Business
Practices Working Well in Dominican Republic NGO
Successful Businessman Applies Experience and Expertise as YMCA Director
I had the good fortune to meet Mr. Andres Fortunato, current Director of
the YMCA in Santo Domingo,
While
at the trade show in Santo Domingo, Andres and I talked about business opportunities and a lot more. We discussed
the economic and political status of the D.R. as well as its people and their
rich culture. Andres expressed his sincere desire to do more for his country
than just contributing to the tax base through the profits from a successful
business. Andres made such an impression on me that I immediately knew that I
wanted to be his friend even if we never negotiated a business deal. And that is
exactly what happened – we became friends.
Since
our initial meeting, Andres and I have kept in touch by telephone and via email.
As a result, I was not surprised when Andres told me that, even at the risk of
losing revenues from his business, he had decided to work with the then
debt-ridden YMCA branch in his country. He explained that his goal was to work
with the Y temporarily, helping to bring it back to a sustainable financial
position. Once the Y had regained a good financial position, satisfied most of
its debt, and resumed offering a variety of youth programs, Andres planned to
return to the operation of his business. Andres told me of his plans to work
with the Y in 1997. Since then, Andres has given up his business and is now
working full time with the YMCA.
As
a dedicated community leader, Mr. Fortunato has recognized that the economic
woes accompanying chronic unemployment, the lack of skills, and diminished
opportunities for residents typically cause despair, increased crime, and
deterioration of community institutions and infrastructure. Through his work
with the YMCA, Andres Fortunato has made it his mission to replace the economic
woes with sustained community building, revitalization, economic growth, and
human empowerment
There
is no doubt that Andres has done a marvelous job since taking over the helm of
the Santo Domingo branch of the YMCA. Most of the branch’s debt has been satisfied, all of the
programs that were discontinued during its near bankrupt days have returned,
many new programs have been created, and many partnerships have been forged with
YMCAs and various other organizations worldwide.
One
of the new programs that Andres has introduced at the Y is the “teach the
teacher” program in which individuals between ages 16–29 are taught the
knowledge and skills to excel in their classrooms. Everyone benefits, both the
teachers and their students, when those who have chosen teaching as a career
learn more about their profession.
Another
initiative introduced by Mr. Fortunato is the formation of a very unique
partnership between the YMCA and Huston-Tillotson College (HTC) in Austin,
Andres
Fortunato has a passion for educating the youth of D.R, which has become part of
his life’s mission. At the Y, he works tirelessly 10 -12 hours per day,
sometimes 7 days a week to make sure that the youth will always have educational
and skill-based programs. His impact
on the communities near and far is evident. Graduates of the Y programs visit
his office regularly. These young adults stop by to simply say “Thanks” for
Andres’ guidance in helping them to become successful and industrious
citizens.
Steven Edmond,
Ph.D, is the Director of the Center for International Studies,