FundeCruz
Encyclopedia
Friends of FundeCruz is an Ecuador
ian and British
charity
, founded on 17 June 2002 by Ulises de la Cruz
in order to raise money to fund a number of projects serving the local community of Piquiucho, a village in the Valle del Chota.
The charity was registered with the Charity Commission
for England and Wales on 25 October 2007. De la Cruz, who is a UNICEF
ambassador, donated about 10% of his salary from Birmingham City
.
village of Piquiucho in northern Ecuador's Valle del Chota is a three-hour drive from Quito
, the nation's capital. It is in one of Ecuador’s poorest regions. The village is not on official maps, and services to its inhabitants have been non-existent. The plight of its people only became known following the selection of seven of the villages' sons to represent Ecuador's eleven member team
in the World Cup in 2002
and 2006
.
Fundecruz was an official charity of the February 2008 Ruta del Sol
.
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
ian and British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
, founded on 17 June 2002 by Ulises de la Cruz
Ulises de la Cruz
Ulises Hernán de la Cruz Bernardo is a Ecuadorian footballer currently with LDU Quito.De la Cruz has set up a charity, Friends of FundeCruz, in his home village to fund a number of projects serving the local community....
in order to raise money to fund a number of projects serving the local community of Piquiucho, a village in the Valle del Chota.
The charity was registered with the Charity Commission
Charity Commission
The Charity Commission for England and Wales is the non-ministerial government department that regulates registered charities in England and Wales....
for England and Wales on 25 October 2007. De la Cruz, who is a UNICEF
United Nations Children's Fund
United Nations Children's Fund was created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946, to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II...
ambassador, donated about 10% of his salary from Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
.
History
The Afro-EcuadorianAfro-Ecuadorian people
An Afro-Ecuadorian is a member of a group in Ecuador who are descendants of black African slaves brought by the Spanish during their conquest of Ecuador from the Incas. They make up from 3% to 5% of Ecuador's population....
village of Piquiucho in northern Ecuador's Valle del Chota is a three-hour drive from Quito
Quito
San Francisco de Quito, most often called Quito , is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains...
, the nation's capital. It is in one of Ecuador’s poorest regions. The village is not on official maps, and services to its inhabitants have been non-existent. The plight of its people only became known following the selection of seven of the villages' sons to represent Ecuador's eleven member team
Ecuador national football team
The Ecuadorian national football team represents Ecuador in international football competitions and is controlled by the Ecuadorian Football Federation. They generally play official home matches at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, but often play friendlies in other stadiums around the country...
in the World Cup in 2002
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
and 2006
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
.
Activities
FundeCruz focuses on children's nutrition, health, education and sports development. It provides daily meals for more than 100 primary school children, running water for a whole village, has founded a hospital, a school and the construction of a community sports centre. The foundation has also funded a water treatment plant, a health centre and a sports ground.Fundecruz was an official charity of the February 2008 Ruta del Sol
Ruta del Sol (motor race)
The Ruta del Sol is an amateur motor race for charity using a VW Beetle to race from Quito, Ecuador to Rio, Brazil.In 2009 the event is changing its name and format. The details have not yet been released by the organisers....
.
External links
- BBC video
- Fundecruz team gallery for Ruta del Sol