We are a non-profit organization destined to improve development opportunities for underprivileged children and young people.
We are a non-governmental, public welfare, non-profit, non-political, non-sectarian organization created in 1996. Our headquarters are located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but we operate in Greater Buenos Aires as well as the interior of the country, especially in Mendoza ("Puentes Mendoza") [
see more].
We have partner-volunteers in the US ("ÜS Bridges" [
see more]
and in Chile ("Puentes Chile" [
see more]).
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In June of 2006, a group of professionals located in de Province of Mendoza decided to get involved in the reality that surrounded them: 47,5% of minors under the age of 14 were beneath poverty line (Source: INDEC, EPH; 2nd half of 2005).
Being aware of the activities performed by Puentes in Buenos Aires during the last decade, they decided to become part of the organization. Thus, they created Puentes Mendoza, a subsidiary of Puentes, to expand and replicate its working
procedures and mission in Mendoza. Profiting of Puentes' experience, this group of professionals are committed to collaborate personally with their time and know-how aiming to achieve the long-term goal of eliminating poverty in the region.
Puentes Mendoza started working with Campo Flores Association, an NGO created in 1987. It was formed by a group of people with experience in social work in neighborhoods and specially with homeless children. It offers educational and cultural activities,
sport practices, school aid, job trai ning and search tools, diners and shelter for children and young people.
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U.S. Bridges to Argentine Children, Inc. is a New York State non-profit corporation that was organized during the fall of 2002 in response to the growing number of Argentine children who are suffering as a result of the country's economic crisis.
U.S. Bridges was formed by a combination of Argentine students and young professionals living in New York and Americans interested in supporting charitable projects that benefit Argentine children in need.
Donations to U.S. Bridges to Argentine Children can be deducted from income tax by individuals or corporations incorporated in the US (501 (c) (3))[
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Puentes Chile was created in the year 2003 as a response to the profound economic crisis in Argentina. The group is formed by young Argentines living in Chile, who perform different fundraising activities to support educational institutions in Argentina.
Year 2003: construction of doors in the
Centro Don Bosco and summer camps for children attending the
Centro Integral San Cayetano.
Year 2004: educational toys for the Media N°8 School, the salary of the gym teacher at
Mano Amiga School and to the "Resilience Project" that took place in
Casa del Niño Padre José Kentenich.
Year 2005: the
Media N°8 School's building, and neurological examination of children attending
Casa del Niño Padre José Kentenich.
Year 2006: materials for lessons in the 937 kider garden in Lomas de Zamora; the creation of a library, of a Reading Room and the financing of the "School Aid Project" in the
Confiar Diner; financing of the
Centro Integral San Cayetano´s kindergarten.
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With schools, workrooms and diners, studying their different needs, prioritizing them and looking for financing sources to fund them. Also, we collaborate with the institution to strengthen their management skills and administrative procedures.
With corporation, optimizing their social investments, as Puentes is accountable for the follow-up and monitoring of each project. Puentes creates tailor-made projects for each financing institution, and responds for its administration and control. When concluded, Puentes presents a Final Report, including expenses reporting.
We act as a BRIEDGE, english for PUENTES, bonding together those who suffer needs and those who have the means to satisfy them.
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Puentes was created in 1996 by a group of young professionals willing to commit their academic and professional experience to social causes.
1996
On the 5th of April Luis Duacastella, Gustavo Rol and José Gobbée decided to create a group which could efficiently bond those who wanted to help -they had detected numerous professionals- with those who needed to be helped -in low-income sectors-.
Pablo Fraguas joines the team, and the name Puentes (which means Bridges) is chosen.
Puentes participates in several NGOs seminars and in the 2nd Argentine Social Sector Journey.
Operations are started in the
Benavídez area, at the
Hogar Betania de las Hermanas de la Caridad for AIDS terminal patients. A communitarian orchard is created and maintaned with professional assistance.
Other activities are started in the
Florencia Varela area, at the
Casa del Niño Padre J. Kentenich, by raising funds to purchase school materials for children.
Important local companies such as Grimoldi and Legacy, among others, collaborate with Puentes during its firsts steps in the social sector.
1997
Puentes gathers a group of more than 15 monthly donors and hires the first executive coordinator.
After a thorough evaluation of the different fields in which Puentes could perform, they decide to focus its mission on the most impoverished educational sectors. Furthermore, the statues are created and the legal status of Non Profit Civil Association is chosen.
Puentes builds the first Multiple Purposes Room in the
Virreyes neighborhood, funded by its own members and by the Embassy of Holland.
Further activities take place in the
Florencio Varela and
Benavídez areas, where Puentes collaborates with the
Nuestra Señora de Luján School for down-syndrome children. Operations are also started in Pilar and the Province of
Salta.
Funding is also received from the Australian Embassy, BankBoston, Quickfood and several other companies.
The first groups of volunteers to assist Puentes' institutions are being created. Pro-bono consultants reach 20 professionals.
1998
The Board of Directors is created. Its President is Mr. Marcelo Miniati, and the Committee is composed by José Orlando, Enrique Bianco y Miguel Jauregui.
The company AVH lends an office that will become Puentes headquarter in Buenos Aires.
Carolina Langan becomes the new General Coordinator. Volunteers increase to 22 professionals.
Toal fund raised reach US$ 40,000. Other donations reach US$ 25,000.
1999
Puentes is recognized by the Argentine IRS as non- profit Civil Association.
2001
Puentes first website is created.
2002
Puentes establishes a joint-venture with
Fundación el Otro to strengthen the organization.
Most of Puentes resources are focused on working with San Andrés University graduates to assist 4 different institutions.
US Bridges is created in the United States to collaborate with Puentes.
Projects for more than AR$198,000 are performed, including Deutsche Bank's Corporate Volunteer Program, with infrastructure projects in 3 public schools located in Greater Buenos Aires.
2003
Eleonora Tortorelli becomes the new General Coordinator and Lucia Jaureguialzo the new President.
Puentes Chile is created in to collaborate with Puentes.
Projects for more than AR$77,000 are performed in 8 educational institutions.
2004
Projects for more than AR$81,000 are performed, establishing joint-ventures with
Fundación Fe y Alegría and
Asociación Civil Incluir.
2005
Puentes increases its activities in the Province of Santiago del Estero, assisting the
Salado Norte Schools network.
A scholarship program is elaborated, to finance school graduates who do not have the means to achieve university education. 4 students are granted scholarships.
2006
Puentes launches the first year of the Scholarship Program. Thanks to this 4 students ended the first year of their carreers: Law School, Gym Professor, Social Worker, and Economics.
Financing is granted to the
Centro Integral San Cayetano to: provide machinery for the Betania Bakery Shop, a social start-up (Canada Embassy), the 2 year old kinder garden (Puentes Chile), the Drugs Consultant and the Center´s Coordinator (Rabobank), the Psychologist of Casa del Joven (personal donors).
Puentes assists
Asociacion Civil Confiar, training its teachers and also acquiring books for the Library and materials for the Reading Corner (Puentes Chile).
In Santiago del Estero Province, Puentes started the construction of bathrooms to eradicate very poor latrines, in the Schools Nº376 Anexo Saladillo and Nº 353 El Puesto, (ABN AMRO).
Puentes continues with corporate volunteering programs , this year for Nokia, ABN AMRO and Accenture.
2007
Puentes continues working in Santiago del Estero with the
Salado Norte Schools Network, formed by 16 very deprived schools: ABN AMRO granted funds
to build two new bathrooms for the schools of Vinal Suni y Cabeza del Toro. Also, thanks to the German Embassy we built a dinning room for the School Nº 376
Anexo Saladillo. Additionally, the Australian Embassy financed the construction of a chicken coop and an organic orchard for the students of the
School Nº 376
Anexo Saladillo and their families. Finally, thanks to the support of the New Zeeland Embassy, we refurnished and acquired books and
other material for the library of the School
Polimodal N°203, in Tristán Suárez. HSBC Argentina supports Puentes activities by financing a weekly
Storytelling workshop in Confiar, located in
Pilar.
Puentes starts operations in the Province of Misiones, financing materials for a carpentry workshop in the School
Especial Nº 5 Apóstoles.
Three corporate volunteering journeys take place thanks to Accenture.
In July, Sara Argañaraz Escasany assumes as General Coordinator of Puentes.
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We count with the support of prestigious institutions that until today, have joined efforts to carry out social activities: World Bank, BankBoston, Rabobank, ABN AMRO, JPMorgan, HSBC, Accenture, LAN, Nokia, Legacy, IBM, Pérez Companc Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Antorchas Foundation, Australian Embassy, Canadian Embassy, New Zeeland Embassy, Netherlands Embassy, German Embassy, among others.
Puentes also counts with individual donors from Argentina and abroad, that collaborate with us on a monthly basis through credit card debit.
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