Winners of the Grupo Vidanta Foundation Prize From Colombia, Chile and Guatemala to Receive Awards for Their

MEXICO CITY, Oct 01 (MARKET WIRE) --
The ceremony of the Grupo Vidanta Foundation Prize: "Contributions to the
Reduction of Inequality and Poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean"
will be held on October 14, 2010 in the Auditorium of the National Museum
of Anthropology in Mexico City. In addition to the Grupo Vidanta
Foundation, also jointly involved are the Organization of American States
(OAS) and the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB).

The Grupo Vidanta Foundation Prize: "Contributions to the Reduction of
Inequality and Poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean" aims to
provide recognition and support for outstanding projects carried out in
Latin America and the Caribbean to reduce poverty and inequality while
fighting discrimination.

The Grupo Vidanta Foundation Prize consists of a first prize of $100,000
US, a second prize of $75,000 US and a third prize of $50,000 US. All
prize monies are contributed entirely by the Grupo Vidanta Foundation.

The Grupo Vidanta Foundation is pleased to announce the following winners
of the 2010 Prize:

First Place: Fundacion Mundo Mujer, Colombia (Women's World Foundation)

Fundacion Mundo Mujer has been a provider of credit for low-income women
and men, micro-entrepreneurs for the informal sector of the economy and
independent workers since 1985. It has 293,000 clients, 60% of which are
women. Achievements include: profit increase by 45%; product quality
raised by 80%; quality of life, nutrition and clothing improvement by
50%; and a 35% increase in housing quality. They have established
alliances with important financial entities in Colombia and beyond,
including the IADB, Deutsche Bank, and Morgan Stanley.

Second Place: Un Techo para Mi Pais, Chile (A Roof for My Country)

A social real estate management entity created in 1997 in Chile, Un Techo
para Mi Pais was created to address the deplorable housing situation for
the underserved population. Un Techo para Mi Pais has now extended beyond
Chilean borders to 14 countries in the region, benefiting 43,000
families, developing strategic alliances with young college students
(currently around 200,000), public institutions, as well as corporate
entities that promote corporate social responsibility.

Third Place: Comunidades de la Tierra, Guatemala (Communities of the
Earth)

Since 2004, Comunidades de la Tierra has been devoted to entrepreneurial
development, incubation of rural businesses, promotion and creation of
community groups (especially women) in low income communities to
transform them into flourishing entrepreneurs with market access.
Comunidades de la Tierra has supported 1,500 people and counts the
government of The Netherlands as its supporter.

Runners-up include the following institutions:

CE-MUJER, Dominican Republic
Corporacion Vallenpaz, Colombia
Desarrollo
Autogestionario, AC, Mexico
Programa de Voluntariado Internacional
Juvenil, Costa Rica

"We were overwhelmed by the extraordinary number of responses received
for this year's prize," says Mr. Roberto Russell, President of the Grupo
Vidanta Foundation. "The high quality and thoughtfulness of each and
every application received confirms the importance of our Prize as well
as the motivation it promotes. On behalf of all involved we congratulate
the winners, finalists and indeed all participants."

A total of 261 candidates participated for the 2010 Prize. The Selection
Committee was comprised of past and present distinguished members of
state, as well as notable academics. These included Mr. Ernesto Zedillo,
former President of Mexico; Mr. Cesar Gaviria, former Colombian
President; Mr. Luis Maira, Chile's ambassador to Argentina and Mexico;
Mr. Carmelo Angulo, Spanish Ambassador to Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia,
Mexico and former representative of the UNPD in Argentina; Mrs. Billie
Miller, a current member of the Barbados Labour Party and former Foreign
Minister.

The Selection Committee met at the Grand Luxxe Resort in Nuevo Vallarta,
Nayarit, Mexico on the 11th and 12th of August 2010 and selected the
winners as well as the finalist candidates.

The Grupo Vidanta Foundation Prize has the further aim of spreading
awareness of often little-known efforts so that their contributions may
be shared. The purposes include: developing greater knowledge and
capability in the field; influencing decision-making on public policies;
creating greater consciousness and motivating public opinion with regards
to key poverty, inequality and discrimination related matters in Latin
America and the Caribbean; fostering humanitarian values and solidarity
among the population in general; and promoting corporate philanthropy and
social responsibility.

About the Grupo Vidanta Foundation

The Grupo Vidanta Foundation is a non-profit institution whose primary
aim is the promotion of social sciences and culture with a focus on Latin
America to the benefit of all with a special interest in academia and
policy-making. The Foundation began its activities in 2005 under the name
of Grupo Mayan Foundation. As of May 1, 2008, it adopted its present name
in order to better reflect the situation that today characterizes the
numerous institutions comprising Grupo Vidanta. Learn more at
www.fundaciongrupovidanta.com.

About Grupo Vidanta

Grupo Vidanta has evolved for more than 35 years into one of Mexico's
leading developers of hotels and resorts, golf courses, vacation
ownership, and tourism infrastructure, including Mexico's first privately
built and owned international airport at Puerto Penasco. For American
travelers, Grupo Vidanta offers a choice of full-service luxury beach
resorts in Mexico's finest beaches, under the Grand Luxxe, Ocean Breeze,
Sea Garden, Mayan Palace and Grand Mayan brands. In the near future, new
hospitality brands will include Bliss, Grand Bliss and Mansions of the
World. Grupo Vidanta's Mayan Island has built and sold over 2,000 second
homes. For further information see www.grupovidanta.com.

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