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Some of AGF's accomplishments
Some of our accomplishments to date are:
a. Staging Youth and students programs -internship, education,
leadership and other
b. Providing training and work experience to "Welfare to
Work" recipients and others
c. Starting the "Americas Computer Literacy Training to Work" ACOLTWORK
program
d. Organizing the Speaker Series "The Economic and Political
Importance of South & Central
America to the United States" at
the National Press Club and US Congress with world renown experts.
e. Working on developing and building "La Casa de las Americas
in Washington"
f. Recommending to The White House and other entities qualified and
deserving Hispanic and
non-Hispanic professionals to overcome
the under representation of Hispanics
g. Developed and managing The Americas Foundation's Web site:
www.theamericas.org
h. Offering services to the Hispanic community, such as: immigration,
rights violations, showing
them the importance and benefits of
integrating into the "mainstream" American life, voters
registration drives
i. Establishing and continually strengthening relationships with
top decision makers of the public
and private sectors
j. Outreaching to all ethnic groups and other NGOs to
establish strategic working alliances
k. Organizing Town Hall Meetings & Community Leaders Forums
l. Organized the "Hemispheric Congress of
Tourism" HECOTUR
m. Produced the "Hemispheric Forum" TV program
n. Established "La Casa de las Americas" Gift Fund with
the Smithsonian Institution
o. Established a working network with the Commercial Attaches of
the Americas in Washington
p. Organized the Presidential Candidates of Latin America
Conference in Miami
Accomplishments One Case
The Washington Ballet and Ambassador Alfredo Toro Hardy
The Washington Ballet's officials: Mr. Martin Cohen, Septime Webre and Gordon Dale on early January 2000 met with and requested Victor Pinzon, President of The Americas Foundation, to assist them to secure a South American Ambassador to be the Honorary Chair for their The Washington Ballet Gala2000. The selected Ambassador was to lend its support and influence to make the Gala a success. Pinzon accepted their request and proceeded to communicate initially with the Ambassadors of Brazil. After the Brazilian Ambassador stated his regrets to be able to accept, Pinzon proceeded to attempt to meet with the other South American Ambassadors.
Victor Pinzon successfully sought, met and secured the acceptance of the Ambassador of Venezuela, His Excellency Alfredo Toro Harvey, to be the Honorary Chair for The Washington Ballet Gala 2000, at the Kennedy Center on April 25, 2000.
Ambassador Toro Hardy, upon suggestions made to him by Pinzon, was able to get Venezuela participation and contribution to The Washington Ballet (TWB) estimated in the amount of over $250,000. A delegation of about 40 persons came specifically from Venezuela for the Gala. The estimated personal cost of the delegation was over $80,000. The delegation included the Vice President of Venezuela, other high ranking officials, industrialists, performers and others. The Venezuela’s participation generated over $1.2 million in ticket and other revenues for TWB.
After about a month of communications and efforts, Pinzon was received by and met with Ambassador Toro Hardy. Pinzon proposed the program and got the acceptance of the Ambassador, subject to a meeting the Ambassador requested for Pinzon to organize with the President and Executive Director of TWB. Pinzon contacted Mr. Martin Cohen in New York where the Ballet was on tour to confirm his attendance to the meeting with the Ambassador. However, three hours before on the day the scheduled meeting was to take place, the Ambassador called Pinzon to cancel the meeting because he said his Embassy staff told him that the Gala event was not appropriate for the image of Venezuela at that time. (Venezuela was recovering from the great loss of life and property caused by the floods.)
Pinzon told the Ambassador that he understood his reasoning. However, Pinzon told the Ambassador that the TWB Gala2000 event was a unique opportunity for him to raise the awareness in the United States of Venezuela's tragedy and loss. And, Pinzon suggested it was a unique opportunity for the Ambassador to call upon the international community for assistance and support for the people of Venezuela, thereby improving the Venezuela image, culturally and otherwise. Additionally, Pinzon successfully overcame another concern that the Ambassador had; mainly that the Embassy did not have a budget for the subject Gala program. Pinzon suggested to the Ambassador to identify and invite certain United States companies and Venezuelan companies to sponsor the event. The Ambassador agreed. About 10 such companies sponsored the Gala.
There were other specific suggestions made by Pinzon that unfortunately were not implemented. Some of them were: Press media coverage, including a Press Conference and Reception prior to the Gala; other promotional events and follow up of various activities to generate a synergy of opportunities.
How much was said successful event worth in goodwill image and other to Venezuela? To The Washington Ballet?
And to mutual understanding....
Victor Pinzon invested over 250 professional man-hours in this successful project.
Americas Global Foundation:
930 M Street, NW Suite 609 Washington, DC 20001
202-371-9696 Fax: 202-276-9550
vicpinzon@theamericas.org
Copyright © 2003 ALTEX for The
Americas Foundation. All rights reserved.