ALAS Foundation
ALAS (Fundacion América Latina en Acción Solidaria) is a movement dedicated to the children in Latin America. The non-profit organization is founded by Latin American artists, intellectuals and business people, with the intent to launch a new social movement for a collective commitment to comprehensive Early Childhood Development programs in Latin America. ALAS was founded by the Colombian singer and UNICEF ambassador Shakira. Other known artists are Juanes, Alejandro Sanz and Miguel Bosé, among others. The Honorary President is Nobel prize winner Gabriel García Márquez. Shakira's ex-fiancé Antonio de la Rúa is one of the  Vice Presidents. De la Rúa recently rebutted the allegation that artists are leaving ALAS because of mismanagement. Mega Concerts. On 17 May 2008, for the first time, two concerts were held simultaneously in Argentina and Mexico. Shakira, Alejandro Sanz, Calle 13, Paulina Rubio, Gustavo Cerati and others artists performed in Buenos Aires, where 150 thousand people gathered. In Mexico City, Miguel Bosé, Ricky Martin, Chayanne, Lucero and Diego Torres were some of the artists on the stage list. Juanes did not participate in either concert. The Mexico concert was attended by no less than 200 thousand people. Both concerts were  completely free and their only goal was to make the public aware of the problems around poverty of Latin-American children. ALAS – IDB Award. The ALAS – IDB Award was created in 2011 jointly by the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and the ALAS Foundation to recognize "high quality, suitable intensity and length programs and interventions that combine early education, psychosocial stimulation, nutrition, health and works with the family".