In 2002, a dedicated and idealistic group of Dominicans formed a non-profit organization to serve communities in the Santo Domingo region. Their main objective was to help develop health and education programs that would break the cycle of generational poverty.

In 2005, when Linell Stabler (the current president of ACES) was an International Relations student at Bucknell University, she had the opportunity to go to the Dominican Republic and observe the newly formed ACES group. Fascinated by the group’s mission for sustainable community and economic development, Linell returned to Pennsylvania determined to expand ACES’ support network to the United States.

Over the last 15 years, ACES has been able to make some significant improvements and developments in the Dominican Republic through the support of generous and like-minded individuals and businesses.

We’ve started a clean water project in Ceuta Abajo that provides potable water to an entire community of 700 people within the city of Santo Domingo. We host regular medical outreaches with local health professionals and are able provide medical, dental, pharmaceutical, and psychological help to 500 – 700 at each event. We adopted and expanded a small private school in a barrio in Cabón Haina that served 270 students.

We are very proud of our journey so far, and the way we’ve impacted so many Dominicans over the last few years. We know we have a long way to go, but we’re determined to eliminate poverty in the Dominican Republic, and with your help we can do it!