By Michelle Bourdeau, RealtorDR Sales Expert & Organizer of The Cabarete Butterfly Effect
When I first dreamed of bringing the Butterfly Effect to Cabarete 17 years ago, I never imagined it would grow into what it is today: the Caribbean’s largest women’s water sports event, a nonprofit, and—most importantly—a movement that continues to transform lives both on and off the water.
What began as a response to an experience of inequity in competitive windsurfing became a platform for empowerment, connection, and real community impact. And now, it means so much to me that the company I proudly represent—RealtorDR—believes in this movement too.
For the second time, RealtorDR is our title sponsor. That’s not just generous—it’s visionary.
What It Means When a Company Sees You
Sponsoring a grassroots event like the Butterfly Effect isn’t just about visibility. It takes foresight. It means believing in the power of local action and women-led leadership. It’s about standing behind values that reflect real, long-term community care.
At RealtorDR, we talk a lot about lifestyle. But supporting this event goes deeper—it’s about shaping the kind of place where people thrive. Not just those who are buying or selling homes, but the young girls learning to swim, the women finding their courage on a paddleboard, and the community showing up for something that matters.
Why Support Events Like This?
The Cabarete Butterfly Effect is more than just a day on the water—it’s a celebration of strength, sisterhood, and shared purpose. Each year, it brings together more than one hundred women and girls from around the world to connect through ocean sports, environmental care, and meaningful community action.
Rooted in three core pillars—
- Watersport Involvement: empowering women through the ocean.
- Environmental Stewardship: protecting the places we play.
- Community Impact: giving back to local youth and causes.
The event creates space for transformation, confidence-building, and connection. Whether it’s a woman trying a paddleboard for the first time or a young girl realizing the ocean is hers to explore, the Butterfly Effect sparks change that lasts far beyond the shoreline.
This kind of movement matters. It nurtures a culture where women lead, communities unite, and the ocean becomes a shared place of empowerment. For the women who haven’t yet been told how powerful they are. For the young girls who need to see what’s possible.
Women Lifting Women
I’m not doing this alone. The event is co-organized by the Monarch Council, a volunteer team of powerhouse women, many of whom are also successful real estate professionals with RealtorDR. It’s a collective of women supporting women, both in business and in the community. These are women who close deals one day and carry paddleboards the next. Who fundraise, mentor, lead, and show up fully—because we believe in building something bigger than ourselves.
Together, we’re showing what’s possible when leadership is collaborative and purpose-driven.
A New Chapter: Teaching Girls to Swim
This year, we’ve taken a bold step forward: the Cabarete Butterfly Effect is now a registered nonprofit in the Dominican Republic.
Our first mission? Teach local girls to swim.
Because for a girl growing up just steps from the ocean, learning to swim can unlock an entirely new world—one filled with freedom, strength, joy, and opportunity. Swimming is the foundation that leads to surfing, kiting, windsurfing, SUPing, and more. It’s not just a skill; it’s access.
And through RealtorDR’s sponsorship, that access becomes reality.
Community First, Always
I’m deeply proud to be part of RealtorDR because we don’t just sell homes—we help shape the future of this community. This, and all of the event sponsorships over the years, is proof of that. It’s a commitment to supporting real people, real movements, and real progress.
So if you’ve ever asked yourself, “How can I be part of something bigger?”—this is it.
Let’s keep building something that lasts.
Let’s Be the Effect.