About Ray of Hope
Canadian Dominican Ray of Hope is a Canadian registered charity dedicated to improving the lives of orphaned children with physical and developmental disabilities in the Dominican Republic. Our organization was founded by a group of caring individuals who shared a simple belief: every child deserves love, dignity, proper care and the opportunity for a better quality of life.
Canadian Dominican Ray of Hope's mandate is to support orphaned children with disabilities in the Dominican Republic. We carry out this mission by supporting organizations such as Mustard Seed Communities, which provides lifelong residential care and support for children and young adults with disabilities.
In the Dominican Republic, Mustard Seed Communities operates two residential homes: Hogar Immanuel near Puerto Plata and Hogar Niños de Dios outside Santiago. Through the generosity of our donors and supporters, Ray of Hope provides funding to help meet needs across these homes, including medical care, therapy, specialized equipment, nutrition and other essential needs.
The children and young adults we support live with a wide range of physical and developmental disabilities, including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, epilepsy, visual impairments, developmental delays and other complex conditions. Many require lifelong care and support, including proper nutrition, medical care, physical therapy, specialized equipment and assistance with everyday needs.
Today, Mustard Seed Communities provides lifelong residential care to more than 66 children and young adults with disabilities across its two homes in the Dominican Republic. As their needs continue to grow and change, Ray of Hope remains committed to helping provide the resources necessary to improve their quality of life, comfort and well-being.
Through fundraising events, donations and the generosity of our supporters, Canadian Dominican Ray of Hope provides financial assistance to help Mustard Seed Communities meet the ongoing needs of the children and young adults in its care. Our support helps fund essential needs such as medical care, therapy, equipment, nutrition and other necessities that directly contribute to their health, comfort and quality of life.
Our support also extends to major projects when the need arises. Most recently, Canadian Dominican Ray of Hope provided significant financial support toward the development of Hogar Niños de Dios, Mustard Seed Communities' new residential home outside Santiago. Funds raised by Ray of Hope helped support the project and prepare the new home to provide care for more children and young adults with disabilities.
Canadian Dominican Ray of Hope is operated entirely by volunteers. No member of our organization receives a salary, administrative fee or compensation for the time and services they provide. Our volunteers generously donate their time and expertise to support our mission and the children and communities we serve.
Canadian Dominican Ray of Hope's mandate is to support orphaned children with disabilities in the Dominican Republic. We carry out this mission by supporting organizations such as Mustard Seed Communities, which provides lifelong residential care and support for children and young adults with disabilities.
In the Dominican Republic, Mustard Seed Communities operates two residential homes: Hogar Immanuel near Puerto Plata and Hogar Niños de Dios outside Santiago. Through the generosity of our donors and supporters, Ray of Hope provides funding to help meet needs across these homes, including medical care, therapy, specialized equipment, nutrition and other essential needs.
The children and young adults we support live with a wide range of physical and developmental disabilities, including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, epilepsy, visual impairments, developmental delays and other complex conditions. Many require lifelong care and support, including proper nutrition, medical care, physical therapy, specialized equipment and assistance with everyday needs.
Today, Mustard Seed Communities provides lifelong residential care to more than 66 children and young adults with disabilities across its two homes in the Dominican Republic. As their needs continue to grow and change, Ray of Hope remains committed to helping provide the resources necessary to improve their quality of life, comfort and well-being.
Through fundraising events, donations and the generosity of our supporters, Canadian Dominican Ray of Hope provides financial assistance to help Mustard Seed Communities meet the ongoing needs of the children and young adults in its care. Our support helps fund essential needs such as medical care, therapy, equipment, nutrition and other necessities that directly contribute to their health, comfort and quality of life.
Our support also extends to major projects when the need arises. Most recently, Canadian Dominican Ray of Hope provided significant financial support toward the development of Hogar Niños de Dios, Mustard Seed Communities' new residential home outside Santiago. Funds raised by Ray of Hope helped support the project and prepare the new home to provide care for more children and young adults with disabilities.
Canadian Dominican Ray of Hope is operated entirely by volunteers. No member of our organization receives a salary, administrative fee or compensation for the time and services they provide. Our volunteers generously donate their time and expertise to support our mission and the children and communities we serve.
our humble beginnings
TThe story of Canadian Dominican Ray of Hope began with Mike and Giovanna Di Lillo, a couple who lived their lives in service to others and had a special place in their hearts for children.
After being blessed with the opportunity to spend their winters in the Dominican Republic, Mike and Giovanna felt it was time to give something back to the country and community that had become such an important part of their lives.
One Sunday, Giovanna approached Father Santiago, a young Dominican priest, and expressed their desire to help a community where assistance was truly needed. Without hesitation, Father Santiago told her about a nearby orphanage caring for children with disabilities that was in desperate need of support.
Nothing could have prepared Mike and Giovanna for what they saw when they visited.
They encountered children with significant physical and developmental disabilities living in a small, overcrowded home with very limited resources and without many of the basic necessities most of us take for granted. The experience deeply affected them.
It was at that moment that Mike and Giovanna made a promise to themselves: they were going to make a difference in these children's lives.
Soon afterward, Mike and Giovanna met with the Bishop of Puerto Plata to discuss the children's needs and begin developing a plan of action.
When they returned to Canada, they shared what they had witnessed and began bringing together other like-minded people who were willing to help. Among them were individuals prepared to donate not only their time, but also their professional skills and expertise.
What began with two people and a desire to help gradually grew into a dedicated group of volunteers united by a common purpose. A founding board was established, and from those humble beginnings came the Canadian registered charity we know today as Canadian Dominican Ray of Hope.
What started as one couple's promise to help a group of children in need had become a mission that others believed in and were determined to carry forward.
Mike passed away in 2011, and Giovanna in 2018, but the promise they made to those children did not end with them. Their compassion, commitment to service and love for the children continue through the work of Canadian Dominican Ray of Hope and through every volunteer, donor and supporter who carries their mission forward.
Their story reminds us what can happen when one person's desire to help inspires others to join them. A simple act of compassion can grow into something capable of changing lives.
Mike and Giovanna were the first rays of hope that began to change these children's world. Today, every volunteer, donor and supporter who joins our mission helps keep that ray shining.
After being blessed with the opportunity to spend their winters in the Dominican Republic, Mike and Giovanna felt it was time to give something back to the country and community that had become such an important part of their lives.
One Sunday, Giovanna approached Father Santiago, a young Dominican priest, and expressed their desire to help a community where assistance was truly needed. Without hesitation, Father Santiago told her about a nearby orphanage caring for children with disabilities that was in desperate need of support.
Nothing could have prepared Mike and Giovanna for what they saw when they visited.
They encountered children with significant physical and developmental disabilities living in a small, overcrowded home with very limited resources and without many of the basic necessities most of us take for granted. The experience deeply affected them.
It was at that moment that Mike and Giovanna made a promise to themselves: they were going to make a difference in these children's lives.
Soon afterward, Mike and Giovanna met with the Bishop of Puerto Plata to discuss the children's needs and begin developing a plan of action.
When they returned to Canada, they shared what they had witnessed and began bringing together other like-minded people who were willing to help. Among them were individuals prepared to donate not only their time, but also their professional skills and expertise.
What began with two people and a desire to help gradually grew into a dedicated group of volunteers united by a common purpose. A founding board was established, and from those humble beginnings came the Canadian registered charity we know today as Canadian Dominican Ray of Hope.
What started as one couple's promise to help a group of children in need had become a mission that others believed in and were determined to carry forward.
Mike passed away in 2011, and Giovanna in 2018, but the promise they made to those children did not end with them. Their compassion, commitment to service and love for the children continue through the work of Canadian Dominican Ray of Hope and through every volunteer, donor and supporter who carries their mission forward.
Their story reminds us what can happen when one person's desire to help inspires others to join them. A simple act of compassion can grow into something capable of changing lives.
Mike and Giovanna were the first rays of hope that began to change these children's world. Today, every volunteer, donor and supporter who joins our mission helps keep that ray shining.
getting to know our mission
We believe that every child has the God-given right to a quality life, love, dignity and well-being, regardless of their country of birth or the challenges they face.
It is this belief that continues to inspire our mission: to provide meaningful assistance, care and support to orphaned children with disabilities in the Dominican Republic and to help give them the quality of life, care and opportunities every child deserves.
Together, we can continue to be the ray that changes their world.
It is this belief that continues to inspire our mission: to provide meaningful assistance, care and support to orphaned children with disabilities in the Dominican Republic and to help give them the quality of life, care and opportunities every child deserves.
Together, we can continue to be the ray that changes their world.
Getting To Know Our MissionWe believe that every child has the God-given right to a quality life, love, dignity and well-being, regardless of their country of birth or the challenges they face.
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2 Allcroft Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M9V 2S1
General Inquiries: (416) 821-4660 - Financial Counsel: Joseph Colavita (905) 760-2845 - Legal Counsel: Enio Zeppieri (416) 631-9811
[email protected]
Charitable Registration Number: 850649195RR0001
2 Allcroft Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M9V 2S1
General Inquiries: (416) 821-4660 - Financial Counsel: Joseph Colavita (905) 760-2845 - Legal Counsel: Enio Zeppieri (416) 631-9811
[email protected]
Charitable Registration Number: 850649195RR0001