Economic Development

Before retiring in 2005, Daniel Chavez Moran worked towards making his business goals a reality for over three decades. By founding the Grupo Vidanta Foundation, Daniel Chavez Moran continues to positively affect the lives of Latin America people with his support of economic and social development projects and causes.

The Grupo Vidanta Foundation encourages and distinguishes exceptional thought leadership that promotes equality, democracy, reduces poverty, and prejudice in Latin America. The Grupo Vidanta Foundation Prize for “Contributions to the Reduction of Inequality and Poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean” was awarded on October 14, 2010, in Mexico City at the National Museum of Anthropology. The Foundation was joined by the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB) in honoring:

  • Fundación Mundo Mujer, Colombia (Women’s World Foundation)
  • Un Techo para Mi Pais, Chile (A Roof for My Country)
  • Comunidades de la Tierra, Guatemala (Communities of the Earth)

Runners-up included:

  • CE-MUJER, Dominican Republic
  • Corporacion Vallenpaz, Colombia
  • Desarrollo Autogestionario, AC, Mexico
  • Programa de Voluntariado Internacional Juvenil, Costa Rica

The Grupo Vidanta Foundation Prize is announced annually in November. All nationals of the countries of the Americas, and of Andorra, Spain and Portugal, are eligible to participate. Every individual or community-based civic organizations or non-governmental institutions concerned with the reduction of poverty and inequality, and combating discrimination in Latin America and the Caribbean, may submit entries.

The first call for the 2010 Prize had a great turnout: 261 nominations were received from all countries of Latin America, U.S., Spain and much of the Caribbean. A jury, comprised of Billie Miller (Barbados), César Gaviria (Colombia), Carmelo Angulo (Spain), Luis Osvaldo Maira Aguirre (Chile) and Ernesto Zedillo (Mexico), met at Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit State, México, to determine the finalists and winning candidates.

Registration for the 2011 Grupo Vidanta Foundation Prize is open until April 13, 2011.