Programa Mano Amiga establishes partnerships with 24 organizations in its XVI Edition
Plaza Las Americas and Plaza Del Caribe Foundations support programs in Education, Arts and Culture, Entrepreneurship, Health, Environment and Women’s Empowerment.

San Juan, Puerto Rico, June 25, 2024 – The Programa Mano Amiga of the Plaza Las Américas and Plaza Del Caribe Foundations presented the grants of its sixteenth edition, in which 24 organizations from the metro and southern areas of the Island received approval for the implementation of community service programs. Seven of them were selected by the foundations as part of the program for the first time. In total, the social investment amounts to more than $236,000 that will impact the lives of over 9,000 people, with programs in the areas of education, arts and culture, entrepreneurship, health, environment and women’s empowerment.

The president of the Plaza Las Americas and Plaza Del Caribe Foundations, Jaime Fonalledas Rubert, recognized the efforts of the more than 60 organizations that submitted proposals in this edition and added that, “Every time we celebrate this event, we are reminded of the power of solidarity and the positive impact we can generate when we work together. We will continue to offer them a helping hand to build a more supportive and hopeful future for Puerto Ricans”.

The Plaza Del Caribe Foundation will be collaborating with 5 organizations in the southern region with programs that will impact over 5,000 people. The organizations selected to receive grants in this edition were:

• UPR Mayagüez Campus, with its program Primary Health Prevention in Young University Students;
• Fundación Luis A. Ferré, for the Art program at the Cristo Pobre Shelter and at Casa Protegida Julia de Burgos;
• Centros Sor Isolina Ferré, to support the Transition Learning Center;
• SUM Guayanilla School Band, contributing to the training of students in the arts of marching bands and show bands;
• Para La Naturaleza, for the Nature Immersion Workshops.

On the other hand, the Plaza Las Americas Foundation presented grants to 19 organizations whose programs will impact nearly 4,000 people. The organizations recognized were:

• Red Cross of Puerto Rico, in support of the Home Fire Financial Assistance program;
• Cáritas of Puerto Rico, for its Entrepreneurship program;
• Banco de Alimentos de Puerto Rico, with its Héroes program, which addresses the food insecurity of children with cancer;
• Instituto Psicopedagógico de Puerto Rico, for the Habilitative Independent Living program;
• Fundación CAP, supporting the physical therapy program for its patients;
• Boys and Girls Club of Puerto Rico, with Diplomas to Degree, a college preparation program;
• Fundación Hospital Pedátrico, to continue and expand the Child Life Program;
• EcoExploratorio, to educate in the areas of STEM with “Artemis: From the Moon to Mars” exhibit;
• Casa Protegida Julia de Burgos, to facilitate the En Ruta a la Libertad Financiera program for its participants.
• Habitat for Humanity of Puerto Rico, a training program for women to address plumbing, electrical and other situations in the home through Women Build of Puerto Rico;
• Fundación Santa María de los Angeles, to offer a hand of support and bring optimism and quality of life to patients with chronic illnesses;
• Movimiento para el Alcance de Vida Independiente (MAVI), with its program Manos Unidas por la Inclusión, which provides art and music experience to its participants.
• Safe Child Coalition, to provide online safety guidance to students;
• Casa La Providencia, to support the Renacer a la Vida program, which offers courses in computers, literature, art, among others to its participants.
• Hogar de Niñas de Cupey, contributing to the complementary educational program for a comprehensive education that provides tutoring to the residents of the home and the community.
• Mauro Inc, for its Arte para Todos program that facilitates the education and development of new talents in theater, dance and art in vulnerable communities.
• Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico, to promote the development of new male dancers;
• SER de Puerto Rico, supporting the preparation of participants in the SER Children’s Choir;
• Finally, Museo de los Santos, to offer art and digital creation workshops to the community.

In this edition, 5 organizations were supported with educational programs, 5 in the area of arts and culture, 9 in the area of health, 1 in entrepreneurship, 1 in the environment and 3 in training programs for women. The Plaza Las Americas and Plaza Del Caribe Foundations carefully evaluate and select initiatives that demonstrate a significant and sustainable impact on the communities they serve. Over the past eight years, the Mano Amiga Program has made a social investment of more than $3,375,703.64 million in programs that impacted approximately 380,000 people. A total of 131 nonprofit organizations in different parts of Puerto Rico have received grants to facilitate the implementation of their programs aligned with the foundations’ pillars.

The presentation of donations took place in the space where the 3rd edition of Centro Crece’s Portraits of Prosperity, a collection of 100 photographs and stories that capture the essence of entrepreneurship in Puerto Rico, is on display. The exhibition is the product of the talent and vision of high school and university students. This program is being carried out thanks to the grant received by the Programa Mano Amiga, which was awarded in the last edition.

The Programa Mano Amiga receives grant applications from qualifying organizations twice a year. The next period in which entities may submit their proposals for the program’s consideration will be August 2024. To learn about the program’s requirements and to submit proposals, please visit the Empresas Fonalledas website, as well as the company’s Facebook, Instagram or Twitter pages. There you can also find details about past editions, as well as success stories of different organizations that have received funding through the Programa Mano Amiga.

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