| If anyone was to ever ask a cigar what it did for a | | | | charities all aimed at helping people to restore, rebuild, |
| living, chances are it would say, "I provide relief." | | | | and regain their lives. Recently, the World of |
| Bragging a little, this cigar would continue by listing the | | | | Montecristo Relief Ogranization pledged 500,000 |
| kinds of relief it provides: relief for those who need a | | | | dollars to the American Red Cross in support of the |
| break from stress, relief for those who need an | | | | Hurrican Katrina victims. |
| outlet of luxury, relief for those who are looking for | | | | Centered at this foundation is the Montecristo Cup |
| the perfect celebratory gesture. Overhearing this, a | | | | Charity Pro-Am golf tournament. This is an annual |
| cigarette would look on, shaking its head at its | | | | four day event that features everyone from PGA |
| cousin's ego, only to realize the truth: when it comes | | | | champions to amateurs, all from a variety of |
| to relief, cigars aren't simply blowing smoke. | | | | countries and walks of life. During the tournament, |
| Thanks to cigar charities, cigars can now brag even | | | | golfers are given the opportunity to play for a good |
| more, boasting until they get extinguished. Cigar | | | | cause: smoking out the destruction Mother Nature |
| charities are foundations set up to provide relief for | | | | can bring. |
| tobacco growing places. As reported by Cigar | | | | The Cigar Family Charitable Foundation is another |
| Aficionado, there are a number of cigar makers who | | | | cigar charity worth mentioning. This charity began in |
| put charity on the top of their to-do list. Many of | | | | 2001 when the J.C. Newman and Arturo Fuente |
| these charities are set up to help Honduras, | | | | families created an organization aimed at helping the |
| Nicaragua, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic, places | | | | impoverished areas surrounding tobacco regions. |
| known not only for fine tobacco but also devastating | | | | Building schools, health clinics, and water filtering |
| storms and elements of nature. | | | | stations are just a few of the things the Cigar Family |
| Two of the major cigar charities in existence today | | | | Charitable Foundations have been credited with doing. |
| are the World of Montecristo Relief Organization and | | | | Partnered with the Institute for Integral Dominican |
| the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation. | | | | Development, a foundation offering support to the |
| The World of Montecristo Relief Organization was | | | | people of the Dominican Republic for the past 25 |
| originally established in 1998, founded by Altadis in an | | | | years, The Cigar Family Charitable Foundation helps |
| attempt to provide aid to Caribbean cigar regions | | | | raise money through special events, online cigar |
| damaged by hurricanes. This organization has since | | | | auctions, and the sale of their cigars and humidors. |
| been at the center of a variety of fundraisers and | | | | |