The Latin America Charity Ball, a solidarity event scheduled for Thursday 3rd October at the Yacht Club of Monaco, is organised by Monaco resident and Bolivian/Italian national Daniela Spanier, founder and CEO of Me Connect.
The event promises to be an evening of philanthropic engagement, sophisticated networking, and the celebration of global contributions. Under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco, this elegant event’s primary purpose is to unite caring people for a glam night while raising money for children’s wellbeing, inspiring all who attend to make an enduring impact.
It counts the endorsement of the Embassy of Panama and will be held in the presence of Maricel Cohen de Mulino, the First Lady of the Republic of Panama, highlighting the association’s commitment to international cooperation and advancing humanitarian initiatives.
This year’s solidarity gala will raise funds to support the work being done by the Panamanian non-for-profit organisation ‘Fundacion Unidos por la Ninez’ (FUN), presided over by Jennie Barb, a project focusing on protecting children from abuse, exploitation, and neglect through a systematic and psycho-pedagogical approach, working in close collaboration and led by World Association of Children’s Friends (AMADE), founded in 1963 by Princess Caroline of Hannover.
The Latin American Charity Ball’s philanthropic purpose is to create an everlasting impact in the lives of children. It supports the continuation and expansion of projects to protect children’s and young adults’ physical and mental health by creating a safe, nurturing, and empowering environment for them to thrive.
Through the awards ceremony, Me Connect aims to highlight outstanding achievements and shared values, such as their commitment to making a significant difference in the lives of children in Latin America.
Monaco Life spoke with Daniela Spanier to learn more about her inspiration for creating Me Connect, its purpose and her vision for the future.
Monaco Life: What inspired you to create Me Connect in Monaco?
Daniela Spanier: Me Connect encompasses and combines my academic background and professional experience in finance. I arrived with my family in Monaco 14 years ago and I am co-founder and former president of the Monaco Latin America Association, organiser and sponsor of the No Finish Line Santa Cruz Bolivia, as well as a board member of the No Finish Line International, The Monaco USA Association and the Kate Powers Foundation.
Me Connect allows me to intermediate, introduce, coordinate, and advise both parties, with a neutral and impartial view focusing on finding a collaboration strategy beneficial to all parties involved.
What are the main goals of Me Connect Monaco?
Me Connect Monaco is a force for good. Its primary goals are to source, connect, and develop alliances and partnerships that create collective value and long-lasting bonds of syntony and synergy. It serves as a gateway to Latin American tourism, culture, business, and vice versa in Monaco.
How does Me Connect collaborate with other associations in the Principality?
We have successfully collaborated with different associations in the Principality, such as the Prince Albert II Foundation Ocean Gala, providing a prominent speaker, Dr. Carlos Mata, an expert in MPAs and Uruguayan Minister of the Law of the Seas, plus submitting valuable case studies to Monaco Ocean Week and the Forests and Communities initiative, Monaco Art Week and Art Montecarlo, hosting the press lunch and an art exposition at Kamil Art Gallery for the renowned Panamanian Artist and philanthropist Olga Sinclaire.
We supported the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation with the creation of the children’s rugby school in Ecuador ‘Condores de Monaco’; actively participated in the Monte-Carlo Woman of the Year, presenting candidates as the organisation’s Goodwill Ambassador; collaborated with the Monte-Carlo TV Festival with celebrity Bolivian Artist, philanthropist and fashion designer Sonia Falcone; hosted four Latin American authors and ambassadors for the Monaco Salon International du Livre; Hosted the first and second edition of No-Finish-Line in Santa Cruz Bolivia and are currently working on launching it in Panama; co-organised a Peruvian music concert with the embassy of Peru in France and the Peruvian Honorary Consul in Monaco, with the participation of Ambassador Rolando Ruiz Rosas Cateriano and consul Jean-Baptiste Pastor.
The October Charity Ball will benefit FUN and its project, ‘Children Safe from Sexual Abuse’. Will future events benefit other associations?
The Latin America Charity Ball combines networking, an immersive experience of the culture and people of our country of honour, and the result of our ONGs’ coordination and cooperation actions, which focus on identifying local and trustworthy charities and presenting them to Monegasque ONGs.
On this occasion, we will raise funds to support the work done by the Panamanian not-for-profit organisation Fundacion Unidos por la Ninez (FUN), which is in cooperation and led by our Monegasque charity partner, AMADE. The main objective is to protect children from sexual abuse, a public health issue affecting children in Panama and everywhere. FUN’s mission is to promote, protect, and defend child abuse through innovative prevention programs and treatment of all forms of violence against children to build a healthy, just, and equitable society. The ‘Children Safe from Sexual Abuse’ project, which we will be supporting, targets six schools benefiting over 6,122 children across three provinces with the highest rates of reported child sexual abuse cases.
Previously, our events have successfully raised funds for impactful projects. For instance, we raised funds for the No More Children with Chagas project jointly with the Association Children & Future and the No Finish Line Santa Cruz Bolivia. This project was highly acclaimed and recognised for its global impact and regional reach by the World Health Organisation and the local government, and received an Orion Award. We have also collaborated with Fondation Fondamental David de Rothschild for the treatment and diagnosis of depression to save children’s lives and prevent suicide in young adults. Furthermore, we have jointly provided financial support for several projects involving children’s physical and mental health in Colombia, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. These past successes demonstrate the effectiveness of the charity ball in achieving its goals and the significant impact it has had on children’s welfare.
In the future, we will focus on protecting and creating awareness of the power of appreciation of the learning process, targeting projects that source, communicate, and enhance ancestral and indigenous knowledge. Value is born in the habit of attention and appreciation, a survival principle we have lost in a digitalised and fast-paced world detached from the pleasure of being present in the field rather than in a remote or administrative position.
What is the primary purpose of the awards ceremony?
The awards ceremony recognises those whose values drive sustainable success, achievements that inspire and impact positively entire communities; they are not a result of a first lucky shot, but rather a reward for people who have had the vision, the passion, the wisdom, and the inner peace and love to pursue a dream. It is not about undermining others; on the contrary, it is about including and engaging their surroundings, creating value for all. The award recipients share a lifetime of accomplishments, crucial social work, commitment, and inspiration.
A distinguished group of 12 Panamanian highly accomplished luminaries will be the 2024 award recipients for contributing to music, fashion, arts, and gastronomy. The award recipients in the areas of music, fashion, art, and gastronomy are:
Music: Panamanian Professor, accordionist, and artist Ormelis Cortez; musician and songwriter Yomira John; and French musician and songwriter Mae Orisha, who fell in love with Panama and whose objective is to connect Panama and France.
Fashion: Fashion designer Sophie Breebart, who created the foundation ‘Searching your Star’ to protect traditional costumes and cultural identity; Rula Lakas, whose couture artisan work inserts an autochthonous flavour, a style made by Indigenous Guna women; and Leticia and Anastasia Liakopulos, founders of the House of Clio, brought innovation to Panama’s jewellery industry with a touch of Greek heritage.
Art: Panamanian figurative painter Olga Sinclair is known for breaking the world record by organising 5,084 children’s paintings simultaneously to commemorate the century anniversary of the Panama Canal. Artist Carolina Alfonso’s artworks are part of the Prince Albert II Foundation collections, Maison de l’Amerique Latine, and the Monaco Red Cross.
Gastronomy: Finally, the awards for Gastronomy and Hospitality honour famous Panamanian chef Charlie Collins and well-known Chef Cuquita Arias de Calvo, who exalts the values of Panama’s cuisine.
The Latin American Impact Award statuette was created by Monaco resident Brazilian artist Marcos Marin, whose design captures the essence of this formal recognition of excellence.
What is your vision for the future?
Me Connect will focus on finding the common element between profitability, social and environmental responsibility, and open communication to connect the dots and contribute to a faster, more sustainable green shift. After 25 years in Europe, having moved 16 times as my dad was a diplomat, speaking five languages, having a vast international network, a global vision, and a clear goal, I plan to continue my studies next, focusing on politics and geopolitics in Madrid to be part of and push forward a community of change-makers.
For information on the Latin America Charity Ball, send an email to: info@meconnectmc.com ; or book your tickets directly: https://my.wilout-online.com/d74fd5396e3c0812f30d9dcb964590ef/s
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Main photo: Daniela Spanier, credit: Arbee Pachao