Laura Acosta made a trip to a rural community outside Salcedo with developmental toys for kids and teenagers
During a recent visit to Salcedo in the Dominican Republic, Laura Acosta, Founder and Executive Director of the Juan Pablo Duarte Foundation, spent time in the rural community of Jayabo Adentro delivering educational toys and sports equipment to local families.
Located in the municipality of Salcedo in the Hermanas Mirabal province, Jayabo Adentro is a small community in the northern region of the country, near Jayabo Afuera and the city center of Salcedo. The visit comes during a meaningful year for the Foundation, as the Festival Del Boulevard 2026 will pay homage to Salcedo and the legacy of Las Hermanas Mirabal.
The donations included magnetic blocks, wooden puzzles, paint-by-number kits, developmental toys for babies and toddlers, as well as footballs, basketballs, and soccer balls. Throughout the morning, children and teenagers gathered to play volleyball and soccer, and explore the new toys together.
Beyond the donations themselves, the visit was about connection – spending time with families, listening to their stories, and sharing moments of joy across cultures and generations. For Laura Acosta, that human connection is deeply personal. “Personally, my Dominicanness flows right out of me in everything I do. As an immigrant, I know first hand the difficulties and fears of arriving in a new big scary country, so if I can make someone’s life a little happier and help them recoup a piece of themselves they didn’t realize they were missing, then I have done my job.”
The visit reflects the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to supporting families and creating opportunities for children to feel connected to a larger community that cares about them through education, culture, and engagement both in New York and the Dominican Republic.
As preparations continue for Festival Del Boulevard 2026, the Foundation is proud to celebrate the people, culture, and communities of Salcedo not only through music and festivities, but also through moments of solidarity, kindness, and shared community spirit.
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Festival Del Boulevard 2026 — Saturday, June 6 · Avenida St. Nicholas (181st–188th St.), Alto Manhattan · 10am–6pm · Homenaje a Salcedo y Las Hermanas Mirabal
Info: laura@jpdfoundation.org · 917-270-4987
