New York, April 15 – The organizers of the Dalai Lama’s visit to Mexico in October 2004, Casa Tibet Mexico and Loseling Institute of Mexico, donated 500 thousand US dollars from the proceeds of the visit to five humanitarian projects. The amount was equally divided among five humanitarian organizations — the Foundation for Peace of Mexico, CCF-Children of Mexico, Foundation Tarahumara (an organization dedicated to uplift poverty among the native Indians living in the mountain range of Baha Tarahumara of Mexico), Sudan Refugees’ Fund, and Tibet Fund (Hunsur Tibetan settlement’s soil and water conservation project) — and each organization received 100 thousand dollars.
The money was distributed at a special function held on April 12 at Casa Lam. Among others, the function was attended by Dr. Alvaro Castro, Director General of Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Interior of Mexico, Mr. Tsewang Phuntso, TGIE’s Liaison Officer for Latin America, Sr. Manuel Arango, President of the Center for Mexican Philanthropy, Mr. Marco Antonio Karam, President of Casa Tibet Mexico, and Mr. Ramon Corona Alvarez, President of the Loseling Institute of Mexico.
Speaking at the Press Conference held on April 12, President of Casa Tibet Mexico, Mr. Marco Antonio Karam, declared that the surplus money from the visit of the Dalai Lama’s to visit were donated to the humanitarian projects as per the wishes of the His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He also added that the account of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit was audited by the nationally known account firm, “Price Water House Coopers”.
Taking the opportunity, Mr. Tsewang Phuntso thanked the government and people of Mexico for giving a very warm reception to His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his visit to Mexico in October 2004.
Dr. Alvaro Castro said, “Ministry of Interior can openly say that the visit of the Dalai Lama, in his capacity as the Spiritual Leader and the Nobel Peace Laureate, had a positive impact on the people of Mexico”.
More than 24 print, radio and television media representatives, including national TV Azteca and Televisa, attended to cover the function.
