DARDA is a 501 (c)(3) registered as a not-for-profit corporation in the State of New York.


DARDA Projects


DARDA has lent support to several worthwhile causes on the island of Dominica.  Some of its major recipients have been...

  • The Grotto Home for the Homeless

  • The Alpha Centre

  • The Dominica Infirmary

  • The Northern District Home For The Aged

  • The Dominica Red Cross

  • The Social Centre (including the establishment of a library for the Pre-School Education Program)

  • St. Ann's Day Nursery

  • The Princess Margaret Hospital

  • REACH (Reaching Elderly Abandoned Citizens that are Homebound)

  • The Education Trust Fund

  • The Roseau Public Library

  • Various public schools across the island


DARDA has initiated several of its own projects.  The most rewarding are the Annual Christmas Toy Drive - which yields hundreds of toys for the underprivileged children of Dominica, and The School Supply Drive - which provides underprivileged children throughout Dominica with school supplies for an entire academic year.  In addition to these programs, DARDA also implemented the Agatha Shillingford Scholarship Fund aimed at providing funding for academic and extra-curricular expenses to students in Dominica.


Members


DARDA is run by an executive board.


President  -  Caryl Greaves

Vice-President  -  Cecilia McIntyre

Treasurer  -  Shari Shillingford

Secretary  -  Rosalind Chandler 


Other Members: Heidi Alleyne, Ray Benjamin, Chev Carrette, Hermia Carrette, Nancy Cuffy, Albert Deschamps, Marilyn Garraway, Susan Giorgi-Francis, Nigel Greaves, Taryn Hyson, Brenda Joseph, Lea Lafond, Susan Lecointe Dorsett, Franklin McIntyre, Janelle C. McIntyre, Jo-Ann McIntyre, Lisa McIntyre, Shelley McIntyre, Sandra Norris, Wendy Pascal, Lorna Phillips, Wendy Phillips, Nicole Sharpe, Jehan Shillingford-Blanc, Serah Shillingford and Bascillia Toussaint.


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Inception


DARDA is an acronym for the Dominica-American Relief and Development Association, Inc. The association was organized on June 28, 1981 by a group of concerned Dominicans living in and around the New York area.


After the destruction wrought by Hurricane David various individuals and groups were involved in raising funds to assist in the rebuilding of Dominica.  It was from this effort, and at the request of Bam and Wilfred Shillingford, that the idea of a new organization originated.  This group, originally known as "Friends of Dominica," then went about the business of attaining official status.  On September 25, 1981 it was duly established and registered as a not-for-profit corporation, officially known as the Dominica-American Relief and Development Association, Inc. (DARDA).