The Rafa Nadal Foundation announces the creation of a Rafa Nadal Foundation Center in Madrid, in which it will care for minors in vulnerable situations and their families; who have been highly affected by the crisis of the COVID-19. This expansion of the work of the Rafa Nadal Foundation will be possible thanks to the donation that the entity of the Mallorcan tennis player has received from Endesa, who thus once again demonstrates its commitment to the fight against the social effects of the pandemic.
The one in Madrid will be the third Rafa Nadal Foundation Center, after the one in Palma -started in 2014-, and the one in Valencia – opened in 2019-. In these centers a comprehensive program complementary to school training is carried out, which includes three areas of attention to minors: sports, educational and psychosocial. The ultimate goal is to provide children with the tools and support necessary to strengthen their social integration and promote their personal and educational development.
Palliative effect
The Rafa Nadal Foundation Center in Madrid will try to minimize the negative impact that the pandemic has had on vulnerable groups, with non-welfare measures based on inclusion and guaranteeing equal opportunities. In addition to care for minors, psychological support will be offered to families, as well as guidance in situations of unemployment and help in managing procedures.
Madrid is one of the communities with the highest rate of inequality and child poverty, in addition to registering a high incidence of the coronavirus. The Rafa Nadal Foundation is in the process of searching for a space in which to create the new center, evaluating locations in different districts, based on variables such as the unemployment rate, the number of minors residing in the area, or the presence of other social and sports resources.
“The situation that we are experiencing caused by the pandemic is depriving many children of their right to grow up free and happy, to play, learn and interact among equals”, explains Maria Francisca Perelló, Director of the Rafa Nadal Foundation. “In this context, we appreciate Endesa's involvement in facing this reality, betting on social and health initiatives that, today more than ever, are of vital importance,” he adds.
Responsible donation
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Endesa has promoted various initiatives aimed at fighting against the effects of the crisis on groups in vulnerable situations. The donation made to the Rafa Nadal Foundation is part of the Public Responsibility Plan launched by the company, endowed with 25 million euros and intended to alleviate the health and social effects of COVID-19.
“As important for Endesa's Responsibility Plan is what we do as with whom we do it. Collaborating with the Rafa Nadal Foundation is one of those opportunities in which you know that it can only go well. For the prestige, for the good work, for the synergies in the objectives and for the human factor behind the organizations. It is a pride to open, with the Rafa Nadal Foundation, a center in Madrid so as not to leave, as we always say, anyone behind ”, says José Bogas, CEO of Endesa. This is the second donation that Endesa has made to the Rafa Nadal Foundation. In July 2020, the electricity company already made a contribution, destined in this case to increase and reinforce the attention to vulnerable groups in the Rafa Nadal Foundation Centers in Palma and Valencia.
Parallel to these centers, the Rafa Nadal Foundation also has a school in India, as well as with a tennis project aimed at young people with intellectual disabilities and a scholarship program for university athletes. The objective in all cases is to influence the personal and social development of the minors and young people cared for, creating equal opportunities for all of them, regardless of their personal, social or economic conditions.