Almost six hundred applications for the prestigious award were received from 25 IDB member countries

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) today announced that four institutions from Paraguay, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Chile won the Juscelino Kubitschek Visionaries Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions made by nongovernmental organizations to Latin America and the Caribbean.

The awards were created in 2009 in honor of Brazilian President Juscelino Kubitschek (1956-1961), who was instrumental in the creation of the IDB, the world’s first regional development bank.

The Executive Selection Committee awarded the first place to Fundación Paraguaya of Paraguay and the second place to TeenSmart International of Costa Rica. The third and fourth places went to Glasswing International of El Salvador and TECHO from Chile. Additionally, the Committee decided to give an honorable mention to ProMujer from United States.

The first prize winner will receive $100,000.00 in recognition of its work and to encourage its efforts to improve lives. The second prize winner will receive $50,000.00 while third and fourth place winners will each receive $25,000.00 Award ceremonies will be held in each country in September and October.

Winners were selected by two Committees. The Technical Selection Committee, consisting of IDB specialists, selected the 25 finalists. The Executive Selection Committee, which included Bank’s senior management, a past winner of the award, and former IDB President Enrique V. Iglesias, selected the four winners.