PUNTACANA Ecological Foundation

1969: Ted Kheel and group of 40 partners purchase approximately 30 square miles of undeveloped land in the Dominican Republic.
1970: Kheel and partners hire Frank Rainieri, Dominican entrepreneur, to develop tourism project.
1971: Grupo PUNTACANA (GPC) builds first “resort” of 10 beach cottages and clubhouse, dedication attended by President Balaguer.
1972: GPC builds first elementary school in Punta Cana.
1977: Club Mediterranee purchases tract of land from GPC.
1980: Club Med opens hotel in Punta Cana
1984: Inauguration of the Punta Cana International Airport with first flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico
1987: GPC builds new PUNTACANA Resort & Club using thatch-roof constructions and low-impact sustainable architecture
1988: Formation of the not-for-profit PUNTACANA Ecological Foundation (FEPC) with donation of 1,500 acres of land for ecological park and reserve (incorporation follows in 1994).
1992: FEPC launches first sustainable agriculture initiative in Punta Cana (Fruit Tree Garden)
1997: Julio Iglesias and Oscar de la Renta join Kheel and Rainieri as GPC major partners and build first homes in Corales development
1998: GPC founds a second not-for-profit organization, PUNTACANA Foundation (FPC) to develop social and community programs in the region.
2000 FPC founds bilingual, private school PUNTACANA Education Center (CEPCA).
2001: FEPC and GPC create PUNTACANA Center for Sustainability to develop research and education programs that goals of support sustainable development.
2003: FPC founds public Ann and Ted Kheel Polytechnic (High) School.
2004: FEPC launches PUNTACANA Coastal Marine Project.
2005: Launch of co-management of Rural Clinic of Veron.