• The Ismael Cala Foundation raised the funds at its annual gala at the Britto Palace and will use them to expand El Vuelo de la Cometa (The Kite’s Flight), its emotional intelligence program for young people ages 12 to 17, which has already reached more than 4,000 young people in Colombia.
• John C. Maxwell, Emilio Estefan and Romero Britto among the honorees of the 2026 Legacy of Light Awards.

MIAMI, Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In a single night and with 86 guests, the Ismael Cala Foundation raised more than $200,000 so that more teenagers can learn to recognize and manage their emotions. The funds were raised on Saturday, November 7, during the gala Legacy of Light: A Night of Joyful Giving, held at the Britto Palace, the space created by artist Romero Britto in Miami.

The money has a specific purpose: to expand the reach of El Vuelo de la Cometa, the Foundation’s emotional intelligence program for young people ages 12 to 17, and of the SELI Institute, dedicated to social-emotional leadership training. In Colombia, El Vuelo de la Cometa has already reached more than 4,000 young people, work that guests saw in a documentary filmed in the country and screened during the evening.

The Foundation also wants that support to go beyond a single event. That is why it launched a sponsorship campaign that night, asking donors to commit to the program for at least three years.

“A legacy is not what we leave for people, but what we leave in people,” said Ismael Cala, founder and president of the organization, as he invited those present to become “architects of possibility” for the next generations. Together with executive director Javier Torres, he presented the work the Foundation has carried out for more than a decade across the Americas.

2026 Legacy of Light Awards

During the gala, the Foundation presented the Legacy of Light Awards, which it has granted since 2024 to people and organizations that have made a real impact on the lives of others. This year’s honorees were:

• John C. Maxwell, a world leadership authority, of the Maxwell Leadership Foundation.
• Emilio Estefan, an icon of Latino culture, who took part via video message.
• Romero Britto, artist and host of the evening.
• Marie Vivianne “Vivi” Barguil Bechara, founder of the A la Rueda Rueda Foundation.
• Teresita Adorno, of the organization EmocionArte.
• Tatiana “Taty” Guiribitey and Dr. Pedro Guiribitey, founders of the Guiribitey Family Foundation.

The Foundation also gave a special recognition to Adriana Maricela Pérez López, the event’s main sponsor. Each honoree received a 10-karat gold pin designed for the occasion by Gnel’s Jewelry & Accessories, featuring the multicolored hand from the Foundation’s logo.

The evening included a live auction and a silent auction featuring unique experiences and pieces. Music was provided by Vocal Youth Miami, an organization that works with more than 600 children and young people each year through music, and the event was hosted by Delia Peralta and Daysi Rodríguez, of TalenPro (Panama).

About the Ismael Cala Foundation

The Ismael Cala Foundation (ICF) is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the human development, emotional intelligence and conscious leadership of children, young people, educators and families. Through programs such as El Vuelo de la Cometa and the SELI Institute, it drives a philanthropic ecosystem with a presence in several countries across the Americas.

SOURCE Cala Enterprises Corporation