To
mark the milestone Worldfund:
•
Hosted
annual gala raising US $1 million;
•
Awarded
Education Leadership Honor to Jorge Gerdau Johannpeter,
Chairman, GERDAU; and the Asociación
de Bancos de México (ABM), whose Chairman is Javier
Arrigunaga, CEO in Mexico for Citi;
•
Announced
New Leadership to Expand Proven Programs in the Region
NEW YORK, June 6, 2013 – Worldfund, the premier
US-based non-profit organization whose mission is to
reduce poverty in Latin America by supporting and
delivering quality education throughout the region,
celebrated its eleventh anniversary during its annual
gala Education Leadership Dinner in New York at the
Mandarin Hotel.
The gala raised US $1 million and sold out. Over
400 business and education leaders from the U.S. and
Latin America attended, including Mexico’s Ambassador to
the United States, Mr. Manuel Medina Mora, who presented
the Award to the ABM.
Worldfund’s founder and executive director, Luanne Zurlo,
remarked that “For over a decade Worldfund has been
working to raise the quality of education in Latin
America. We have developed three outstanding programs
providing teachers and principals the technical and
human-based skills and support required to deliver the
top-quality teaching that is so important to preparing
students for an increasingly demanding environment.”
Both Ambassador Medina Mora and Luanne Zurlo emphasized
education as an urgent economic and humanitarian issue
in Latin America as millions are being left out of the
global economy, citing statistics from the OECD that
show 50% of 15-year-olds in Mexico and Brazil – the
region’s two largest economies – to be functionally
illiterate.
Worldfund’s programs have trained over 2600 teachers and
principals, who currently impact 450,000 students
annually in the region. The organization expects to
reach over 1.2 students annually by 2016.
The recipients of the2013 Education Leadership Award are
business leaders have demonstrated an outstanding and
continuous commitment to education as a key driver of
social and economic development.
The Ambassador of Mexico to the United States, Mr.
Eduardo Medina Mora, presented the Award to the
Asociación de Bancos de México.
ABM Chairman Javier Arrigunaga accepted the Award on
behalf of the 26 banks within ABM that partner with
Fundacion Televisa to run Bécalos, one of the largest
scholarship programs in Latin America.
The Ambassador said: “He who opens a school door closes
a prison. This has never been more true today. Good
education is no longer a privilege. It is a pressing
need. I recognize how much government needs civil
society organizations like Worldfund to perfect and
complete policies and achieve long-term results.”
As he accepted the award on behalf of the ABM, Mr.
Arrigunaga said: Worldfund is one of the most
distinguished friends of the Becalos scholarship
program. We deeply appreciate your partnership and
shared vision in the mission to help build and sustain a
growing infrastructure of committed educators for
lasting change.”
Worldfund also presented its highest honor to GERDAU
Chairman Jorge Johannpeter Gerdau. Mr. Gerdau serves on
numerous boards including Todos Pela Educação and is a
member of the Council of Economic and Social
Development, led by Brazil's President.
Mr. Gerdau
said: “The quality of a society is directly
proportional to the quality of the individuals that make
up that society. Those who have received a high-quality
education will certainly have greater opportunities in
life, exercise their choices more responsibly, and make
important contributions to improving the society in
which they live. Neglecting education is an ethical
problem, the consequence of which is to condemn millions
of children and adolescents to a life of social
exclusion.”
During the evening Worldfund also announced new
leadership as the organization looks to expand and
deepen its reach and impact across Latin America.
After nearly 11 years serving as President and Executive
Director, Luanne Zurlo, also founder of Worldfund, will
assume the position of Board Co-Chair, together with
Steven Shindler. Simultaneously, Angélica Ocampo joins
Worldfund as Executive Director and will be responsible
for the continued growth of the organization overseeing
a staff of 17 across offices in Mexico City, New York
and São Paulo.
Angélica brings to Worldfund extensive experience from
both the private and the non-profit sectors and has held
senior positions in communications, including Head of
Public Affairs at HSBC Argentina, and Director of Public
Affairs for Latin America at Starwood Hotels.
Luanne Zurlo remarked, “I am convinced that Angélica has
the drive, passion and experience to work closely with
the Worldfund board, staff, program partners and donors
to reach many more students in Latin America.”
Angélica Ocampo added: “I am honored and thrilled to
join this fantastic organization, as I am convinced that
by turning teachers and principals into leaders, we can
drive education reform, economic growth and prosperity
in Latin America. Teachers are the nucleus of change.
I look forward to working with Luanne and the entire
Worldfund team to expand Worldfund’s reach throughout
the region.”
“Luanne´s vision, drive and commitment have been
critical in making Worldfund one of the premier
non-profit organizations dedicated to education in Latin
America. I look forward to continuing to work closely
with Luanne in her new capacity as Board Co-Chair,” said
Steven Shindler.
About Worldfund Education Leadership Award
The purpose of the Education Leadership award is to
highlight and applaud a corporation or individual that
has demonstrated a strong commitment to education in
Latin America. Worldfund typically bestows the
Education Leadership Award on both a Latin American and
U.S.-based corporation to drive home the point that
individuals and corporations throughout the Americas
have a common interest in improving education levels in
Latin America.
Worldfund has presented the Education Leadership Award
to the following senior executives of U.S. and Latin
American companies since its inaugural dinner in June
2004:
·
Carlos Slim, Honorary Chairman, Telmex
·
Emilio Azcárraga Jean, Chairman and CEO, Televisa
·
Roberto Civita, Chariman and Editor-in-Chief, Grupo
Abril
·
Jim O'Neill, Chairman, Goldman Sachs Asset Management
·
Jim Skinner, Vice President and CEO, McDonald's
·
Woods Staton, President and CEO, Arcos Dorados
·
Paolo Rocca, Chairman and CEO, The Techint Organization
·
Muhtar Kent, President and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company
·
José Antonio Fernández Carbajal, Chairman and CEO, FEMSA
·
Claudio X. González Laporte, Chairman, Kimberly-Clark de
México
·
Marcos Magalhães, Founder and President, Instituto de
Co-Responsabilidade pela Educação
·
Jeffrey Immelt, Chairman and CEO, GE
·
José Sergio Gabrielli, Petrobras
·
Roger Agnelli, President and CEO, Vale
·
Steven Shindler, Executive Chairman, NII Holdings, Inc.
·
Producers of ¡De Panzazo!: Daniela Alatorre,
David Calderón, Claudio X. González Guajardo, Carlos
Loret de Mola, Alejandro Ramírez, and Juan Carlos Rulfo
About Worldfund
Worldfund is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) whose vision is for
every child in Latin America to benefit from exceptional
educators who inspire them to learn the skills necessary
for dignified work and life. Worldfund delivers
world-class, practical, human-centered training and
ongoing support to teachers and principals from
underserved schools in Latin America. Worldfund has
invested over $12 million in education programs in the
region since its 2002 launch. It impacts over 400,000
students annually and aims to impact 1.2 million
students annually by 2016.
Worldfund works in partnership with state governments
and private corporations to scale its three programs —
STEM (science and math teachers), LISTO (principal
leadership training) and IAPE (public school English
language teachers). Worldfund has offices in New York
City, Mexico City,
and São Paulo.