On 29 May, around 100 people gathered to celebrate a powerful idea: philanthropy can be strategic, collective and transformative. The ONE night took place at La Pascasia, a cultural building located in downtown Medellín, which opened its doors for One Inversión Social to present its intervention model more broadly and extend an invitation to continue building networks that respond to the country’s main social challenges.
An event with purpose
The evening began with a performance by the 1+1 Foundation Ensemble of the song ONE by the Irish band U2, which includes the line ‘We must support each other,’ a phrase that inspired Declan Ryan to name his foundation in Ireland in 2014 and expand it to Colombia a few years later.
‘Investing in people will always be a good investment, everything we allocate to strengthen leadership, social entrepreneurship and sow hope where others only see difficulties,’ Ryan said during the event.
The evening was filled with emotion, with live testimonials from some of the project beneficiaries, music from the Uno más Uno Foundation and Son de La Nubia, and flavours of our land with the gastronomic offerings of renowned chef Pedro Fernández. It was the perfect setting to reiterate the call for solidarity through strategic philanthropy, as explained by Mónica Gil, president of ONE: ‘Today I want to talk to you about a form of philanthropy that is not charity. That is not content with merely alleviating suffering. That goes beyond good intentions. Today I want to talk to you about strategic philanthropy. One that is committed, that thinks long term, that measures, that transforms.’
Photos by: La Magdalena
Ireland and Colombia: a connection without borders
As part of the academic component of the evening, Eoghan Stack, chairman of the board of The One Foundation and Director of Business Development and International Business at DCU Business School in Ireland, gave a lecture focusing on the social and economic value of entrepreneurship and the importance of making evidence-based decisions focused on sustainability and the long term.
‘… Money alone does not change the world. It transforms it when aligned with sound processes, trustworthy leaders and urgent causes. That is the philanthropy we need because it is not just about doing good, it is about doing good in an effective, measurable and sustainable way,’ said Stack.
Stories that conveyed hope
The stage was also taken by the protagonists of change, those who represent the true impact of the projects supported by One Inversión Social.
From Cartagena, the Granitos de Paz Foundation showed through Gregoria Cortés how an idea born in vulnerable neighbourhoods has managed to improve the nutrition and economic autonomy of hundreds of families. One Forest, with the Escuela Móvil de Barismo, presented Kleider Giraldo as an example of the change that can be achieved when a young person who lived on the streets is given an opportunity for training and formal work. And Humanos 3D spoke through Rigoberto Zapata and Aimmy Marín about the power of technology in the service of inclusion thanks to the prostheses they design for people with disabilities.
Photos by: La Magdalena
Continuing to add to multiply the impact
Those attending the One gala were inspired by the stories of transformation they heard, but also by the great commitment to continue working together to make strategic philanthropy increasingly relevant and contribute to the change that the country so badly needs. ‘I take away connections, I take away an understanding of what it means to do strategic philanthropy, I take away a lot of love,’ said Pedro Fajardo, director of the Mi Sangre Foundation.
‘I take with me the possibility of connecting different sectors, connecting social organisations, so that together we can think about how we can strengthen the social sector, not only in Antioquia but in Colombia,’ said Diana Rojas, Comfama’s partnership leader.
Donating through strategic philanthropy is more than just giving money; it is about transforming and creating a sustainable impact. You can do it too.
