SIMÓN BOLÍVAR FOUNDATION
“ We estimate that through the grant agreements that we have signed , we have benefited or will benefit more than 680,000 individuals in 12 countries in total ”
MARIELA POLEO PRESIDENT , SIMÓN BOLÍVAR FOUNDATION
MARIELA POLEO TITLE : PRESIDENT
COMPANY : SIMÓN BOLÍVAR FOUNDATION
Poleo was named president of the Simón Bolívar Foundation , CITGO Petroleum Corporation ’ s private foundation , in 2020 . At the helm , she implemented a new mission that creates a larger impact supporting vulnerable populations affected by disaster , poverty and conflict . Poleo previously served at a major international oil company in multiple roles for 21 years , including leading Finance and Control for Exploration North America and Development and Production Gulf of Mexico and contributing to develop capital projects in Latin America and Africa .
Poleo was recognised as a Global Leader of Influence by the World Affairs Council of Houston in 2023 . She holds a Masters in Engineering Management and an Advanced Management Program certificate from IESA Business School . She is a board member of multiple nonprofit boards .
Mexico and the U . S . In the past four years , we have built a network of qualified charitable organisations that receive grants from us and implement programmes on the ground ,” says Poleo .
In order to qualify charities for its grants , the Simón Bolívar Foundation invites organisations to share their proposals , which are reviewed by the Foundation and an independent volunteer community advisory team to determine whether these proposals align with the Foundation ’ s programme objectives , budgets and time-frame , with the Foundation solely determining all grant awards . Equally important to the Foundation is project sustainability as it looks to build strategic relationships in order to provide continued value to beneficiaries .
In doing so , the Foundation has delivered aid not only in Venezuela but also in other Latin American countries , including Colombia , Ecuador and Peru , and supported migrants but also those caught up in natural disasters .
Having launched a relief fund during the pandemic , Poleo and the team facilitated much-needed support in Venezuela to deliver sanitation and personal protective equipment and continuing education .
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