About us > The Founder > Resume

CAREER, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PRIZES AND NOMINATIONS

• Works as catechist at the Holy Family of Nazareth Parish in the city of Banfield, Buenos Aires province.
• Joins Catholic Action.
• Holds Christianity cursillos.
• Pastoral and social tasks in Villa Fiorito, Lanus county, Buenos Aires province, and at children's and elderly homes in Lomas de Zamora.

• Organizes the first mission to El Calafate (Santa Cruz province) together with Fr. Horacio Garcia, a Capuchin Friar. Since then, this mission is repeated yearly in Summer and in Winter with different priests.

• Enters Seminary.
• Graduates in High School with a mayor in Literature.
• Helps finishing the St. John the Baptist Chapel in Manzanares Settlement, La Matanza county, Buenos Aires province.
• Collaborates with Fr. Resonico - Secretary to Monsignor Raspanti - in the Sarmiento Minority Institute (San Martin at the corner of Juan Manuel de Rosas, La Matanza county, Buenos Aires province).
• Performs for the first time four plays, two of which written by him (¡Qué Cura Gaucho! and Juicio a un Cura Rural).

• Goes on with his tasks at Sarmiento Home.
• Assistant teacher in History, Geography and Civic Training at Padre Jose Spingnani High School.
• Directs six theater plays which spread in poor districts in the area. One of these is his: Hay que animar a Damián.

• Performs Novitiate in Santa Fe province.
• Horseback pastoral tasks with unskilled country workmen.
• Debut of his play: La masacre de Hiroyima.

• Starts Philosophy study at Profesorado Don Bosco in the Almagro district in the city of Buenos Aires.
• Develops an intense task with children of the street, the railroads and the subways.
• Directs three unitary programs where students of Pio IX School and of COSAL (Salesian Communications) played the lead, within the program of Fr. Gardella in Channel 7. A similar task was performed in 1978.
• Organizes, together with Chacarita Juniors football club, an Intra college Football Championship among poor children's schools.
• Directs a theater play performed by children of Pio IX School which is taken to La Cava slum.

• Multiplies street kid care by organizing approach missions.
• Directs two theater plays which are taken to Sarmiento Home and to poor districts.

• Starts to work on the rescue of street kids at Constitucion, Retiro and Once railway stations, who he gathers in the San Francisco de Sales and Don Bosco schools. This task extends until 1982.
• Seventh Grade Teacher at Aspirantado Salesiano in Ramos Mejia, Buenos Aires province.
• Directs nine theater plays at Aspirantado Salesiano and in different poor districts.

• Directs eight theater plays at Aspirantado Salesiano and in poor districts.

• Graduates as Professor in Philosophy and Educational Sciences with a major in Juvenile Youth Pastoral at Profesorado Don Bosco in Almagro district in the city of Buenos Aires.
• Founds the Festive Oratory at Don Bosco School, Solis 252, in the city of Buenos Aires, where he gathers children from San Telmo, Plaza 1° de Mayo and Plaza Congreso for sport activities, also offering food and restraint.
• Directs three theater plays at Don Bosco School and explores cinema with five Super-8 films, he goes on with this task in 1982.

• Organizes courses at Don Bosco School in order to prepare the poorest children for public High Schools of the area.

• Starts work at Leon XIII School, Dorrego 2124 in the city of Buenos Aires, with children of lepers living at Colonia "Mi Esperanza" in Isidro Casanova, Buenos Aires province, and together with the pupils organizes aiding missions for these children and for the children at Juan Carlos Lando Minority Home.
• Chaplain to the 2nd Battalion of Don Bosco Scouts, Leon XIII School, Coronel Dorrego.
• Founds the Oratory for poor areas in the Chacarita district in the city of Buenos Aires.

• Starts Divinity studies at Universidad Catolica Argentina in Villa Devoto.
• Chaplain to the 44th Battalion of Don Bosco Scouts, Padre Jose Maria Ricardes, in San Justo.
• Starts a number of actions in order to achieve the approach of children of lepers inhabiting Colonia "Mi Esperanza" to their parents who are in-patients at Hospital Nacional Dr. Baldomero Sommer in General Rodriguez, Buenos Aires province.
• Organizes a youth group for community tasks within the Juan Carlos Lando Minority Home and in Colonia "Mi Esperanza".

• Chaplain to the 50th Battalion of Don Bosco Scouts, Padre Lorenzo Mazza.
• On October 11 he is ordained a deacon.
• Opens the first Home - Hogarcito Don Bosco - in Manzanares Settlement, La Matanza county, Buenos Aires province, housing five siblings.

• Graduates in July as University Professor of Divinity at Universidad Catolica Argentina.
• On October 11 he is ordained a priest and chooses the motto "Father of those who have no Father" which will sign his mission.
• Appointed Vice rector of the Minor Seminary in Ramos Mejia.
• Starts to collaborate at La Casita Home together with Fr. Elvio Metone.

• Starts inside tasks at the Seminary being in charge of aspirants with whom he does pastoral and social tasks.
• Founds the dining hall of the Cristo Crucificado Chapel in the city of Gonzalez Catan, Buenos Aires province.
• Directs nine dramatic plays, comedies and musicals at the theater of Aspirantado Salesiano in Ramos Mejia, Buenos Aires province.

• Sets up the dining hall of San Pedro Chapel in the city of Gregorio de Laferrere, Buenos Aires province.
• Directs ten dramatic theater plays, comedies and musicals at Aspirantado Salesiano in Ramos Mejia, Buenos Aires province.

• Sets up the dining hall of the San Ignacio Chapel in the city of Gregorio de Laferrere.
• Does pastoral and social tasks in Villa Borgward and Villa Santos Vega.
• Directs ten plays at Aspirantado Salesiano in Ramos Mejia with dramatic works, comedies, and musicals. Explores video recording.

• Sets up the Nighttime Oratory in the city of Rio Grande, Tierra del Fuego province, where he assembles local youths on Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. for pastoral, sport, and cinema activities, as well as to share breakfast, in order to disengage them from the night life they were after.
• Chaplain to the Chapel in the outskirts of Rio Grande, in charge of pastoral at Don Bosco School.
• Takes part in radio programs on FM Stylo, FM Fuego and at the local branch of Radio Nacional in Rio Grande.
• Directs the play El Grito Sagrado in Rio Grande.
• Back in Buenos Aires goes on working at La Casita Home with Fr. Elvio Metone, in the Moron diocese.
• Vicar at the Immaculate Conception Parish.
• Director of Casa del Niño (CEFAM) and of the Minority Home in Moron.

• Puts his program La Manga on the air. This program, which is directed towards solidarity, is currently broadcast on Sundays from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. by Radio Rivadavia.
• Starts to project and to plan the Felices los Niños ("Blessed are the Children") Foundation. The name is inspired by Christ's blessings, adding the term children.

• On December 23 the Federal Government assigns him the estate where the Headquarters of the Felices los Niños Foundation are established, which belonged to the former Instituto Forestal Nacional, (IFONA). This was the first step towards the Felices los Niños Foundation. He calls this complex the Don Bosco School - Home - Workshop, which eventually evolves into Ciudad del Niño Don Bosco.
• Receives a HONORARY MENTION by APTRA, the Television and Radio Journalist Association - Martin Fierro - for the best solidarity program, that is, La Manga, Radio Rivadavia.

• On January 6 the first two children (Natalia and Javier) arrive at the "Don Bosco" School - Home - Workshop.
• On January 24 he is appointed parish priest at Nuestra Señora del Carmen Parish in Ituzaingo, Buenos Aires province.
• In February the San Nicolas Home for Infants is opened at the Headquarters of the Foundation, in Hurlingham.
• During May the San Isidro Labrador Educational Plant Nursery is completed.
• On August 26 the Santo Domingo Savio Chapel opens its doors at the Works Headquarters.
• On December 22 the San Juan Bosco Home for Teenagers is established.
• The bee-keeping, plant nursery, orchard, woodworking and pottery workshops are put to work.
• Starts the building of the Girl's Home, the Kindergarten and the Elementary School.
• Receives the PREMIO PROSSA for solidary work.
• Receives the PREMIO FUNDACION MANANTIALES: Winners don't use drugs.
• Launches his first magazine, "ECONIÑO".

• In May the Presbítero Manuel Alberti E.G.B. School opens in Hurlingham.
• Also in May the Niñito Jesús Kindergarten opens.
• The Madre Piedad de la Cruz Home for Young and Teenage Girls opens at the Foundation's Headquarter.
• On August 15 the María Auxiliadora Day Care Center opens up in the locality of Carlos Spegazzini, Ezeiza county, Buenos Aires province.
• The San Cayetano Educational Bakery and Pasta Factory opens in Hurlingham.
• On December 15 the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus join the Foundation in order to operate the Madre Piedad de la Cruz Home for Young and Teenage Girls.
• Starts another broadcasting program, "La Sonrisa del Mundo" at Radio El Mundo.

• On March 1st the Beata Laura Vicuña Nursery opens at the Work's Headquarters.
• On May 1st the San José Obrero Home dwelling home opens in the Chacarita district in the city of Buenos Aires.
• This same year the Juanito Bosco Home for Siblings opens in Hurlingham.
• Is awarded the PREMIO FE instituted by the Estirpe Foundation.
• Awarded by the Family Mothers League with the PREMIO SAN MARTIN DE TOURS for "Defense of Life".

• Establishes the Don Bosco Missionary Group with the first young people who receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at Felices los Niños Foundation, in order to undertake pastoral and social tasks with the poorest children at El Calafate, Santa Cruz province.
• On October 22 opens the Sagrada Familia Day Care Center at the railroad station of the city of Jose Leon Suarez and the San Martín de Porres Day Care Center at the railroad station in the city of San Martin, both of them in Buenos Aires province.
• Inaugurates the San José Carpintero Trade Training Center at the Foundation's Headquarters.
• Together with Trenes de Buenos Aires (TBA), builds the Don Orione home at the railroad station of the city of Victoria, Buenos Aires province, which is handed over to the San Isidro diocese.
• Nominated by Argentina for the PEACE EDUCATOR prize awarded by UNESCO.
• Awarded by Fundación Tribunales de Familia (Family Court Foundation) with the PREMIO ANUAL ("annual award").
• Awarded with the PREMIO BROADCASTING to the best solidarity program for his program La Manga which is broadcast by Radio Rivadavia.

• On January 7 starts the standing mission to the locality of El Calafate, Santa Cruz province.
• The Missionary Group undertakes the mission to the locality of El Calafate, extending the mission to the locality of El Chalten, also in the Santa Cruz province.
• Opens the San Alejandro Health Care Center.
• Awarded with the PREMIO MANANTIALES DE PLATINO.
• Nominated for PREMIO UNIDAD NACIONAL (National Unity prize) awarded by the Christian Family Movement.
• Receives a HONOR MENTION at the National Library: Mundo Natural ("Natural World") distinction.

• On January 7 opens the Casa de Caridad Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Day Care Center in El Ñandú Settlement, Hurlingham county, Buenos Aires province.
• In March inaugurates the Madre Teresa de Calcuta High School at the Foundation's Headquarters with two specialization branches: art, design and media, and farming.
• In July opens the Santa María Goretti Home for Siblings in Hurlingham.
• On November 12 opens the Luis Sandrini Drama School in Hurlingham.
• Awarded with the LEON DE ORO by Club de Leones (Lions Club).
• Awarded with the PREMIO HURLINGHAM TIME DE ORO for creativity and solidarity.
• Felices los Niños Foundation is awarded with the PREMIO HURLINGHAM TIME for its work in favor of childhood.
• Awarded with the PREMIO ENFERMERA DE BRONCE (Bronze Nurse Prize) for solidary work awarded by Asociación de Trabajadores de la Sanidad Argentina (ATSA).
• Awarded with the PREMIO MISIONERO DEL AÑO awarded during the Christmas Carol Festival in Santiago del Estero province.
• On September 7 launches the Spanish website of the Felices los Niños Foundation, as a donation made by Boldt Consultores.
• Mr. Roberto Peregrino Salcedo publishes his book Los pibes de la Yeca with stories about children of the Foundation.
• In November launches a second Foundation website, www.homelesschildren.org.ar in English.
• Produces a CD with messages for street kids with songs authored and performed by Fr. Cesar Sichitano.

• This year enlarges the Work by including the following Homes:
• January: La Casita de la Resurrección Home and Day Care Center in the Villa Crespo district, city of Buenos Aires.
• February: Signs an agreement with the Congregation of the Sisters of Adoration, Slaves of the Blessed Sacrament and of Charity, and starts with them the Santa Micaela Day Care Center in the Flores district in the city of Buenos Aires, for women who took up prostitution.
• February: Dining Hall for the Toba Community in Derqui, Buenos Aires province.
• February: started the San Roque Mobile Team for childhood prevention.
• April: San Cayetano Day Care Center in Chimbas, San Juan province.
• May: Takes over Colonia "Mi Esperanza" in the city of Isidro Casanova, Buenos Aires province.
• On June 28: Felices los Niños Day Care Center in the city of Clorinda, Formosa province.
• On June 29 Fr. Julio César Grassi lays the Cornerstone of the Work and is named the Honor Guest of the Ciry of Clorinda.
• On July 7, San Héctor Home for Young and Pre-adolescent Boys in Hurlingham.
• On September 11: Virgencita de Luján Home for Siblings in the city of General Rodriguez, Buenos Aires province.
• October: Opens the Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Home for Young Boys (from 6 to 12 years) built with funds generated by change donations on purchases made at Coto supermarkets.
• October: El Buen Pastor Day Care Center at the locality of Coronel Du Graty, Chaco province.
• Adds a German website, www.strassenkinder.org.ar.
• Nominated for PREMIO UNIDAD NACIONAL (National Unity prize) awarded by the Christian Family Movement.
• Awarded with the PREMIO PROPUESTAS NUEVO MILENIO ("Proposals for the New Millenium prize") for work in favor of abandoned children.
• Founds the second magazine, Felices los Niños.

• This year opens the doors of:
• Holy Family of Nazareth Day Care Center in Flores district in the city of Buenos Aires (February) for children of women who took up prostitution, and for minors in prostituting situation.
• Ceferino Namuncurá a free-of-charge Higher Education School in Hurlingham for technical and teaching training with three degree courses: Teaching Training in Physical Education, Teaching Training in EGB 1 and 2, and Teaching Training in Basic Education, directed towards the poorest young people of the area (March).
• Cura Brochero Stable and Riding School, at Headquarters (March 10).
• Angel de la Guarda Special Education School in Hurlingham, for light and moderate cases (March 17).
• Together with Metrovias starts a rescue program for street kids in the subway stations of the city of Buenos Aires (June 1st).
• Takes over La Casa de Elena Day Care Center in the city of Jose Leon Suarez, Buenos Aires province, where 350 children are assisted. (September)
• Publishes the book Cuentos de grandes y chicos, (El Ateneo Publishers), together with authors De Santis, De Miguel, Dalwasetto, Blaistein, Fraga Vidal, Giangrante, Giardinelli, Gorodischer, Gudiño Kieffer, Heker, Lastra, Martinez, Mercader, O'Donnell, Orgambide, Otamendi, Pages, Peltzer, Sagastizabal, Scheines, Schua and Silveyra.
• Conducts a new radio program, Felices los Niños on FM Soldados, (October).
• Nominated for the PREMIO BROADCASTING awarded to the best solidarity program for his program La Manga which is broadcast by Radio Rivadavia.
• Awarded with PREMIO ARGENTINA XXI for the rescue of solidarity.
• Awarded with the PREMIO LIDER DE LA PAZ awarded by the Youth Peace Forum.
• Awarded with the DISTINCIÓN AL MERITO by Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría (the Argentine Society of Pediatry) for the commitment and dedication to the cause of the wellbeing and the health of the children in Argentina.
• Nominated for the KELLOG'S FOUNDATION PRIZE in the USA.
• Founds the third magazine, Socios de la Fundación Felices los Niños.

• This year opens the doors of:
• Santo Domingo Savio Day Care Center and St. Maria Micaela Trade Training Center in the locality of La Fraternidad, Buenos Aires province, (January 7).
• Santa Teresa de los Andes EGB School and Madre Maravilla Kindergarten in the Chacarita district in the city of Buenos Aires, (March 4).
• Beato Artémides Zatti EGB School for Adults in Hurlingham, (March 11).
• Nuestra Señora del Rosario High School for Adults at Headquarters in Hurlingham, (March 11).
• On March 19 founds the Juan María Boccardo Day Care Center in Maximo Paz, Buenos Aires province, together with the Order of the Poor Daughters of Saint Gaetan.
• Assistance to the dining halls at Villa Palito and Villa Puerta de Hierro, San Roque Parish, La Matanza county, Buenos Aires province. (May 27)
• Assistance to four dining halls in Barrio Obligado, San Francisco Solano Parish, San Miguel county, Buenos Aires province. (June)
• Nuestra Señora del Valle Home for Siblings in Carlos Spegazzini, Ezeiza county, Buenos Aires province. (June 25)
• Together with the Añatuya Diocese starts the Santa Rosa de Lima Home in Suncho Corral, Santiago del Estero province, (July 25).
• Opens the sewing and computing workshops at the Santa Micaela day-care and trade training center (Flores district in the city of Buenos Aires). (July)
• Starts building the Mamá Adelina Home for Infants in Isidro Casanova, Buenos Aires province, in memory of his mother who passed away on September 2, 2001. (July)
• The Federal Government donates an estate located in the Once district in the city of Buenos Aires, intended for a Home for street teenagers. Construction has began. (July).
• Start of project work and construction of a day nursery at railroad station Jose Leon Suarez, Buenos Aires Province, for the children of cardboard collectors.
• In July the Missionary Group is split in two, the first missioning in El Calafate, while the second one travels to Suncho Corral, Santiago del Estero province.
• Nominated for the PREMIO BROADCASTING awarded to the best solidarity program for his program La Manga which is broadcast by Radio Rivadavia.
• Awarded the PREMIO MAGNUS to solidarity.
• Several young people of the Foundation start the shooting of El Polaquito, a movie depicting the story of a street kid, which is directed by Juan Carlos Desanzo.
• Invited in September by the Argentine and Latin community residing in Houston, USA, was proclaimed Honorary Citizen of the City of Houston and Good Will Ambassador, and was prized with The Americas Award 2002.
• On October 30 the Felices los Niños Foundation is awarded the Premio Unión Nacional by Secretariado Nacional del Movimiento Familiar Cristiano (the National Secretariat of the Christian Family Movement).

• During this year he inaugurated works as follows:
• Manos a la Obra ("Getting down to work") Cooperative for young people who having passed throughthe work no need to open their own path (February 20).
• Nuestra Señora de Fátima Daycare Center (March 19).
• Padre Pío Daycare Center in Obligado Settlement, San Miguel county which was built with the aid of Danone and the Group of Collaborators in Rome who were coordinated by Adriana Nabulón, (May 8).
• New San Juan Bosco Home on the premises in Hurlingham, giving shelter to 50 teenagers, (June 24).
• San Francisco de Asís Home, a shelter for the children of “cartoneros” in José León Suárez, Buenos Aires Province, (October 4).
• Signature of an agreement with the Order of Martha and Mary towards the operation of San José Obrero Home (December 8). This agreement was formerly fostered by Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio.
• Awarded in Clorinda, Formosa Province, by Rotary Club International with the 2003 Award for Solidarity Action.
• The La Manga radio program on Radio Rivadavia is nominated for PREMIO BROADCASTING award.

• Opening of a new classroom at Santa Teresa de los Andes School.
• Inauguration in Chacarita of the Community of Sisters of Martha and Maria (September 14).
• Creation of a Clown Group, the "Los Payasos Felices" (The Happy Clowns), made up of teenagers from the Homes and Schools.
• Opening at Hurlingham of the following workshops:
• Murga workshop
• Puppeteering workshop
• Magic workshop

• Opening of new facilities at the Ceferino Namuncurá Dwelling Home in Chacarita for 28 children and teenagers.
• Opening of two new classrooms and a small chapel at the Santa Teresa de los Andes School with funds contributed by the Bishops' Conference of Italy.
• Foundation of "Asociación Colonia Mi Esperanza".
• Inauguration of Mi Esperanza Daycare Center in Isidro Casanova.
• Refurbishing of the Chapel in Colonia Mi Esperanza.
• Beginning March 19 starts pedagogical advising of the San Pedro and Angel de la Guarda Homes at Cotahuasi, Peru, which are run by the Argentine priest José Paz (IVE). Carries out Training Workshops with the educators and helps in carrying out the Educational- Pastoral Project.
• Begins refurbishings of Cura Brochero Daycare Center in Ing. Budge, Buenos Aires Province (June).
• Opens a Contact Center in Suncho Corral, Santiago de Estero Province in order to collect funds for the Foundation's works in this province (July).
• The Work founded in Clorinda, Formosa Province, is honoured on December 27 with the "Los 10 Mejores del Año" (The Year's ten best) award for its tireless work, dedication and devotion in benefit of the Community's most needy children.

• Opening of the “Escuela Secundaria Básica” Initial High School which will bear the name of San Héctor (the first Argentinian saint). Head of the school is José Luis Piombo, educator (March 1).
• Begin of construction work at the restrooms of the Padre Pío Home and future School. Funds were donated by Amigos de Roma, the Association devoted in Rome to honor Padre Pio, led by Adriana Nabulón (March 4).
• Opening of the Home for Infants at the San José Obrero Home (March 12).

• Promotes the construction of the Bakery School at the Felices los Niños Home in Clorinda, which opens on December 18, 2007.
• Starts construction of the "María Auxiliadora" Therapeutic Community for girls and female teenagers as a joint effort together with Asociación 9 de Julio.
• On December 20 inaugurates the Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá square and monument at the Works in Hurlingham
• On December 22 inaugurates the first classroom, corridors, principals office and restrooms at "Santo Padre Pio" elementary school on the border of Hurlingham county, opposite to Barrio Obligado.
• Starts construction of the Sheltered Workshop, an annexe to Angel de la Guarda Special Education School.

• Resumes the building of the Nuestra Señora de la Patagonia Elementary School in El Calafate, Santa Cruz Province, with full-day schooling and feeding (March 19).