Vidanta Foundation Announces Winners in Annual Prestigious Prize Competition

MEXICO CITY, Sept. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Vidanta Foundation, a non-profit institution with a main objective of actively combating poverty and inequality in Latin America, announced today the winners of its annual Prize competition. The distinguished panel of judges has awarded the 2012 Annual Awards to the Foundation Women's Institute of Chile, the Rahab Foundation of Costa Rica and the Foundation for Social Housing in Argentina.

The Awards this year recognized in particular organizations that provide psychosocial support and training on citizenship to immigrant women, and those groups that fight against human trafficking and enable better access to housing and essential services.

The three winning institutions will receive the sum of $100,000 (USD), $50,000 (USD) and $25,000 (USD), respectively. The Awards will be presented at a ceremony to be held in Mexico City on October 16. In addition, a $50,000 (USD) Award will be presented to Leonardo Gasparini and Guillermos Cruces for their academic work, "Proposal and Projections for Reducing Poverty and Inequality." Finally, the Vaga Lume Association of Brazil, Ak Tenamit Foundation of Guatemala and the Ecology and Development Foundation of Spain will be presented with special mention merit awards.

The Vidanta Foundation Prize, "Contributions to the Reduction of Inequality and Poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean," is a joint initiative by the Organization of American States (OAS), the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB) and the Vidanta Foundation. The Prize aims to provide recognition and support for outstanding projects carried out in Latin America and the Caribbean to reduce poverty and inequality while fighting discrimination. The Prize also seeks to promote humanitarian values and solidarity in the general population, as well as encouraging philanthropy and social responsibility.

The panel of judges met in San Jose del Cabo on August 28 and included these distinguished participants: Julio Maria Sanguinetti, Carmelo Angulo, Jose Luis Machinea and Luis Maira.

About the Vidanta Foundation

The Vidanta Foundation is a non-profit institution whose primary aim is the reduction of poverty in Latin America through the promotion of economic development, social sciences and culture. The Foundation began its activities as the Daniel Chavez Moran Foundation, then renamed the Grupo Mayan Foundation, in 2005. As of May 1, 2008, the foundation adopted the Grupo Vidanta Foundation name in order to better reflect the numerous institutions comprising the Grupo Vidanta. The name was simplified in November 2010 to the Vidanta Foundation. Learn more at http://fundacionvidanta.org.  

About Daniel Chavez Moran

Daniel Chavez Moran, now retired from the development of hotels and resorts, founded Grupo Vidanta in 1974 after graduating from The University of Guadalajara with a degree in Civil Engineering. He retired in 2005 to found Fundacion Vidanta (originally named Fundacion Grupo Mayan) and focus on philanthropy. Chavez Moran is also the founder of Fundacion Delia Moran A.C., which is focused on helping children grow up in a healthy environment. While no longer active in Grupo Vidanta itself, Chavez Moran's efforts in the non-profit sector help promote the name of the companies he originally founded.

Media Contact: Edward Yang, [email protected], http://www.FirecrackerPR.com

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SOURCE Grupo Vidanta