Our Commitment
The people of Puerto Rico inspire us to continue working and evolving with the island. For this reason, we contribute time and resources in various areas of our society to provide greater opportunities for our people.
Philanthropy
The love for Puerto Rico and the desire to provide better living conditions for Puerto Rican families has always been a vital motor that directs the efforts of the affiliates of Empresas Fonalledas and is channeled mainly through the aid of their Foundations. The group's businesses also provide volunteers, resources, and services for the well-being of the communities in which we operate. The priorities are mostly directed to Arts and Culture, Education, Agriculture, and Disaster Response. We were born, we live, and we invest here, in Puerto Rico, because we aspire to a better future for all our people.


Fonalledas Foundation Scholarship Fund
Since 1963, the Fonalledas Foundation has offered partial financial aid to university students at the undergraduate level who are evaluated by the criteria of availability of funds, financial need, and academic excellence, among others. This program benefits approximately 150 university students annually, with roughly $200,000 in aid for studies inside or outside Puerto Rico. Applications are reviewed each summer, and approvals are announced in August. For information about these partial aids, please send an email to becados@efonalledas.com.

TAC
TAC is a corporate communication initiative of Empresas Fonalledas and its affiliates that was created in 2015 and has maintained its presence since then on the social networks of Facebook and Twitter. Its name stands for Transparency, Action and Commitment, three of the pillars of how we operate our organizations. Through TAC, we share information about the trajectory, projects, news and other relevant topics about our business group.
Just as we have innovated and undertaken again and again in our businesses since the late 19th century, we have also evolved the way we communicate with our audiences keeping up with the period and technological advances. As part of this evolution, we changed the name of TAC to Empresas Fonalledas in order to further strengthen our communication ties and make it easier for them to find us. We feel very proud to be a purely Puerto Rican family business group that for more than 100 years has contributed to the economic and social development of Puerto Rico and we appreciate the support and trust that you have always shown us. For up-to-date information on our group and its social and community impact, visit Empresas Fonalledas on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Education
Since 1963, the Fonalledas Foundation has promoted the education of future professionals on our island through its scholarship fund. Today, its aid has diversified, and special scholarship funds have been created, from the Plaza Las Américas Foundation with the Ana G. Méndez University System, Cupey campus, and from the Plaza Del Caribe Foundation with the Catholic University of Ponce. Those interested in applying for these aids can contact each university's Admissions Office to find out the requirements and availability of funds.
On the centennial celebration of the University of Puerto Rico, we contributed to promote the strengthening of the university's endowment fund for the benefit of future professionals in the country.
Agriculture
Placita en PLAZA
This program was created in 2010 through an alliance between Plaza Las Américas and Plaza Del Caribe, the Department of Agriculture, and the Innovation Fund for Agricultural Development. Through this program, Puerto Rican farmers and agro-entrepreneurs promote and sell their fruits, vegetables, plants, and derived products to visitors to both shopping centers. La Placita en PLAZA is open to the public from Thursday to Sunday in Plaza Las Américas and from Friday to Sunday in Plaza Del Caribe. For more information on how to participate and requirements, please call the Agricultural Industry Innovation Fund at (787) 723-9090 ext. 2146.
“No Lo Dejes Caer” by Starbucks Puerto Rico
Since 2005, and only interrupted in 2017 by Hurricanes Irma and María, groups of "partners" and volunteers from Puerto Rico and the United States have helped collect Puerto Rican coffee and thus contribute to the patio coffee growers to preserve this industry. The experience of working hand in hand with them allows us to understand better the process of making a product that we see made in each store, but also understand and support the efforts of each farmer who grows this fruit so tied to our tradition. To learn more about the experience of the 2023 coffee collection event, please click here.
Coffee-growing initiative
After Hurricanes Irma and María passed through Puerto Rico, Starbucks led various efforts to support Puerto Rican coffee growers. Efforts included creating a working group of coffee farmers, government officials, academics, World Coffee Research, and other non-profit organizations. In addition, the coffee farmers benefited from the donation of two million coffee seeds; and the commitment to help promote research to improve the quality of seeds on the island. The Starbucks Foundation and the Fonalledas Foundation donated to World Coffee Research to support a three-year effort to rebuild the coffee tree nursery system on the island and help improve the quality of local seeds. In September 2019, a group of volunteers from Starbucks Puerto Rico, Starbucks Florida, and veterans of the non-profit organization "The Mission Continues", joined forces with a group of coffee farmers and industry leaders to plant coffee trees that germinated from the Marseillaise seeds donated by Starbucks in 2018.
Agricultural Science Scholarship Fund
On the centenary of Tres Monjitas and in recognition of the agricultural origins of our business group, an alliance was established with the Kinesis Foundation to create a scholarship for students specializing in agricultural sciences. The scholarship is available so that academically outstanding Puerto Rican students with limited economic resources and who are interested in pursuing university studies in agricultural sciences can do so with the help they need. For information on the requirements of this scholarship and availability, please access kinesispr.org
Art & Culture
Art in Shopping Centers
Visiting the Plaza Las Américas and Plaza Del Caribe shopping centers is a journey through Puerto Rico's past and present. In different parts, you can find works of art that celebrate our history, our flora and fauna, and some essential elements of our folklore. When you discover these works of art, under your feet and over your head, you will have discovered Puerto Rico once again. Every time you admire them, you will remember how beautiful your island is, how rich its history is, and how varied its culture is. We want that when you visit these shopping centers with your family and friends, you share with them a unique experience. That experience is the discovery of who we are; you will feel it whenever you walk through the malls. History and culture are not only in books but all around us.
For more information about art in Plaza Las Américas, click here
For more information about art in Plaza Del Caribe, click here
Puerto Rican Crafts
The Plaza Las Américas and Plaza Del Caribe shopping centers have a sustained and unwavering commitment to Puerto Rican crafts. As part of this commitment, space is offered to a select group of certified artisans to display and sell their products in the shopping centers, and this, in turn, allows more people to know and appreciate the richness and variety of Puerto Rican arts and crafts.
Artisan participation requirements:
For both Plaza Las Américas and Plaza Del Caribe, you will need to provide a copy of an updated SURI certification, IVU exemption certification issued by the Department of the Treasury, a copy of the certification, and an updated photo card issued by the Fomento's Crafts Division.
Events at Plaza Las Americas:
For information about the craft events in Plaza Las Américas and to request an interview, please call Mrs. Mangie Figueroa at (787) 474-7451. Participation in each craft event is by invitation.
- De PLAZA Pa’ la Calle in the Octavitas
This fair is held annually on the Thursday after Three Kings Day. Featured craftsmen and graphic artists exhibit their pieces. - Annual Artisan Fair at Plaza Las Américas
This event takes place in June, beginning the Monday after Father’s Day, and combines the exhibition and sale of handicrafts, musical performances, and demonstrative workshops. - Paseo Cultural Ricardo Alegría
A shared space where a select group of Puerto Rican artisans creates and sells their works throughout the year. - Saints at PLAZA (Santos en PLAZA)
An exhibition focused on selling religious-themed crafts, particularly the carving of saints. It is held annually during Holy Week.
Events at Plaza Del Caribe
For information on the artisan events at Plaza Del Caribe, please call (787) 259-8989 ext. 5012 or the Customer Service Center (787) 259-8995. Participation in each craft event is by invitation.
- Annual Artisan Fair
This event takes place in October and combines the exhibition and sale of crafts, musical presentations, and demonstrative workshops. - Artisan’s Balcony
An exhibition and sale of a wide variety of arts and crafts. Available every weekend, on the second level of the mall. - Artisan Workshop
The Industrial Development Company offers arts and crafts workshops at the mall for people interested in learning a new hobby or who want to acquire skills to start a new business. After graduating from the program, they must apply for the artisan certification issued by Fomento’s Artisan Development Office. Registration takes place at the mall in March and August.
Disaster and Emergency Response
Throughout their history, the companies affiliated with Empresas Fonalledas and their founders have provided aid, comfort, and encouragement to Puerto Rican families in the face of natural disasters and emergency situations that have affected us. This aid is provided directly to communities, non-profit entities, and employees who have also been affected by these phenomena. In recent years, the affiliates have contributed volunteers, supplies, and other resources during the following emergencies:
Hurricanes Irma and María (2017):
The group came together to award more than $1,000,000 in aid through non-profit organizations that aided communities after the emergency. Among these were the Red Cross, Center for Puerto Rico of the Sila Calderón Foundation, Para la Naturaleza, Habitat for Humanity, and World Central Kitchen, among others. Similarly, they supported employees who suffered losses and groups of volunteers brought water and UHT milk to shelters and community centers that served as community collection centers. In addition, the Tres Monjitas tanker trucks were reused to carry more than 40,000 gallons of potable water for the cisterns of senior living centers and hospitals in different parts of Puerto Rico that did not have potable water service. One of the group's main aids was the "Get Connected" Program service, through which visitors to Plaza Las Américas and Plaza Del Caribe had access to electrical connection stations and Wi-fi to stay in communication with their loved ones.
Earthquakes (2020):
After the earthquakes, which mainly affected the south of Puerto Rico, the affiliated companies brought supplies to the most affected communities. That same year, a special edition of the Mano Amiga Program was dedicated to recovery efforts in the region, through which collaborations were made with 10 non-profit organizations that provided services in the areas of education, mental health, and improvements to affected infrastructures. The social investment in the selected programs exceeded $120,000. Among the organizations with which they collaborated were the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Innovative Technology for Education, the San Germán Children's Shelter, the Madre Dominga Casa Belén Center, the Intellectus Foundation, and the Música y País Foundation, among others.
COVID-19 pandemic (2020):
The Plaza Las Américas Foundation, with the support of its sister companies and the media, was among the first private organizations to launch educational campaigns urging citizens to get vaccinated to prevent COVID-19. Similarly, Plaza Las Américas and Plaza Del Caribe provided space in the shopping centers so that vaccination centers could be opened to increase access. In the case of Plaza Las Américas, the Voces center vaccinated over 380,000 people to help reduce the chances of contagion. At Plaza Del Caribe, the Primary Medical Center vaccinated more than 21,500 people in the southern region of Puerto Rico.
Hurricane Fiona (2022):
Once again, the affiliated companies joined forces to support the most affected communities after Hurricane Fiona passed through Puerto Rico. Tres Monjitas led an effort with volunteers from the organization to bring supplies, water, milk, and basic necessities to communities in the southern area. They also provided assistance in Añasco and other affected municipalities. The group's philanthropic foundations supported the efforts of ACUTAS, the Red Cross, Caritas de Puerto Rico, the United Ways, and the Center for Puerto Rico of the Sila Calderón Foundation to aid women in agriculture. The shopping centers activated the Get Connected program through which visitors were given access to an electrical connection to charge their equipment, work, and use WI-FI. The group also collaborated with World Central Kitchen with a refrigerated truck for the temporary kitchen that served communities in the southern zone of Puerto Rico for several months. The social investment in this recovery effort exceeded $100,000.