. Kelvin Silverio and family
When you see this amazing young man,
Kelvin Silverio, doing his job as a pool boy
on the resort, you wouldn't imagine his
living conditions outside. We visited his
home to find large holes in the walls, only
one small bedroom for 6 people and a
crumbling foundation.
Kelvin has not asked for our help, but it is
something we want to do to change his life
and the life of his family forever. He has a
wife and two young children. His sister and
daughter will also live with them.
Ray and Terry Arsenault from Calgary,
Alberta are heading the fundraising for this
family.

13. Jose Perez and family
On our last trip, we received the disconcerting news that our trusted taxi-
driver, Jose Perez (Jose Taxi) would be moving to Santo Domingo in June this
year. He will have 2 children (sponsored by our foundation) attending
university there and was relocating for housing reasons. He planned to sell
his taxi and hopefully acquire another job. We also learned that from
August to October last year, his total income from his taxi was $24. He
always comes to us with a smile on his face and we really had no idea what
had been happening behind the scenes.
Jose lives in a rented home. This year, the ceiling fell in. He moved to
another home, with even higher rent, and within days, that house was
leaking as well. We have always wanted to build Jose a home. He is an
amazing man and vital importance to our foundation. Through the help of
friends, we have been able to purchase a plot of land on which to build his
home.

14. Because Jose has never owned a home, we don’t have pictures
of the home to share, but these are some of him and his
family, whom we love. They will now remain in Puerto Plata.
Visiting us at our resort. This man and his taxi have hauled
thousands of people and thousands of
pounds of luggage for the foundation.

15. A few of many of the toasts to Jose from his friends from our humanitarian trips
Kara Werner He is kind, hilarious, and I don’t know
what we’d do without him!! Thank you, Jose, for being a
ray of light and for being so kind and dedicated to many
people who are important to me.
Ann Peltier Christensen Jose, you can't move to the big
city! You will miss the beautiful beaches and the crazy
fun people Louise brings to Puerto Plata!! We know you
will do what is best for your family and if you have to
move, we will miss you so much.
Barbara Louise Garside Jose is the best taxi driver ever!
He is so helpful, even when he doesn’t understand what
we are asking (he was so patient when we were trying
to find honey at the store, and laughed at us when we
started to make buzzing noises because we couldn’t
remember how to say honey in Spanish). He makes
going to the Dominican 100% better!
Barry-Laura Webster kind, considerate, helpful, happy,
and a genuine friend.
Wanda Thomas Titus With our trip to the DR we could
not have had a better driver than Jose! We were made
to feel safe getting around the city, he always looked
out for our children too which as a parent is a big plus
to have an extra set of eyes on them. He not only drove
us safely around which with the motorcycles and
people walking, small narrow streets is something in
itself. He always had a smile which would brighten your
day . Jose is a wonderful man who I hope we can help
so that we can continue to help the foundation. He has
been there for us. I hope we can be there for Jose and
his family!
Karen Wojtowicz As I'm reading this post Jose is
driving us from Kate's school back to Lifestyles. He is
such a blessing.
Brian Oaks Jose Andres Perez Fernandez is the best!
I've been all over the world and have never met
anyone quite like him before. My life has been greatly
blessed just for my interactions with someone so kind
and caring.
Megan Hillyer Jose is truly one of the best people that
I have met! He makes me laugh every time I see him.
He is thoughtful and kind and always willing to help
me learn a little more Spanish. Thank you for
everything that you do!
Melody Woodruff Jose is the best taxi driver ever. He
knows where to go, he patiently waits, his rates are
more than fair in fact he probably is underpaid. He
understands most of what we say but doesn’t speak
English yet!!! He gets what we are doing because he
has been on the receiving end of people’s help. Now
he wants to pay it forward. Not sure how the
foundation can live without him. A real treasure of a
kind, thoughtful and funny man.
Bobbie Z Peterson Everyone states that Jose is kind,
and loving, and helpful. All that is true, and he has a
great sense of humor and is not afraid to use it.
Although Jose likes to act like a tough guy, he has a
soft side. I think all of us trust him and value him as a
friend and very much needed.

16. Please contact us if you and your family/friends can help with one
of these projects. Please choose the one that speaks to your heart.
Dominican Starfish Foundation
Louise ZoBell
Executive Director
403-756-3491 or 403-393-3491
Box 175, Stirling, Alberta, T0K 2E0
Email: dominicanstarfish@gmail.com
Facebook: Louise Webster ZoBell
Pal Humanitarian
Pearl Giles
President
801-358-7737
82 North 3050 West
Layton, Utah 84041
Email: pearl.giles@gmail.com
Facbook: Pearl Giles
We have fundraising sites set up for each of these projects that you are welcome to tap into.