A morning like in the films

Thank you very much to the 250 people who joined us in the celebration of our fifth anniversary in Village Recoleta

Yesterday was a very exciting morning at the movies. Social organizations, donors, those who have been with us and those who we hope will continue to be with us going forward, were present and helped make the morning a magical occasion.

The event started with the showing of a short movie in which various people from more than 30 countries who have collaborated with HelpArgentina gave their testimony of their experiences helping social organizations in Argentina.

Milagros Olivera, Executive Director of HelpArgentina, summarized in a few words the goals accomplished by the Foundation in these five years: more than $1,700,000 has been provided by 3,500 individuals who made donations from more than 30 countries.

At the same time, she highlighted the institutional grant given to HelpArgentina by the Ford Foundation, which has spent the past 73 years encouraging international cooperation and human development, in addition to financing programs that promote democracy and reduce poverty.

Amongst those in attendance at the event were Martín Etchevers (Clarín group), Diego Melamed (journalist specializing in the Argentine Diaspora) y Carlos March (Executive Director of Avina Buenos Aires).

Carlos March, Diego Melamed and Martín Etchevers

Perhaps the words of Carlos March best clarify some of the concepts behind the event:

"The interesting thing and that which must be learned is that it is not the excess that must be donated, but that which is needed," concluded March at the end of his speech.

Leandro Cahn of Huesped Foundation , Martín Gimenez Rebora of UNICEF, Milagros Olivera of HelpArgentina, Martín Etchevers and María Julia Díaz Ardaya of Clarin and Laura Zommer of CIPPEC.

At the closing of the event, HelpArgentina made four formal acknowledgements of individuals and institutions that have supported it during these first five years: Juan Carr from Red Solidaria, The CIPPEC Foundation, Nancy Truitt from The Tinker Foundation and Mathew Nimetz were recognized and gifted trips to different and prestigious hotels of the Argentine Patagonia (Llao Llao, Los Cerros, Eolo y Calafate, thanks to DestinoArgentina).

We really hope that this celebration is only the beginning and that we will be able to continue to celebrate every year and each time with more people forming this community that is HelpArgentina.