By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In celebration of this year’s holiday season, The Rio Times in association with The American Society of Rio de Janeiro (AmSoc Rio) will host a Holiday Charity Happy Hour. The event, focused on giving back to and strengthening the local community, will run from 7PM-10PM on Thursday, December 19th at Mab’s Restaurant, located in Rio’s famous Copacabana Beach.
Capirinhas and caipivodkas will be half-price at Mab’s throughout the event and attendees, in the spirit of the gift-giving season, are asked to bring to presents to donate to the Il Sorriso dei miei Bimbi organization.
Anna Whyte, who oversees the charity efforts for AmSoc Rio explains that the event “is a great way to bring expats together to celebrate the Christmas season, generate awareness for great causes as well as make gift-giving to community children in-need easy. All the toys gathered on the night will be delivered to Il Sorriso the following day and anyone who would like to join The American Society in this activity can volunteer by contacting Anna at: [email protected].”
“We’ve been looking for an opportunity to help some of Rio’s most underprivileged, and this seemed like the right time,” explained The Rio Times Editor and Publisher Stone Korshak. “We’re hoping a lot of our readers and friends will feel the same way and we have a good turn out and a big pile of presents, something to brighten the holidays for the some of the kids in Rocinha that could some Christmas cheer.”
Through various socio-cultural initiatives, the Il Sorriso dei miei Bimbi organization has worked to fight against poverty and neglect of the children in Rio’s largest favela, Rocinha, for over ten years. Founded in 2002 by Italian native and Rio resident, Barbara Olivi, the organization focuses on the empowerment of children and teens in the community through education.
The American Society and The Rio Times will deliver the gifts received during the event to the Il Sorriso children on the following day, Friday, December 20th.
Before that, attendees to Holiday Charity Happy Hour will have not only have the chance to merrily mingle against the backdrop of the beautiful Copacabana beach while drinking half-price capirinhas and caipivodkas, they will also have an opportunity to win an American Airlines ticket through a raffle hosted by AmSoc Rio. The event will be another way to give back as all raffle tickets will be R$10 each with one hundred percent of the proceeds going to AmSoc Rio charity.
What: Holiday Charity Happy Hour
When: Thursday, December 19th, 7-10PM
Where: Mab’s, Avenida Atlantica 1140, Copacabana
Entrance: Free Entrance with half–price capirinhas and caipivodkas during event
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