La Merced Foundation organizes charity Gala Dinner to eradicate child labor
The La Merced Foundation has announced the celebration of its first Gala Dinner, a high-impact social event scheduled for next Wednesday, September 23rd, at the facilities of the El Embajador Hotel. The initiative’s main goal is to raise the sum of RD$5 million, funds that will be entirely allocated to strengthening its Sponsorship Program, seeking to transform the reality of children and adolescents in vulnerable conditions.
This charity gala will bring together prominent representatives from the business sector and various social actors, united under a single purpose: to combat child labor and ensure that Dominican children have guaranteed access to education, health, and safe development environments.
A culinary encounter with a purpose
The event will feature a special attraction: an unprecedented gastronomic collaboration between renowned chef María Marte, the first Dominican to earn two Michelin stars, and chef Olivier Bur, director of Casarré. Both professionals will fuse their culinary visions to offer a unique experience, highlighting local flavors and Caribbean identity through contemporary techniques.
We want to promote a movement that goes beyond one-off aid. Children and adolescents need opportunities to access quality education, protection, health, nutrition, and safe spaces to develop.
Alberto Jiménez Caballero, Executive Director of Fundación La Merced
Concrete actions for childhood
The gala, which will be hosted by cultural manager Freddy Ginebra, will include a silent auction where experiences and items donated by partner companies will be made available. Currently, the La Merced Foundation supports more than 100 minors in its Sponsorship Program, a figure that the organization hopes to increase significantly after this event.
The institution’s work is not new; for more than 15 years, it has worked hard in sectors such as Bienvenido, Hato Nuevo, and Las Caobas. The results of its management are notable, having achieved milestones during 2025 such as:
- Care for more than 400 children and adolescents through the ERA Community Center.
- Technical training for more than 500 youth and adults at La Esperanza Vocational School.
- Provision of more than 1,000 medical consultations and the distribution of 15,000 food rations.
The backing of entities such as the Dominican Academy of Gastronomy, Seguros Reservas, and AFP Reservas, along with the commitment of various sponsors, underscores the importance of this cause. As Jiménez Caballero rightly points out, the eradication of child labor is a challenge that can be overcome as long as there is a solid commitment from the entire Dominican society.
