Author: Rafael Micha

With the fall school term upon us, and everyone so excited to hit the books, here are my personal picks for helping out this season.

IBBY México

This amazing institution with 35 years of expertise is invested in the formation of readers in Mexico. In a nutshell, they try (and do succeed!) in creating the right connections between readers and books, providing facilitators, materials, and community spaces to encourage reading. They are also engaged in offering services thru BS-IBBY México, a library which specializes in young readers. ibbymexico.org.mx

PAC

Patronato de Arte Contemporáneo (PAC) organizes monthly and seasonal events through its Programas del PAC which this year supported through their annual call-for-entries, 115 art projects from 20 different locations in Mexico. Many of these included scholarships granted for independent space, curatorial projects, education, and publications. Also this year, along with Transformación Arte y Educación (TAE) and Colaboración Curatorial Kadist (KCC), PAC sponsored the conference: Fables of the Living Dead: An allegorical story of Latin America.  pac.org.mx 

ANÓNIMO COLECTIVO

Anónimo Colectivo is a nonprofit contemporary art auction, where the concealment of authorship remains until the piece is sold to the highest bidder. The nonprofit encourages the purchase of art as a process free of preconceived ideas, motivated only by the connection that an anonymous piece can generate. Their latest event, in September of this year at the Museo Tamayo, entitled Edición Coleccionistas, was organized with Aimée Servitje, president, and Sonya Santos de Arredondo, director, of the nonprofit Fundacion Olga y Rufino Tamayo, along with the Curator of the Museo Tamayo, Juan A. Gaitán.

Anónimo has successfully organized other charitable events such as the auction and exhibition, Indocumentados at Miami’s Art Basel and in Guadalajara. Art philanthropist and entrepreneur Alejandra Martinez is the master-mind behind this non-profit which helped put ArteCareyes on the map. anonimo.colectivomexico.com

 

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#MakeItHappen

For starters, a huge shout out goes to all the corporate sponsors of fundraising events, especially: party planners across the land, PR firms extraordinaire, libation experts such as Casa Cuervo and La Europea, generous accommodations by Grupo HABITA, across the board supporters like Fundación Jumex, and each and every one whom I fondly refer to as the usual suspects. Without their unwavering and committed support, we would not be able to organize any charitable happenings.

Here are a few of this summer’s undertakings.

Brigada is a tool for non-profits, companies, governments, donors, and well-intentioned citizens to work collectively, effectively, and transparently towards the common good and help to coordinate the reconstruction of communities in the wake of natural disasters. Brigada is currently being piloted across approximately 4,000 communities in Mexico, as the country rebuilds from the back-to-back earthquakes of September 2017. In the days since its launch, civil society organizations have documented over $10.5 million U.S. dollars on reconstruction expenditure and mapped hundreds of verifiable projects. Its stellar advisory board includes film Mexican prodigal son Alfonso Cuarón, and star architect Tatiana Bilbao, which guarantees transparency. Please contact brigade.mx.

Fundacion Conmemoraciones 2010 A.C. is committed “to reinforce links of a historical, social, political, and cultural nature among Mexicans.” It is an art and architecturally-oriented nonprofit focused on the preservation of historic buildings in Mexico including the ten-year project with the five million U.S. dollar ticket of the painstaking restoration of the Casa Rivas Mercado, famous for its residents and portrayed in the gorgeously written novel In the Shadow of the Angel by Kathryn S. Blair. After undertaking such an endeavor, Fundación Conmemoraciones is after new and challenging undertakings which will be revealed this season.

Confederacion Mexicana de Organizaciones en favor de la Persona con Discapacidad Intelectual A. C. Confe.org.mx held its gala February 15, 2018 but is always on the lookout for individual and corporate sponsors to help finish and complete the construction of their community center located on Observatorio Avenue in Mexico City. Differently-abled people find support here, so please help this much-needed organization.

International Community Foundation (ICF) helps expats living in Mexico find the right way of giving back to their adopted communities. Especially prominent in Los Cabos, ICF helps to identify the most urgent challenges and select the most qualified partners, while ensuring that donations are being used effectively and responsibly. Created in 1990 the ICF has been helping U.S. donors to overcome this unique challenge and receive U.S. charitable donation tax benefits.  It has been the nonprofit foundation of choice for U.S. donors who are passionate about improving the quality of life for the communities they care about, particularly in different areas such as: education, art, culture, environment, conservation, and health. Please visit icfdn.org for more information.

Do follow me on Twitter and stalk me and watch what I’m up to in Instagram @rafaelmicha and of course read all about it at www.radarmicha.com.

#MakeItHappen | Spring 2018

By: Rafael Micha

#MeToo is the 2018 philanthropic must in nonprofit circles. The uber wealthy have committed to change, including the Rockefellers, Buffets, Gates et al. It is more than donating money, it is donating time; an expression of sincere commitment to a new due diligence of tomorrow.

Be it this movement or another nonprofit organization, always choose one that is close to home and heart. The following organizations are close to mine, where I donate my time, sit on the board, or just write checks.

Project Paz, based in New York is the Mexican outpost where Grupo HABITA and many other expats hold donation drives for all reasons including relief efforts in Mexico due to the September 19 earthquake. It is the preferred non-profit organization offering humanitarian aid in Mexico. projectpaz.org

Fundación Origen has a long-standing, uninterrupted 17 years of committed work helping women in Mexico.  It is an ongoing project by founder Mariana Baños that includes community centers, programs and events that empower women. fundacionorigen.org.mx

Niños en Alegría Their annual Gala raised more than $250,000 US this year. The funds will be used to help bring schools and education levels up to standard in the states of Guerrero, and Oaxaca. The organization is spearheaded by Alejandra Alemán who has 15 years of experience. They have helped more than three thousand children by creating 18 safe schools. In addition, in cooperation with the Board of Education and Movistar, the organization has touched thousands more with supplies and educational support. ninosenalegria.org.mx

 

Duerme Tranquilo is dear to my heart because of its unwavering commitment to providing health services to the vulnerable, thanks to founders Silvia Rojo and Rosaura Henkel and the commitment of members, foundations and institutes throughout Mexico. duermetranquilo.com.mx

Support one or support all and follow me at Twitter and Instagram @rafaelmicha and read more about radarmicha.com

 

#RECAP
By: Rafael Micha

Three major charity events caught my attention in 2017 thus far. At the beginning of the year, almost in time to open the social season, the Louis Vuitton Make a Wish campaign took place all over the world.  LV’s outreach and communication strategy is amazing in scope and size. #MAKEAPROMISE

The Maestro Cares Foundation hosted its fourth annual Changing Lives – Building Dreams Gala, in New York City this past March with cocktails, dinner, live and silent auction, an awards ceremony and entertainment at Cipriani Wall Street. The event was hosted by Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor Jimmy Smits with a special performance by the organization’s founder, Marc Anthony.

If all of the above was not the perfect excuse to attend and support the event, just to witness the success and accomplishment of my beloved Angélica Fuentes who received the Corporate Social Responsibility Award, was enough reason to attend. Fuentes is the founder of the Angélica Fuentes Foundation which focuses on women’s empowerment and gender equality. Fuentes and the organization’s veritable who’s who board of directors and one-of-a-kind host committee put together a first class evening.

Needless to say, my personal favorite charitable event of the year – so far – has been the Robin Hood Foundation Benefit with co-chair Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees’ World Champion. The benefit was held  at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City and showcased a performance by Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland of Coldplay. Best of all was its dress code which was ‘no black tie’. Old, new and BIG money attended the event which raised almost 175 million dollars during the May event.

All organizations cited will gladly receive your donation and participation any time of the year.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @rafaelmicha and read all the details at radarmicha.com. #Makeithappen