Since the launch of the Red Nose Day campaign, our family has shown solidarity with the initiative, understanding its value in providing opportunities for children and youth. Even before my initial conversations with Comic Relief US to become a grantee-partner in Puerto Rico, we were already promoting Red Nose Day, a fundraising initiative of Comic Relief US. In 2015, we took our first big family trip to visit my brother in Hawaii. On our way, we made a stop in California, and there was my husband, proudly wearing his Red Nose and demonstrating his support for the cause.
Eight years ago, we extended the joy of wearing the red nose and elevating its consciousness with my mother-in-law (RIP). She never lost her humor and was willing to put up with us and smile while wearing it. I am sure if she could have been able to talk and walk, she would have been the greatest local ambassador, promoting the fundraising campaign with friends and family.
Who knew then, that in 2019, my work at Puerto Rico Community Foundation, would allow me to become closer to Red Nose Day, as we became a grantee-partner under a donor-advised fund structured to support community-based organizations that were working directly with children and youth. Between 2020 and 2021, 14 organizations were selected to receive grants from the Red Nose Day Puerto Rico Fund, serving more than seven municipalities on the island, including the island municipalities of Culebra and Vieques, located on the northeast coast of Puerto Rico.
These non-profits made a titanic effort, during the pandemic and earthquakes in Puerto Rico, to continue their services in an innovative way. Here are a few organizations and a summary of their work. Women of the Islands In Culebra, who set themselves to develop with Culebra's youth an EcoKit TM. to educate younger generations to have resilient homes capable of withstanding natural events and to be more environmentally conscious. Culebra and Vieques went more than a year without power due to Hurricane Maria. During a recent visit by the Secretary of the US Department of Energy, Jennifer M. Granholm, one of the students was able to speak with the Secretary about the project and present the EcoKit GuideTM.
Cortés Foundation, On the other hand, in the immediate situation, they provided food to hundreds of children and youth and were able to reconfigure their program as the Art of Health and Wellbeing, in alliance with a nearby university to work on emotion management. They also created an online curriculum and developed an EducaKit, providing students with necessary educational materials. And then you have Plenitude, which happens to be in my hometown of Las Marías, a rural municipality in the central-western mountainous region of Puerto Rico, with a focus on an agroecology holistic education curriculum, plant transplanting, and rainwater harvesting. This last one included a kit with a 5-gallon cistern, materials, and a guide to assemble a water harvesting process at home.
Most recently, thanks to funds from Comic Relief US’ Red Nose Day, we were able to facilitate grants to four organizations to provide emergency support and reach resiliency goals to withstand future events. This is the case of Kennedy Dining Room, a nonprofit organization that serves food to vulnerable populations in San Juan.
My personal journey began with the simplest thing with my family, acquiring red noses. It then expanded with the spreading of the spirit within our team and becoming a grantee-partner to impact communities in Puerto Rico.
By Mary Ann Gabino, Senior VP of FCPR
Sub-grantee List:
Aspira Inc. of Puerto Rico,
Vieques Conservation and Historical Trust
Cortes Foundation Inc.
Women of the Islands, Inc.
Plenitud Eco-Educational Initiatives, Inc.
College of Educational Learning and Development
Integral Educational Center Forming Lives
CREATE
Young People in Puerto Rico at Risk
Children of New Hope
Community Support and Outreach Program
Amor Kennedy Auditorium
Our School
Network for the Rights of Children and Youth of Puerto Rico.
Photos: FCPR, Comedor de la Kennedy, and Mujeres de Islas.