The Nina Vaca Foundation celebrated the opening of Villa de la Alegría in her home country of Ecuador with an official ribbon cutting ceremony Sept. 21, 2018 to welcome 40 families into their new homes.
Last year, Nina launched the TRI for Homes campaign to raise funds to build the community for victims of the devastating 2016 earthquake. She coupled her love of philanthropy and triathlons to raise contributions by completing the Ironman 70.3 in Manta, Ecuador.
Through a partnership with the Nina Vaca Foundation, Cinemark, The Rotary Club of Quito, and sponsors from around the world, she raised $120,000 to provide an estimated 400 earthquake victims with new homes, as well as 1.5 acres of land for each family to plant crops and create a sustainable economic platform from which they could rebuild their lives.
Vaca and the foundation handed out toiletries, school supplies, clothes, and encouraged them to allow Jesus into their new homes by providing bibles. The only thing she asked in return is that they treat each other like community – to support each other, respect each other and work together.
