The abc* Foundation Announces Partnerships with Select Social Entrepreneurs in Mexico, Chile and France

MIAMI, Dec. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Americas Business Council (abc*) Foundation announced it will invest significant financial, advisory and media resources to support three Ashoka social entrepreneurs through a two-year partnership, determined by the ability to match the initiative with abc* resources to effectively scale and replicate the projects. The three social entrepreneurs include José Manuel Moller, co-founder of Algramo in Chile; Manuel Wiechers, CEO and co-founder of Iluméxico in Mexico; and Nicolas Metro, founder and president of Kinomé in France.

The three projects were chosen among 23 others presented by social entrepreneurs during the fourth annual Continuity Forum. The Foundation and its partners will support the winning projects with strategic counsel and business development resources to help achieve lasting, innovative solutions.

The 2014 Continuity Forum held November 13-14 gathered 23 Ashoka Fellows, social entrepreneurs who seek change in areas of the environment, technology, education and energy, together with luminaries and business leaders to address key issues facing the Americas.

The social entrepreneurs who presented at the Forum were invited among thousands of other established Ashoka Fellows to present their ideas addressing issues ranging from poverty and food security, to environmental sustainability, community building and social justice. The winners represent a variety of thriving initiatives that are motivated by the desire to achieve positive social change:

• Algramo - Algramo reduces the costs of purchasing everyday products, such as rice, lentils, chick­peas, beans and detergent, by selling them for daily consumption via automatic machines in quantities that neighborhood consumers want and can afford.
• Iluméxico - Iluméxico provides electricity and energy services to remote communities by using solar energy that adapts to the rural market with "last-mile" distribution channels, flexible financing mechanisms and community development programs.
• Kinomé - Kinomé counters deforestation by converting trees and forests into a human and economic devel­opment solution for communities, NGOs, businesses, institutions, scientists and schools to leverage in improving access to water, food and health care.

"The abc* Foundation honors and supports the work of social entrepreneurs who see a problem and dedicate themselves to finding a solution that serves the greater good," said Camilo Galvis, Executive Director of the abc* Foundation. "Together with Ashoka and the Knight Foundation, we are proud to help these winning social entrepreneurs to reach their goals and demonstrate that organizations can collaborate to further impact social change."

The Continuity Forum is the abc* Foundation's marquee event to support its mission of striving to promote peace, sustainability and prosperity.

Participating experts at the 2014 abc* Continuity Forum included Nobel Laureate Dr. Daniel Kahneman; Pulitzer Laureate Nicholas D. Kristof; X Prize Foundation Chairman and CEO Dr. Peter Diamandis; Grupo Televisa CEO Emilio Azcárraga Jean; and Grupo Omnilife CEO Angelica Fuentes.

Headshots: http://goo.gl/K9mcEG

Digital Press Kit: http://goo.gl/avasdZ

ABOUT THE CONTINUITY FORUM
For more information on the abc* Continuity Forum, visit: http://www.abccontinuityforum.com

Join the Conversation
Join the conversation about the conference by using #abcforum and following @abc_foundation. Also, like the abc* Foundation on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/abcfoundation

ABOUT THE AMERICAS BUSINESS COUNCIL FOUNDATION
For more information on abc*, visit: http://www.abcfound.org/

ABOUT ASHOKA
For more information on Ashoka, visit: http://www.ashoka.org/

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SOURCE abc* Foundation

Related Links

http://www.abcfound.org