press releases

BRAZILFOUNDATION PARTICIPA DO PRIMEIRO FESTIVAL ANUAL DE CINEMA BRASILEIRO EM LOS ANGELES (LABRFF) E PROMOVE PROGRAMAS SOCIAIS NO BRASIL
(press release in Portuguese)

New York, February 28, 2008

BRAZILFOUNDATION CELEBRATES THE FIRST ANNUAL LOS ANGELES BRAZILIAN FILM FESTIVAL (LABRFF) IN SUPPORT OF SOCIAL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT BRAZIL
New York, February 12, 2008

BRAZIL FOUNDATION GRANTEE IS AWARDED HUMAN RIGHTS 2007 PRIZE
(press release in Portuguese)
Rio de Janeiro, December 06, 2007

SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS SOLVE WATER PROBLEMS FOR FAMILIES LIVING IN BRAZILIAN SEMI-ARID ZONE
(press release in Portuguese)
Rio de Janeiro, November 30, 2007

BRAZILFOUNDATION SELECTS RURAL EDUCATION INITIATIVES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HSBC´S SOLIDARITY INSTITUTE
(press release in Portuguese)
Rio de Janeiro, November 23, 2007

BRAZILFOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH HSBC'S SOLIDARITY INSTITUTE IN EDUCATION INITIATIVE
New York, May 31, 2007

BRAZILFOUNDATION RELEASES 2007 FINALISTS
New York, May 18, 2007

BREAKFAST TALK WITH JORGE GERDAU JOHANNPETER, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GERDAU GROUP
New York, October 6, 2005

TO THE RHYTHMS OF DANIELA MERCURY, BRAZILFOUNDATION CELEBRATES ITS THIRD ANNUAL GALA IN NEW YORK CITY
New York, September 13, 2005

BREAKFAST TALK WITH JORGE GERDAU JOHANNPETER, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GERDAU GROUP

New York, Outubro 6, 2005 -- Jorge Gerdau Johannpeter, president and CEO of the Gerdau Group, the largest long steel producer in the Americas, addressed an audience of about 55 yesterday morning in the JPMorgan Chase Auditorium. BrazilFoundation and JP Morgan sponsored the breakfast talk, entitled "Sustainable Development, Ethics, and the Formation of Values in Society." The Brazilian American Chamber of Commerce named Mr. Gerdau the Brazilian 2005 Person of the Year at an event at the Waldorf-Astoria the previous night.

Jorge Gerdau Johannpeter, president and CEO of the Gerdau Group.

The speech centered on the critical importance of social responsibility in an increasingly global business world. "I learned this idea of social responsibility from my mother," Gerdau said, adding that business leaders have a responsibility to their community and to the world that accompanies their great power. His speech addressed important questions, such as how do we organize ourselves in society? Around what "collective good" do we gather? And how does business and free enterprise fit into the political system to further this good?

Gerdau's answers came as he stated his belief that "solidarity existed before the state," and that corporations must strive to improve individual means, in turn improving the whole and people's sense of citizenship and being a true citizen in a society. Sustainable development, an essential element in his 104-year-old company's longevity, "seeks to reconcile social, economic, and environmental needs without compromising the future of any one of these," he said. This goal ultimately helps to further improve the "collective good," which "guarantees respect for mutual trust and social behavioral norms."

With 119 social projects in the Americas, the Gerdau Group seeks to "educate in attitude." All of these "social investments" in communities where Gerdau operates are focused on education and improving public infrastructure. Gerdau named three types of social investment: donation, financial investment, and being an entrepreneur or philanthropist, the most effective method, in his view. "I will not be owner of more than 10% of a project," Gerdau said. Rather, he will see to it that communities are given experience and management, not just money. Gerdau made the point that organized volunteer work among employees and community members is always more effective and rewarding than just writing a check. "We need to empower those whom we help and see through the progress to obtain results."

Claudio Berquo of JPMorgan, Maria Helena Johannpeter, Leona Forman and Jorge Gerdau Johannpeter.

In the question and answer session after the speech, Gerdau's wife, Maria Elena P. Johannpeter, a member of BrazilFoundation's advisory board and executive vice president of the NGO Parceiros Voluntarios (Volunteer Partners), reinforced this idea of empowering community members. She noted that in her experience with Parceiros Voluntarios, the recipients of support from the NGO are more grateful when the organization provides management or administration rather than money. Johannpeter observed that "when people arrive to sign up for our projects, their first question is, 'is this a state-run program?'." Both she and her husband believe people are more inclined to volunteer for private initiatives because they see government (especially in countries like Brazil and the US) as big, slow, and inefficient.

Alvaro Martinez Fonts, a managing director with JPMorgan Chase, asked if the state patronized its citizenry rather than encouraging empowerment and management at the community level. Gerdau answered passionately, explaining that the most efficient way to help the poor is to create responsibility and management from below, within communities. Powerful governments have failed at this kind of management, but the Third Sector can fix these problems with proper action.

Gerdau closed with a quote from Jose Bernardo Toro, a Colombian Sociologist: "We create all social order. The action or lack of action of each of us helps shape and consolidate the order in which we live." It was Gerdau, however, who had the final word, proclaiming that improving quality of life of the global population is "in our hands to construct."

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TO THE RHYTHMS OF DANIELA MERCURY, BRAZILFOUNDATION CELEBRATES ITS THIRD ANNUAL GALA IN NEW YORK CITY

New York, September 13, 2005 -- In an elegant and festive atmosphere at Cipriani's restaurant in Manhattan, BrazilFoundation celebrated its Third Annual Gala. The Foundation is a trans-national philanthropy with headquarters in New York. It's most important fundraising event, the Gala generates funds which are used by BrazilFoundation to finance dozens of social projects annually in Brazil.

Close to 450 guests, including businessmen, politicians, artists, designers and models participated in the event. Brazil's former President, Fernando Henrique Cardoso attended and shared his enthusiasm for BrazilFoundation's achievements. "I believe that BrazilFoundation's work is admirable and very important in meeting the needs of the many Brazilian organizations that act in the social field. Beyond that, it is a hallmark of Brazil in the US," commented the ex-president.

Daniela Mercury's Performance.

The BrazilFoundation raised a total of $200,000 thanks to the generosity of individuals and businesses that make the Gala possible, donating time, sponsorship, buying tables and individual tickets. The Gala raised an additional $12,000 through the auction of two paintings donated by the artists Beatriz Milhazes of Rio de Janeiro and Romero Britto of Miami.

Patrícia Poeta, reporter for TV Globo Internacional, was the Gala's mistress of ceremonies for the second year in a row. Two social investors in Brazil were honored at the Gala. Evelyn Ioschpe, sociologist, journalist and president of the Ioschpe Foundation and the Institute for Art in the Schools and Stanley Litow, President of IBM Foundation. Evelyn said that "Brazil has developed innovative social technologies that the world needs to know about. Events like the Gala are an important way to give visibility to these innovations. Brazil's not-for-profit sector has many dedicated and capable people, but we need more investments. BrazilFoundation is an important catalyst for interest and gifts to projects that really make a difference." For Stanley Litow, "the partnership with BrazilFoundation plays a fundamental role in helping IBM reap the rewards of the social investments it has made to promote education and bring technology to Brazil's poorest communities."

Pfizer, the largest pharmaceutical company in the world, was the principal sponsor of the Gala, with a donation of $25,000. Pedro Litchtinger, President of Pfizer Animal Health, recently accepted an invitation to join BrazilFoundation's Advisory Board and says that he was attracted by the passion of those involved with the foundation in improving their country. "For Pfizer, it is very important to know where donated resources are going. We value the seriousness with which BrazilFoundation selects and monitors the projects it chooses as grantees. It gives us a sense of security that the money is being put to especially good use."

Another new member of the Board, Donna Hrinak, former US Ambassador to Brazil also attended the event. Inspired by the festive environment, the diplomat declared that entities like BrazilFoundation are in a better position than the government to understand the realities and needs of the people. A resident of Florida, Hrinak said that she hopes to be the voice of BrazilFoundation in this American state.

The monumental dining room of Cipriani's, decorated with arrangements of sunflowers by Zezé Flores, reverberated with the energy of the guests, including various celebrities like actor Fábio Assunção, the designer Carlos Miele and models Daniela Sarahyba and Luciana Curtis. But the greatest hit of the evening was the performance by Daniela Mercury. The singer, from Brazil's northeastern state of Bahia came to New York exclusively to support the BrazilFoundation Gala.

Daniela Mercury had planned to sing a couple of songs accompanied by guitar, but she was so moved by the enthusiasm of the guests that she ended up performing for almost an hour. The singer, who is the UNICEF Ambassador to Brazil and participates actively in the work of various Brazilian non-profits, spoke passionately about BrazilFoundation's mission: "The Foundation's methods are very efficient and I am so happy for the opportunity to be a volunteer. It's not charity, it is solidarity. It's the work of providing Brazilians with respect and human dignity and this is what is most important."

Founded in 2001, BrazilFoundation has financed a total of 131 social projects, distributing close to US$3 million to organizations dedicated to social transformation throughout Brazil.

Click here for BrazilFoundation's Gala 2005 picture gallery.

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