Facundo Arana: he continues surprising us

By Sofía

This time we are not talking about him because of one of his successful jobs on TV, but because of the things that he does to promote solidarity actions, such as donating blood and organs for transplant. Why is it so important to him? Because these little things can save the lives of lots of people, just as, at a certain point, it saved his life.

When he was young, Facundo had to fight against the Hodgkin's disease, which is a kind of cancer, but fortunately he got well.

Arana in the Aconcagua: Facundo has reached the summit of Aconcagua, the highest mountain in America, with 6,962 metres above sea level. Together with Facundo, the mountain guide Ulises Corvalán, his assistant Hernan Netman and the photographer Pablo Betancourt travelled up the mountain. They also put a flag to commemorate the 96th anniversary of the first blood transfusion. Facundo is filming a documentary that is going to be broadcast on Encuentro channel, showing all the process that he went through to climb the mountain.

His commitment with the people: Facundo has been designated ambassador of the FUNDALEU foundation, which helps the community with the investigation, information and treatment of oncological blood diseases

"Poder Se Puede": It's a play in which Facundo stars, together with Nicolas Scarpino. They travel around the country carrying a message. They want the people know about the importance of the early detection of cancer. Also, they donate $10 to FUNDALEU for every ticket they sell.

These are reasons for Facundo to be admirable. He is a really brilliant actor, quite a gentleman, but most important, he is a very good person.

Juan Sebastián Verón

By Nicolás


Verón was born on March 9, 1975, in La Plata (Buenos Aires). He is a soccer player and he made his debut in First Division in Estudiantes de La Plata Club. . He is 35 years old and he has a son called Deian. Juan Sebastian Veron, an Argentinian footballer nicknamed The “Brujita”, is the son of footballer Juan Ramon Veron “La Bruja”, a football star in the 1960s in the Estudiantes de la Plata that won the 1968 Intercontinental Cup against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Estudiantes de La Plata was the only team who could win a title at that stadium.

As an example of how people can help the world, the Estudiantes team have given toys to the hospital “Sor María Lodovica”. Verón, together with Dr Rivas, gave toys for the leukemia patients.

Verón always thinks of ways to help. He donates 40% of his salary to the amateur football at Estudiantes Club, and he also donated a new bus to the lower division players to use for transport to the matches.

In 2004 and 2005, Verón donated 3 million pesos to refurbish the “Country” (training fields and facilities) in City Bell. In 2006, he bought part of his transfer, and he left the Inter Club and came to play for ``El Pincha´´. In 2009 Verón donated 50% of his salary to improve football player Braña’s contract, and he rejected an offer from Mexico.

Verón decided to receive payment for doing commercials for different products (yoghurt, milk, chocolate milk and desserts) by the end of the year, and donate it to all the lower divisions and children of the institution. For this reason, the Department of Youth Soccer Club thanked the Verón family for a gesture that deserves to be imitated by all the referents in Argentine football teams.

A woman of great heart whose work helps people who nobody knows

By Nazarena

Patricia Sosa, a well-known singer, helps the Native Americans of Argentina, so they can live better. As we all know, she is a famous singer. But one day, she decided to do something more important with her life, something new for her, something that could help others.


Patricia once went on tour with her musicians all over Argentina, and this would be for the benefit of those in need (visiting cities, provinces, etc,). She arrived in the Gran Chaco, and she found a very particular community, ‘’The Tobas’’. This community was like all the Native American communities of today; they needed many things, for example: food, housing and, the most important thing, an IDENTITY.
She chose to help this community because one day she received a letter from them telling her a story.


The story is that the natives were in their villages and suddenly a car passed along the road, but in the car the people were listening to a song: a song by Patricia. The natives believe in the gods of nature, and they then went to consult the God of Fire (which is only disturbed by an extreme need) and they asked him for help. The God said, “LET HELP COME ALONE, THIS IS A FOOTPRINT FROM THE ROAD, A GREAT HELP FOR US ALL.” That's why Patricia was shocked by this story, and decided to help the natives FOREVER with affection, with medical professionals, with food, houses, etc, always doing benefit concerts, raising money, making payments, building schools etc.

We are all from Argentina and have the same rights. The Tobas need the help of someone special as Patricia, and through her, the natives now have what to eat, they have a house, and they have a name .

Scientists from the UNLP make a new healthy ice cream

By Micaela

Researchers from the National University of La Plata managed to create and produce healthy ice creams with phytosterols and omega 3 fatty acids, two factors that reduce the levels of cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular illnesses.

After more than one year, the ice cream will be in the market in the next days. We can get it in four flavours: lemon, strawberry, American cream and “dulce de leche” or milk caramel.

The director of ProPIA (Programme for the Prevention of Infarcts in Argentina), Marcelo Tavella, explained that “we cannot make people stop eating ice cream. But we can make a healthy ice cream”. He also added: “If we want people to have a healthy life and a better diet, we have to provide them with healthy food options everywhere and all the time”.

Seven researchers from ProPIA and from the School of Medicine of the National University of La Plata, along with food engineers from the same university, have worked for one year and a half to develop the product.

“If we recommend people that they take a pill to incorporate omega 3 fatty acids, they probably won’t do it. But few will say no to eating an ice cream,” said Franchini, an ice cream shop owner.

On average, each Argentine consumes between 3.5 and 4 kg of ice cream per year. When the summer ends we expect to increment this figure by 35%. In this scenario, experts consider important that “The growth potential is still large, because we are well below global average ice cream consumption, which is 12kg per person.”

Thanks to these researchers, now the ice cream is delicious as well as healthy.

The most generous couple in Hollywood

By Lucas and Fabricio

Since 2006 until this year, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have donated millions of dollars to different charities.


They are the most famous couple in Hollywood and they are also the most generous. They have a foundation called ‘Jolie-Pitt’ and they help people who really need it. They care about the environment, adoption, fostering orphans, poverty and animals, because everybody needs help at some time.

They have a website (www.mjpasia.org) where you can donate money to help them and where you can see the current projects. For example, now they are doing things for education, healthcare, they want to save Asian elephants, etc.

In 2006 they donated 2.5 million dollars to ‘Medicos sin fronteras’ and the Global AISA Alliance. That same year they helped ‘La Cruz Roja de Namibia’ with 140,000 dollars. Namibia means a lot for them, because their first daughter was born there.

This year they donated one million dollars to help the people in Haiti after the catastrophic earthquake.

But the most important thing is that they have adopted three children from different countries and now they have a wonderful family.

Now, they continue doing good things for people. That’s why we have no doubts that they are excellent persons and that they’re an example to follow.

A person who tries to make a better world

By Gisela and Macarena

Juan Carr is a veterinary surgeon and biology teacher who founded, together with his wife and three friends, an NGO called “Red Solidaria”. This NGO tries to unite people who need something with people who can give something too.
When he was twenty-five years old, Juan Carr had cancer, which turned him into a more sensitive person and he started to help people who were in the same situation as him.
In 1995 he founded Red Solidaria. Their first experience was helping a child who needed a blood transfusion. They needed eight donors and 140 people answered the call.
At the beginning the NGO received lot of calls from people who needed help but nowadays Red Solidaria receives calls from people who want to give clothes, medicines and their time to help others.
Red Solidaria has also carried forward a project to promote reading in Argentina. Also, Missing Children is part of the NGO which tries to find lost children.
Juan Carr thinks that people show solidarity only with the environment or social problems, but it shouldn’t be like this. People must always help, all the time. His dream is to eradicate hunger in the world, or at least in Argentina.
Carr is an optimistic person, who in 2008 was nominated to receive the Nobel Peace Price, and who a lot of people consider a most trustworthy and enterprising man.

Caring and committed local actor

By Gianna

Do you know anybody who helps other people? Well, Lito Cruz is one of them. He is a famous actor and he was born in Berisso. Despite his work, he has time to help the people of his town.

When he was little, Lito lived in Nueva York Street with his family, when that place next to the port received the immigrants. The operation of the meat processing plants was very important there because it gave work to a lot of people. When the factories closed, the neighbourhood lost splendour.

Some time ago groups of neighbours joined to recover their neighbourhood. Among those people was Lito Cruz. He told the story of the Nueva York Street in front of the president. So they declared that Street a “National Monument”. For that reason Lito is committed to recover the Nueva York Street.

He had an interview with the headmasters of the Number 9 School and the Number 12 Secondary School. They talked about the project to recover that special place. About the plans of the neighbourhood, Cruz said that the provincial authorities are thinking about the work to do in the Nueva York Street, which includes home repairs, new lights and repair to sidewalks and streets.

“Now it is time for the people from Berisso, the town hall and the people from the schools to carry out this stage to recover our loved street,” said Lito. His dream and the other people’s dream is to see the Nueva York Street as a place full of life and a tourist and cultural centre, active with work.

With these things Lito Cruz, the famous actor who was born in Berisso, shows us his love for his town and the people who live here.

Photo: At The last Immigrants' Festival Lito was there, showing his love for Berisso.