"Dear Pedro Rivarola:
Congratulations!!!
APC and the Betinho Prize Jury are *delighted* to inform you that the Max Foundation Internet Global Help Program is the first-ever winner of the 2000 APC Betinho Communications Prize! Your initiative brings together ICTs and direct help to people in need in a way that truly exemplifies the ideals of the work of Betinho.
We will be announcing the Prize results at the APC Public Forum Day in Hungary on May 2nd, as part of our 10th anniversary celebration. "

There are many good people involved in APC internationally. The APC is formed from 'not for profit' organisations. This means that there is a membership that has a say in policy and procedure and behaviours of paid staff. Most staff are part time or volunteer.The APC has a huge membership in South America, so hopefully the association with APC will provide a huge networking facility.


At the moment MAX is looking to have a list server for leukemia set up for the Spanish speaking people in Spanish, so that they can access the vitally needed information.

The links are
http://www.apc.org/english/index.htm
http://www.apc.org/english/betinho/bet_story.htm

 

Pedro Rivarola's acceptance speech

"On behalf of the Max Foundation and all of our wonderful volunteers all over the world I humbly accept with a lot of pride the honor of being the first recipients of the APC Betinho Communications Prize.

Having our name associated with Betinho is a great honor itself as I believe that we share similar ideals of achieving a more just global society. I personally feel great responsibility towards our mission. The Max Foundation is determined to fight for the same dreams and ideas of Herbet de Souza: inequality and unfairness. We strongly believe that all children, no matter where they were born, no matter the color of their skin, no matter their beliefs, are entitled to have the same opportunities, chances and hopes as anyone else. There are children that are suffering, often with no hopes, the terrible and devastating effects of diseases for which there is treatment elsewhere, and from which they are dying unnecessarily.

This award also recognizes the work of all the Max Foundation volunteers who put their hearts, their souls, and their endless enthusiasm towards the cause without expecting any recognition in return. Their only prize: the hope to save a life. That is what matters to all of us.

Just this week we were able to arrange for a 14 year old Honduran boy from a rather low income region who suffers from a severe blood disease for which there is no treatment in Honduras to fly to Washington DC next week where he will be treated at the National Institute of Health. We also arranged for a 9 year old Argentine girl with leukemia who will start treatment today at the Texas Children's Cancer Center.

Also this past week we received a letter from our incredible group of volunteers in Brazil which said that they secured the commitment of doctors from two hospitals in Sao Paulo who will donate space and resources to the Foundation and will be part of the Latin American Bone Marrow Registry. We also have a group of volunteers in Australia who are working extremely hard to set up our programs in Lima Peru. These are the signs of a true social movement as powerful and active as many others in the past. Just imagine, if our volunteers were energized then, with this award they will become unstoppable knights that will represent a formidable force with one thing in mind: to defeat both disease and inequality, and empower all souls that are willing to join this dream.

All of this would not be possible without the incredible power of the Internet which enables us to reach people all over the world that have similar energy and concerns. It allows us to better utilize resources and to reach anyone and everyone. It has caused a true revolution, as it gives meaning to the word globalization, and it gives great power to the people.

Finally, this award should be dedicated to the children that so courageously fight against disease. Our hearts, our thoughts and our souls are with them at all times.

In the name of Bernardo Nobres de Souza Oliveira Araujo who inspired a whole country to fight for the cause; in the name of Diego Maria Siabala, whose spirit guides many of us, in the name of my son Max, whose endurance and courage inspired this crusade, in the name of all our wonderful team everywhere, and finally, in the name of my wonderful wife, Pat and all of our children, Tomas, Pablo, Alex, Matias and little Nicolas who also is in heaven with his big brother, with tears of joy we are honored to accept the 2000 APC Betinho communications Prize. Thank you very much."