|
|
| The Washington Ballet Gala 2000 |
Contact us
About AGF
Home
AGF Site Map
TLQN
Come
to Washingtonä
The Washington Ballet & Venezuela's
Ambassador Toro Hardy Honorary Chair at The Kennedy Center
Note: Americas Global
Foundation (AGF) was The Americas Global Foundation (TAF)
Washington, DC The
Americas Foundation’s President/ Founder Victor Pinzon
is delighted to announced that the Foundation successfully accomplished the
commitment he made to The Washington Ballet early this January. Mr.
Martin Cohen, Executive Director, and Mr. Septime Webre,
Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet had requested the Foundation, and two
representatives of Salomon Smith Barney Gordon Dale and Louis Delgado, to
assist them with their fund raising Annual Gala 2000. Mr. Cohen asked the Foundation’s
assistance by engaging a South American country’s ambassador to
“lend his/her ideas, energy and support as The Washington Ballet prepares for the
next decade of excellence.”
After a thorough and substantial effort of the Foundation,
having invited each of the ambassadors of the region, the Foundation is happy to
report that the Ambassador of Venezuela, Alfredo Toro Hardy accepted the
invitation to be the Honorary Chair of the Annual Spring Gala of The Washington
Ballet. The Gala includes a reception followed by a Ballet’s performance and
later a Dinner on the evening of Tuesday, April 25 at The John F. Kennedy Center
for the Performing Arts.
Ambassador Toro Hardy agreed with the Foundation that this
unique cultural event opportunity with the Washington’s world renown institution will
enable him to help raise the awareness of Venezuela in Washington, DC and throughout the
United States, reminding us of the substantial loss, pain and suffering of its people due
to last year’s floods, and to further strengthen the historically friendly
relationship between the peoples of Venezuela and of the United States.
“Ambassador Toro Hardy enthusiastically assumed the leadership
inviting some Venezuelan and US private sector representatives. Some of them came from
Venezuela specifically for the event, and at the same time act as sponsors of the event,
as suggested by the Foundation, ” said Pinzon. “Some of
Venezuelan’s most beautiful models staged a fashion show involving
various of their country’s internationally renown designers, along with a Venezuelan art
exhibit of Ernesto Leon dedicated to The Washington Ballet, and
a sculpture sent by Ana Avalos. Party favors included
Venezuelan’s 1796 Ron Santa Teresa in a special rum bottle, a box of
Venezuelan Chocolates El Rey, along with tourism promotional material for
those attending the Gala. The Venezuelan chef, Adriana Este was brought
to assist with the Gala dinner that was accompanied with a special musical group,
also brought directly from Venezuela, to serenade the fortunate audience assuring
The Washington Ballet fundraising event a wonderful night to remember with a great
Venezuelan flavor!” Pinzon added.
The fashion show took place during the reception. The Venezuelan guitarist
Aquiles Baez and the “quatrista” Hernan Gamboa
performed throughout the evening. During the Ballet’s performance, a Venezuelan
couple of the National Ballet of Caracas staged a special presentation. The
dinner included selected Venezuelan beverages, wines and rum. Additionally, from special
screens located throughout the dinner area the audience was able to view beautiful
Venezuelan sites promoting its tourism, courtesy of Corpoturismo.
Some of the sponsors of the Venezuelan Embassy’s
participation in The Washington Ballet Fund raising Gala 2000’s were: American
Airlines, Citgo Corporation, ExxonMobil, Motorola, Texaco, GTE, BP Amoco, Conoco, Empresas
Polar, Chocolates El Rey and C.A. Ron Santa Teresa.
 |
 |
| Venezuela Cultural Attaché; The Washington Ballet's Executive Director Martin Cohen, President Kay Kendall; and Ambassador Alfred Toro Hardy at the Ambassador's office. The Latin Quarter News | Venezuela Vice President & Leticia Herrera at The Washington Ballet Gala. The Latin Quarter News |
Accomplishments One Case
Americas Global Foundation
Washington Ballet & Ambassador Alfredo Toro Hardy
The Washington Ballet's officials: Mr. Martin Cohen, Septime Webre and Gordon Dale on early January 2000 met with and requested Victor Pinzon, President of The Americas Foundation, to assist them to secure a South American Ambassador to be the Honorary Chair for their The Washington Ballet Gala2000. The selected Ambassador was to lend its support and influence to make the Gala a success. Pinzon accepted their request and proceeded to communicate initially with the Ambassadors of Brazil. After the Brazilian Ambassador stated his regrets to be able to accept, Pinzon proceeded to attempt to meet with the other South American Ambassadors.
Victor Pinzon successfully sought, met and secured the acceptance of the Ambassador of Venezuela, His Excellency Alfredo Toro Harvey, to be the Honorary Chair for The Washington Ballet Gala 2000, at the Kennedy Center on April 25, 2000.
Ambassador Toro Hardy, upon suggestions made to him by Pinzon, was able to get Venezuela participation and contribution to The Washington Ballet (TWB) estimated in the amount of over $250,000. A delegation of about 40 persons came specifically from Venezuela for the Gala. The estimated personal cost of the delegation was over $80,000. The delegation included the Vice President of Venezuela, other high ranking officials, industrialists, performers and others. The Venezuela’s participation generated over $1.2 million in ticket and other revenues for TWB.
After about a month of communications and efforts, Pinzon was received by and met with Ambassador Toro Hardy. Pinzon proposed the program and got the acceptance of the Ambassador, subject to a meeting the Ambassador requested for Pinzon to organize with the President and Executive Director of TWB. Pinzon contacted Mr. Martin Cohen in New York where the Ballet was on tour to confirm his attendance to the meeting with the Ambassador. However, three hours before on the day the scheduled meeting was to take place, the Ambassador called Pinzon to cancel the meeting because he said his Embassy staff told him that the Gala event was not appropriate for the image of Venezuela at that time. (Venezuela was recovering from the great loss of life and property caused by the floods.)
Pinzon told the Ambassador that he understood his reasoning. However, Pinzon told the Ambassador that the TWB Gala2000 event was a unique opportunity for him to raise the awareness in the United States of Venezuela's tragedy and loss. And, Pinzon suggested it was a unique opportunity for the Ambassador to call upon the international community for assistance and support for the people of Venezuela, thereby improving the Venezuela image, culturally and otherwise. Additionally, Pinzon successfully overcame another concern that the Ambassador had; mainly that the Embassy did not have a budget for the subject Gala program. Pinzon suggested to the Ambassador to identify and invite certain United States companies and Venezuelan companies to sponsor the event. The Ambassador agreed. About 10 such companies sponsored the Gala.
There were other specific suggestions made by Pinzon that unfortunately were not implemented. Some of them were: Press media coverage, including a Press Conference and Reception prior to the Gala; other promotional events and follow up of various activities to generate a synergy of opportunities.
How much was said successful event worth in goodwill image and other to Venezuela? To The Washington Ballet?
And to mutual understanding....
Hispanic Dancers Group of The Washington
Ballet The Latin Quarter News
Note: Americas Global
Foundation (AGF) was The Americas Global Foundation (TAF)
Contact
Americas Global Foundation
930 M Street, NW, Suite 906 Washington, D.C. 20001
Phone: 202-371-9696 • Fax: 202-216 9550
Copyright © 1996 - 2003
ALTEX for Americas Global Foundation. All rights reserved
Contact us About AGF Home AGF Site Map TLQN Come to Washingtonä