VivirLatino

Slim and Buffett Donate to Shakira's ALAS

06:51 H | Topics: Activism - Business - Celebrities - Entertainment - Latin America

ALAS, the non-profit organization dedicated to aiding impoverished communities in Latin America for which Shakira is a spokesperson and advocate, has received a major contribution from some of the world's richest businessmen:

With the affirmation of "We are going to make history," Shakira and Miguel Bosé announced on Thursday that the ALAS Foundation will receive a donation of 200 million dollars from businessmen Carlos Slim and Howard Buffett, as well as from wealthy families all over Latin America.

Slim alone is donating 110 million dollars to the cause. The Mexican businessman said he feels a social responsibility towards the less fortunate and said that as a member of ALAS he is using his business experience to help solve social problems.

American Buffett will contribute 85 million dollars. "Poverty has devastating consequences. Those who prefer to live with their eyes closed will see the consequences. ALAS will not allow it" said Miguel Bosé in a press conferenece two days before the massive free concerts that will be held for the cause, which will happen simultaneously in Mexico City and Buenos Aires.

In the photo above along with Shakira, Slim and Buffett are Spanish star David Bisbal and Peruvian singer Tania Libertad.

I'm sure the 110 million is no skin off of Slim's nose, but it's nice to see this happen. I've always found it to be an offensive contradiction that one of the world's top 5 richest men would be from a country where half the population lives in poverty and one-fifth in extreme poverty.

Via / El Universal (Venezuela)

Image via AP/Yahoo News

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• This week in "Por qué no te callas?" (Monday, Nov 26 2007)