Mano Amiga program donates $350K to 32 nonprofits
From left: Franklin Domenech, general manager of Plaza Las Americas Jaime Fonalledas, president of Empresas Fonalledas, Edwin Tavárez, general manager of Plaza Del Caribe, and Janine Fonalledas, director of corporate marketing Plaza Las Americas congratulate Aysha Concepción, of Familias CAPACES.
The Mano Amiga program run by the Plaza Las Américas and Plaza del Caribe Foundations wrapped up its first year of operations benefiting 32 Puerto Rico nonprofits that split $350,000 in grant funding.
This program was created to contribute to Puerto Rico’s social improvement by supporting the efforts by nonprofits that offer services in the Foundation’s areas of interest, namely: Arts and Culture, Education, Social Welfare and Environmental Protection.
During the second round of funding, Mano Amiga granted more than $200,000 to 18 nonprofits that joined a group of 14 organizations that split more than $150,000 in donations assigned in August.
“We are grateful for the work these organizations are doing, and we recognize the importance of the third sector in offering hope for a better quality of life in Puerto Rico,” said Jaime Fonalledas, chairman of both foundations.
“Nonprofits have demonstrated for decades their commitment, effectiveness and enthusiasm in providing services to marginalized sectors,” he said.
For more than 50 years, the philanthropic foundations affiliated with Empresas Fonalledas have contributed to different causes in Puerto Rico, and have granted financial aid to low-income students, said Lorraine Vissepó, director of communications for Empresas Fonalledas.
The Mano Amiga program was created this year, and the expectation is to continue the initiative through 2017, she said.
“We invite nonprofits to submit their proposals for the development of initiatives that directly impact the quality of life of people in need. The next period to submit proposals will be in March 2017. We will soon announce the link where they can access the application and instructions,” she said.
The nonprofits that benefited during the second round of funding were: Coro de Niños de Ponce, Ponce YMCA, Compañía de Baile Ballet Señorial, Desarrollo Integral del Sur, Inc. (DISUR), Andanza, Casa Protegida Julia de Burgos, Colegio de Educación Especial y Rehabilitación Integral, Inc. (CODERI), Boys & Girls Club, Jóvenes de Puerto Rico en Riesgo, Juan Domingo en Acción, Sociedad Educación y Rehabilitación de Puerto Rico, Inc. (SER), Politécnico Amigó, YMCA de San Juan, Casa La Providencia, Familias CAPACES, Centro Geriátrico San Rafael, Fundación Centro Pediátrico de Diabetes and Museo de Las Américas.
