Once again this year, we wish to acknowledge the work of those who, in a selfless, really generous manner, devote their lives to others. Vicente del Bosque, Turma Do Bem, EHAS Foundation, the OAF (Organization of American Firefighters) and the Policy Incubator project are the winners of the 2017 Fundación MAPFRE Awards.
A great many applications were received, all hoping to win one of the Fundación MAPFRE Awards, with each category opting for a 30,000 euro prize. The fact is that there are many people around the world who devote their time and effort to improving the lives of their fellow citizens. The winners of this edition are clear examples of this dedication.
Imagen: Lupe de la Vallina
Vicente del Bosque González
José Manuel Martínez Lifetime Achievement Award
Everyone knows Vicente del Bosque for his significant career in the Spanish soccer world. But, on this occasion, the jury wanted to recognize his work promoting values such as generosity, humility, endeavor, teamwork, good sense or sportsmanship, as well as the humanitarian work he has undertaken throughout his life on behalf of children with disabilities.
O dentista do Bem de Turma do Bem Proyect
Award for Best Social Action Initiative
O dentista do Bem (dentist for good) is the largest network of specialized volunteers in the world, with over 17,000 volunteer dental surgeons who open the doors of their facilities to children and youngsters with limited economic resources aged 11 to 17, providing them with free dental treatment until they are 18 years old.
EHAS Foundation, for its Healthy Pregnancy initiative
Award for Best Health Promotion Initiative
The EHAS Foundation has won the award for their project which, in just five years, has treated more than 14,000 pregnant women in the Guatemalan departments of Alta Verapaz and San Marcos, and has reduced maternal and infant mortality rates in these rural areas with little or no health care. To achieve this, the Spanish NGO has trained over 50 nurses in the use of a portable prenatal care kit, with an ultrasound scanner, a system for analyzing blood and urine samples, and software that compiles health data which can then be studied remotely by a physician.
Organization of American Firefighters (OAF)
Award for Best Accident Prevention Initiative
The world’s largest organization for international cooperation between firefighting institutions has been running programs in Latin America since 2006 to raise awareness on the importance of prevention and the professionalization of their services, having already trained over 20,000 firefighters from 37 countries. The OAF is currently made up of over one million firefighters, mostly volunteers. In addition, it collaborates with Fundación MAPFRE in the organization of the Fire Prevention Week and the largest annual congress on forest fires in the region.
Policy Incubator Project
Julio Castelo Matrán International Insurance Award
Fundación MAPFRE has recognized the work of the Wharton Risk Management and Decision Processes Center of the University of Pennsylvania (USA) with its Policy Incubator, whereby experts and researchers from a range of disciplines turn innovative ideas into real solutions. The project is being applied to areas of great relevance for insurance, such as coverage for natural disasters, linking risk reduction and risk transfer, upgrading flood insurance, equitable resilience and policies for dynamic coastal risk.
The awards are to be handed out on June 14, in a ceremony held at the Casino de Madrid and presided over by Her Majesty Queen Sofia.