PHILANTHROPIST
Most relevant projects
Luis Valls left a profound mark with his innovative vision of social responsibility. Although his contributions often remained in the background, his influence was crucial in creating foundations that have helped many people improve their lives. For over more than 50 years, these foundations have carried out philanthropic work; many have been established, some have merged, and others have closed once their mission was fulfilled. Currently, all those ongoing initiatives have consolidated into three: Fundación Hispánica, Patronato Universitario Fundación and Fomento de Fundaciones, each playing a vital role in carrying out educational and cultural projects worldwide.
The discretion with which Valls managed his philanthropy did not overshadow the magnitude of its impact, and his legacy remains a testament to how social action, managed effectively and empathetically, can create lasting change in the most needy communities. The aid, almost always in the form of loans, has stimulated economic activity and, in most cases, has provided guidance, advice, and careful monitoring of the progress of projects. This is the inherent spirit of the foundations inspired by Luis Valls, which are now more relevant than ever.
Many individuals and institutions have benefited from the foundations, but we would like to highlight a few that reflect the diversity of people who have been helped since the 1960s.
CiudadEscuela Muchachos (CEMU)
Founded in 1970 in Leganés by Alberto Muñiz Sánchez, known as ‘Tío Alberto’, CiudadEscuela Muchachos (CEMU) has been a beacon of light for young people at risk of exclusion. This institution offers a safe home, education, and an environment that promotes personal and academic development. Over the years, it has provided refuge to hundreds of young people, helping them overcome material and emotional hardships.
With the support of foundations like Fundación Hispánica and Patronato Universitario Fundación, CEMU has expanded its facilities and continued offering valuable services. About 400 children and young people benefit daily from this inclusive environment, where they find a supportive community and a path to a promising future.
Eastlands College of Technology: Shaping the future in Kenya
In Nairobi, the Eastlands College of Technology (ECT) has become an anchor for young people aged 18 to 35, providing comprehensive technical education and personal development opportunities. Since its opening in 2015, ECT has trained over 700 students in areas such as electrical wiring and automotive technology, among many others, combining theoretical teaching with practical experience in companies.
Fundación Hispánica has been a critical partner in this journey, supporting ECT with financial resources and ongoing backing. Thanks to this collaboration, students acquire technical skills and the confidence to face a challenging job market. With each graduate, ECT is building a stronger Nairobi and offering young people the chance to write their own stories.
Library Endowment Program for schools and cultural centers in Africa
Education is a window on the world, but access to books and educational materials is limited in many parts of Africa. Aware of this need, Fomento de Fundaciones launched a program in January 2023 to equip schools and cultural centers in Cameroon, Congo, and Ivory Coast with libraries. This project aims to fill educational spaces with carefully selected books that enrich knowledge and foster critical thinking.
By acquiring books directly and adapting them to local needs, this program improves access to education and benefits entire communities. Each book represents an opportunity for children and young people to discover new possibilities and develop essential skills.
CITE Technical Institute: building futures in the Philippines
The CITE Technical Institute offers technical and values-based education that transforms lives in the Philippines. Founded to provide educational opportunities to disadvantaged youth, CITE focuses on mechanical technology, electronics, and information technology. The institution prepares students for the workforce and promotes ethical values and responsibility.
In 2022, Patronato Universitario Fundación supported CITE in constructing a student residence, offering a safe and comfortable environment for 365 students. This project enhances CITE’s facilities and strengthens its capacity to attract and support more young people. The collaboration and support received reflect CITE’s commitment to quality education and the positive impact it can have on students’ lives.
Convent of the Poor Clares in Murcia and Albacete
In both Hellín, Albacete, and the city of Murcia, the convents of the Poor Clares had a close relationship with the foundations inspired by Luis Valls. The task focused on providing financial assistance, almost always through loans, to reconstruct the Hellín monastery, which was in danger of collapse. This was done in two well-differentiated phases: the first with financial help to prevent its collapse, and the second with technical and financial support for a second renovation that reinforced the initial emergency work. Additionally, they were given loans for other needs, such as machinery for sewing work, enabling them to maintain the viability of the convent.
Xabec
Xabec was born as a result of the need to support the most disadvantaged, especially immigrants who did not know the language. . It is an educational institution focused on training people in a trade within the regulated Spanish framework of Vocational Training.
The project started in a small way but has grown in terms of educational programs and students over the years. Students have received much more than trade training; they have been provided with a place where their basic needs are cared for: support for immigrants and their families in learning the language, customs, and basic rules of living in our country. A place that has always sought to go further, accompanying the most disadvantaged so they can have a real future.
Today, more than twenty years after its foundation, it has over 1,500 students enrolled in different specialities and has received recognitions like the Alliance for Dual Vocational Training Award from the Bertelsmann Foundation and the Cercle d’Economía.
The foundations’ support has always been in the form of loans, with a recognition of the need for flexible terms but rigorous collection. The foundations’ vision is always present in each project: the aim is to help but not to subsidize.
Iesu Communio Convent
‘Madre’ Verónica founded the Iesu Communio congregation of nuns in 2010 without resources or support. The foundations were among the leading institutions, apart from individual aid, that accompanied these nuns in their inception and subsequent needs.
Loans were requested, among other things, for the construction of the church and the main accesses to the parlors in the convent in Aguilera (Burgos).
As with most projects involving the foundations, the commitment goes beyond providing financial assistance through a loan. The foundations listen to their needs, accompany them, and encourage them in their work.
