Pittsburgh Rotary Club Teams with Latin America Real Estate Development ECI to Send Nearly 4,000 Shoes to Nicaraguan Schoolchildren

In its latest show of support for the people of Nicaragua, the Rotary Club of Pittsburgh presided over a massive charity drive that collected nearly 4,000 pairs of shoes for the Central American nation\'s schoolchildren. Since many Nicaraguan families lack the funds to purchase the shoes that their children are legally required to wear in school, this drive had a tangible and immediate impact on thousands of the country\'s residents.

The drive received support from dozens of individual Pittsburghers and raised shipping funds via auctions at special Rotary Club of Pittsburgh and Rotary District 7300 gatherings. Big-ticket auction items included a three-week stay at one of ECI Development\'s properties, the Exotic Caye Resort in Belize.

Pittsburgh-rooted ECI Development has been at the forefront of economic development in Central America and recently put the finishing touches on its Gran Pacifica Beach and Golf Resort in Nicaragua. Comprising 2,500 acres along 3.5 miles of breathtaking Pacific coastline, the resort, which contains Nicaragua real estate, homes and property[/url], has already created hundreds of local jobs and brought thousands of tourists to the region.

According to co-founder and CEO Michael Cobb, ECI Development\'s support of the Rotary Club of Pittsburgh is in keeping with its corporate philosophy.

\"Since its founding, ECI has wrapped its brand around corporate social responsibility. Shoes, books and sports uniforms, as well as health and women\'s education training and maintenance of school buildings, represent just some of the educational and humanitarian value that ECI and its partners regularly bring to enhancing the quality of life in rural Nicaragua,\" he said.

Pittsburgh\'s leaders have long supported charitable activities in and around the proud nation. In particular, the Rotary Club of Pittsburgh has funded the Nicaragua-focused charity work of Janet Foerster of InnerChange Associates for decades.

Local business leaders Mike Madden and Karl Ohrman chaired this particular drive and oversaw the shipment of 25 shoe-filled boxes from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati. From there, Madden coordinated with Matthew 25 Ministries to fly the shoes to Nicaragua.

As Ohrman noted, \"The relationship between Nicaragua and Pittsburgh is wide and deep.\" To hear more about him orchestrating the \"Shoes for Nicaragua\" project, click on the following link to watch a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phf4mnTbOto&feature=youtu.be

In addition to Cobb, Madden and Ohrman, a number of other locals contributed to the effort. Local Rotary chair Ray Amelio provided executive support with Alexis England, and design specialists Michelle Gwynn and Gary Friedman produced pertinent marketing materials. Gran Pacifica Beach and Golf Resort\'s Ruth Vado and South Hills Movers\'s Bonnie Pierce provided important logistical support. Al Wells, Richard Dixon, Patty Dilg and the three Ohrman granddaughters generously donated man-hours and packing support. Patty Naleppa, Jim Woods, PK Weston, Mike Smith, Ann McKenna, Markus Spiess, Linda Fischer and Justin Karter provided invaluable support as well.

For more information about ECI Development, call Mike Cobb at 011-505-2265-1137 or visit www.ecidevelopment.com.