The second virtual Adelante Festival made an impact for AMIGOS through a valiant community effort. Over the past three weeks, we raised $140,000 to support the $1,000,000 Annual Fund goal and our international youth leadership programs.
335+ alumni, parents, and supporters tuned in for the live event on Saturday, September 18th. If you missed the program, do not fret; you can watch the recording here and see below a few excerpts from a few of our inspiring event speakers.
“…This program was there to support me as I fought to create real changes to increase representation of Black and Indigenous people of color in my school and state curriculum, while working to make my school a more welcoming place for students of color…”
–Mya Brown, 2nd Virtual Adelante Benefit Student Speaker
“…There are many benefits to participating with [AMIGOS]. It personally helped me grow as a person, develop leadership skills and problem-solving skills, and understand the importance of community development…”
–Cristhofer Ureña, 2nd Virtual Adelante Benefit Student and Project Staff Speaker
“I think traveling in this planet is an extraordinary experience. If you leave your phone for a second and just sense the essence of every single place in the world, it would manifest this essence that is life. And it is important to shift your focus on that and see that this essence is in all living beings and in all people regardless of age, race, color, and all of that…”
–Gabriela of Rodrigo y Gabriela, 2nd Virtual Adelante Benefit Feature Performer
There was so much fun and creativity in the Silent Auction this year. With more than 80 items, the auction raised over $32,000. Thank you to all the individuals and companies who donated auction items and to all the auction bidders.
A dedicated group of alumni took on the challenge to raise funds for AMIGOS. They shared the power of AMIGOS with their networks and raised funds to support our programs.
Thank you for joining us in making the second virtual Adelante Festival a success and for supporting AMIGOS!
P.S. If you missed the festival, you can still donate now to support AMIGOS mission and young leaders across the Americas.
¡Gracias a todos!
If you missed the show, or just want to watch again, click here! You can even listen to a one-of-a-kind Adelante Benefit playlist here. Highlights included:
With the active chat box during the event, it sure felt like we were together to drive the AMIGOS mission forward and to invest in young leaders throughout the Americas! Check out a few of the celebrations, connections, and reflections during the benefit.
“So grateful for AMIGOS…50 years of speaking conversational Spanish after only one month in Honduras at age 17! If that was the only thing that helped me, it would be enough…though so much more… many wonderful memories!”
-Kathleen Sawyer, AMIGOS alum
“Welcome, everyone! We are so thrilled to spend the evening with you celebrating AMIGOS! Thank you all for your support!”
-Sara Nathan, AMIGOS President & CEO, alum (volunteer, project staff, and senior staff), and Board of Directors Ex Officio
“Hi from Philly! Great to see some familiar names with wonderful memories!”
-Matthew Closter, AMIGOS alum (volunteer, project staff, and senior staff) and former AMIGOS Philadelphia Chapter Board President
“Congratulations, AMIGOS, on your many years of excellent work in the Americas! Hello, AMIGOS friends!”
-Sarah Johnson, AMIGOS parent, former AMIGOS Board of Directors member,
and AMIGOS Advisory Council member
“Thank you, Mya! You have a great future ahead. ¡Adelante!”
-Stephen Waters, AMIGOS full-time employee parent (AMIGOS Donor Relations Coordinator) and friend of AMIGOS
“Thank you, @Scot Horsley!!! Yes, AMIGOS is a booster to cross-cultural understanding!”
-Mary Stelletello and Andy Howick, AMIGOS alumni (both), former AMIGOS Board of Directors members (both), former AMIGOS Albuquerque Chapter Board President (Mary), and former AMIGOS Wisconsin Chapter Board President (Andy)
“This is bringing tears to my eyes. In the 90s, the idea of Latin American vols seemed like a distant (maybe impossible) dream. Now it’s here. Congrats, AMIGOS!”
-Justin Sears, AMIGOS alum (volunteer, project staff, and senior staff), parent, and Advisory Council member
“Those volunteers will return to their countries and change the world!”
-Raja Chatterjee, AMIGOS alum (volunteer and project staff) and parent
“Thanks to you, Sara, and your incredibly strong team! You impress us all daily.”
-Kevin Lanier, AMIGOS parent and AMIGOS Board of Directors Chair
“Seeing vols and community members wearing masks is the ultimate AMIGOS flexibility. Love that spirit!”
-Jenny Brodsky, AMIGOS alum (volunteer, project staff, and senior staff) and former AMIGOS Board of Directors member
“Sara, Vanessa, Krista, April (and other AMIGOS staff I don’t know) – your resilience, creativity, persistence, and vision have allowed AMIGOS to thrive in the most challenging of circumstances, allowing so many youths to have transformative experiences. Congratulations!”
-Mindy Nierenberg, former AMIGOS program partner and friend of AMIGOS
“Phew! Thanks for being here – it is making me a little emotional to see so many people that I miss all together.”
-Krista Boscoe, AMIGOS Bay Area Director, alum (volunteer, project staff, and senior staff), parent, and AMIGOS San Francisco Chapter Recruiting Coordinator
“Joe is the spirit of AMIGOS – he has touched all of our lives in such positive ways. His kindness, humanity, generosity, leadership, friendship made this world better. We love you, Joe!”
-Andrew Springer, AMIGOS alum (volunteer, project staff, and senior staff), and former AMIGOS Austin Chapter President
“¡Adelante!!!! Thank you, AMIGOS, for leading us to a brighter future!”
-Andrew Haas, AMIGOS alum (volunteer and project staff), AMIGOS Board of Directors member
“Beautiful event!!! So grateful to be part of this organization 🙂 ❤️”
-Taylor Martin, AMIGOS Board and Policy Manager, Office of the CEO, and alum
This year, AMIGOS is raising $1,000,000 to support our mission and to remain at the forefront of international youth leadership programming. Donations support the Financial Assistance Fund, Latin American student enrollment across programs, innovations in our service and leadership programming, and strategic initiatives that are strengthening AMIGOS for the next 50 years and beyond. Your support at the Adelante Benefit will contribute to this critical work.
Your sponsorship will help AMIGOS engage more young leaders across the Americas in leadership and service. These young leaders are “going places” online, in-person, and across the Americas.
To become a sponsor, please click here or contact Sam Waters at [email protected].
Get your tickets to the Adelante Benefit here.
When you sponsor the Adelante Festival you will speak directly to AMIGOS donor community who are individuals in middle adulthood that share a passion for lifelong learning, travel off the beaten path, languages, and connections between the U.S. and countries throughout Latin America.
• Recognition as the Adelante Festival Presenting Sponsor • Eight tickets to the virtual Adelante Benefit • Four tickets to the Adelante Benefit Reception • Four features on AMIGOS social media channels.
• Naming opportunity for the Adelante Benefit Pre-Show • Eight tickets to the virtual Adelante Benefit • Four tickets to the Adelante Benefit Reception • Two features on AMIGOS social media channels.
• Eight tickets to the virtual Adelante Benefit • Four tickets to the Adelante Benefit • Two features on AMIGOS social media channels.
• Four tickets to the virtual Adelante Benefit • Two tickets to the Adelante Benefit Reception.
• Four tickets to the virtual Adelante Benefit • Two tickets to the Adelante Benefit Reception.
• Two tickets to the virtual Adelante Benefit.
All sponsors will be recognized on the event web page and during the program of the Adelante Benefit.
Please visit the Sponsor tab for more information.
Anne Morriss and Frances Frei
Doug and Stacy Alexander
Geof and Anne Barker
David Baron and Pamela Mann
Kate Janeway and Howard Wright
Steve and Susana Sharpe
Mike Gridley
Wade and Donna Lamson
Patricia Rosenberg and Scott Nichols
Stephen Schafer and Lisa Brogan Schafer
Jennifer Brodsky and Kumar Dandapani
Charlie Evans, MD
Josh and Mollye Fryday
Sarah and Andy Heck
Holly and Chris Hollenbeck
Fred and Karen Hulting
Jane Schussler and Mike King
Missa Thumm and Chris Thayer
AMIGOS Washington D.C. Chapter
Sierra Hawthorne and Krishna Esteva
Phil and Linda Johnson
Milton and Lisa Roney
Josh and Mollye Fryday
Adolfo Jiménez and Ulrike Falkenberg
Anne Morriss and Frances Frei
Steve and Susana Sharpe
Doug and Stacy Alexander
David Baron and Pamela Mann
Peter and Margie Benziger
Elizabeth Blowers-Nyman and Jay Nyman
Jennifer Brodsky and Kumar Dandapani
Ed and Suky Cazier
Ellen and Crane Curran
Madelaine Delgado and Patrick Reed
Mateo Eaton and Mayumi Yagi
Charlie Evans, MD
Mike Gridley
Holly and Chris Hollenbeck
Kate Janeway and Howard Wright
Kristin Kaper
Wade and Donna Lamson
Russell Langsam and Anne Sherman
Tomás Magaña and Leti Marquez-Magaña
Milton and Lisa Roney
Carlos and Diana Sanchez
Stephen Schafer and Lisa Brogan Schafer
Matthew Travers
Marvin and Cassandra Trotter
Dorn and Dominique Wenninger
Bryan Bonilla
Mia Cooper
Kevin Danfelser
Finley Davis
Nicolás Dreyer
Emma Fredricks
Ashley Lin
Emma Link
Anna Morokutti
Mateo Rojas
Samuel Shain
We are committed to making alumni relations at AMIGOS more inclusive through the Rising Alumni Host Committee. We want to uplift the voices of the alumni of a new generation and highlight their leadership in the AMIGOS community. The Rising Alumni Host Committee will encourage other alumni between the ages of 15 and 25 to participate in Adelante Festival activities and attend the headlining Adelante Benefit.
Doug and Stacy Alexander
Peter and Margie Benziger
Ellen and Crane Curran
Milton and Lisa Roney
Steve and Susana Sharpe
Marvin and Cassandra Trotter
