“For every dollar invested in Vimenti, there is a return of $3.41 in social and economic value.” That was the key finding of the study Vimenti: Seven Years of Social and Economic Impact, conducted by Advantage Business Consulting and presented during the organization’s fifth annual awareness and fundraising breakfast, Take Action: Be a Force of Change for Our Children and Families.
The event brought together leaders from Puerto Rico’s private and philanthropic sectors at The Mall of San Juan, celebrating Vimenti’s continued mission to eradicate child and generational poverty across the island. Hosted by TV presenter Nicole Chacón, the program featured a special musical performance by Vimenti School students, who premiered the original song “Take Action,” written especially for the occasion.
During the event, Advantage Business Consulting presented the commissioned study, led by economist Vicente Feliciano and presented by Melissa Armas, the firm’s manager, alongside Charna Boquette, founding team member and director of development at Vimenti. The report demonstrates the economic and social impact of Vimenti’s Two-Generation (2Gen) model, which integrates services for both children and adults to break the cycle of poverty and promote family and workforce stability.
“Driving systemic change is never easy. The challenges we’ve faced have been overcome thanks to the people who believe in this project and in its impact on Puerto Rican families,” said Bárbara Rivera, cofounder and executive director of Vimenti. “Investing in families is not just a social cause—it’s a smart economic strategy. I’ve had the honor of watching this project grow from a hopeful idea into an initiative that has expanded significantly in both scale and impact.”
Key impact results highlighted at the event include:
• 12% reduction in poverty among participating families.
• 62% of families with at least one parent employed full time.
• 73% of parents reporting income growth.
• 80% of family goals achieved.
• 73% of students achieving academic proficiency.
Attendees also learned about the progress of Oasis 360, an 80,000-square-foot complex that will house the new Vimenti facilities, along with the Social Impact Platform, the Youth Development Institute, Project Makers, and the Vidalús Health Clinic.
The event concluded with moving testimonies from families, including Melissa Ocasio and Sheila Rodríguez, who shared how their participation in Vimenti helped them achieve economic and emotional stability.
Take Action: Be a Force of Change for Our Children and Families, presented by Walmart, was made possible through the support of The Mall of San Juan, Merrill Lynch, PharmPix, Miramar Group, Insight Communications, Tote Maritime, V2A Consulting, Universal Group, Falcón Sánchez & Associates, Morgan Reed Group, KPMG, Hill Brothers Wine and More, and Starbene Caffé. Together with Vimenti, these organizations are building opportunities for meaningful, catalytic impact for families across Puerto Rico.