Board
The Father José Kentenich Foundation began its journey in 1994, welcoming 11 children with a dream of education and growth. Over the years, with the support of countless families and companies, we have expanded our capacity to provide about 300 children annually with quality education, along with fundamental care in food and health.
Founder's story
In 1993, with a strong commitment to faith and the nation, a group of supportive families launched a noble project to support the most vulnerable children in our society. After a careful study of the country's social reality, La Comuna was selected as the place of action, a community not only marked by material shortages but also by a void of values and an inner poverty that deeply impacts the lives of its inhabitants.
Ecuadorian Board
José Fina Pérez
Founder and great servant of Friends of Maria. She is responsible for the academic area and the therapeutic formation of parents and students. “Finita” as all the kids call her, has an immense heart that allows her to support and navigate the family and emotional problems that students regularly face. With her altruistic spirit she has become one of the fundamental pillars of our work.
Mauricio López
President and engineer by profession, he founded Niños de Maria in 1994 after a priestly orientation to help the poorest of our society. Mauricio has served this work for 30 years with the vision of transforming the lives of children and their families to become agents of change and improve their lives.
Giannina Ponce Gerente
A psychology graduate, she joined the foundation in 2004 and has passionately and effectively served the foundation through self-sustaining projects, international funding initiatives and has inspired and executed projects for the psychological development of students such as the sports school, carpentry workshop and San Jose music school.
And 50,000 more volunteers helping our cause
