This Monday, the ceremony was held to deliver solidarity checks to the eight non-governmental organizations that participated in the XI Solidarity and Inclusive Festival, developed within the framework of the Saborea Lanzarote 2024 Enogastronomic Festival, an international benchmark in the sector, held at the end of last November in the Villa de Teguise.
This solidarity collection, carried out through sales in the "Fan Zone" and "Solidarity Bar" spaces, was 52,000 euros; which represents a significant increase of 66% compared to the previous edition. In addition, during the event, President Oswaldo Betancort confirmed that the selfless subsequent contribution of several companies in the Fun Zone - who gave an additional €300 to each group - has placed the total donation distributed at a total of 54,400 euros, that is, 6,800 euros for each NGO.
During the event held in the Plenary Hall of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, who was accompanied by the island councilor for Social Welfare and Inclusion, Marci Acuña, presented these solidarity checks that will serve to finance some of the projects of these eight Lanzarote non-profit organizations. As some of their representatives have pointed out, this income represents a very important part of their annual economic income.
Oswaldo Betancort highlighted the importance of these collaborations and the need to continue building bridges for a more inclusive future. "We have placed inclusion at the center of island policy, in an effort to ensure that no one is left behind. The facts, after 15 months of government in the Cabildo, are demonstrating that investments such as those developed by the Economic Promotion Area are reaching society and, especially, are also helping those who work with the less fortunate." The president thanked the associations for their efforts, and remarked that "this will continue," referring not only to the increase in fundraising for the Solidarity Festival, but also to the inclusion policies that the Institution defends and implements.
An economy with a solidary soul
Marci Acuña, for her part, highlighted the joint effort between the Institution and the organizations to transform realities and generate impact on the lives of the most vulnerable people. "This second participation in the Saborea Lanzarote Festival has demonstrated the success of our initiative. It has been the most inclusive Saborea and it has been the most social Saborea in history," the councilor stressed. "The Solidarity and Inclusive Festival has been an event with a social soul, something that transcends its leisure character and goes much further thanks to the work done by the associations, volunteers."
In addition, the Minister of Social Welfare said that the incorporation of this solidarity aspect to all the actions carried out by the island government is fundamental: "We are managing to incorporate this solidarity soul into our daily economic activity, with which we manage to revert our investments in new services and goods aimed at society: food, therapies, help, training, etc.", he detailed.
Representatives of each of the eight non-profit organizations that have received the solidarity aid attended this delivery of solidarity checks, namely, Rotary Club Lanzarote, Lanzarotea, Trib-Arte, La Vida es Zuaina, Aporta, Esperanza y Vida, Más Familia and AMPA Los Geranios.
On the other hand, during the event a video was shown where the groups detailed their work at the Festival and the objectives they pursue with economic contributions such as those received this Monday. (Link to the video: https://www.myairbridge.com/es/#!/transfer/vcCm6OFGthF/eu1).
The companies that donated 2,400 euros were: Sürest Gin, Pita Gin, Vermut Primo Lanzarote, Ave del Paraíso, Einar and Puro Legado.
