About Us

Ariel and Enrique Nájera the reason for this organization

Luisa leal Our founder is a single immigrant mother who came to this country at the age of 19 when she was pregnant with her eldest daughter, now 27 years old, who was born with a congenital anomaly in her right hand, and her youngest daughter, 14 years old, who had a disease in her right eye where she was close to losing her eyesight several times.

She spent years in hospitals and clinics taking her daughters to therapy and medical checkups. As an undocumented immigrant, she saw how difficult it was to care for someone with different needs.

After meeting the children of her ex-partner, learning about their disease, and seeing how difficult it was to find information in Spanish and support for immigrants with this disease, she set out to find a way to support Hispanic families who are going through this illness. She devoted herself to seeking the best possibilities for children and families in their language; thus, The Akari Foundation was born.

The Akari Foundation is not just about translations; it is about culture, equality, diversity, equity, advocacy, acceptance & belonging.

Our Mission

Educate and empower the Hispanic community about rare diseases, help with resources, awareness, advocacy, and education, entirely in Spanish, specializing in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Our Vision

We aim to create a world where the Hispanic community affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other rare diseases is united, educated, empowered, and equipped with the necessary resources and support to thrive and overcome challenges, all done exclusively in Spanish. We envision a future where everyone, regardless of background, has access to comprehensive information, compassionate care, and a strong network that fosters awareness, advocacy, and education in our primary language.

Our Team

Luisa leal

FOUNDER /CEO

Luisa "LuLu" Quintanilla

Marketing Manager of Special Projects

Karen Espinoza

Human Resources Manager and Office Assistant

Annette Elizabeth Hatcher Brito

Chief Financial Officer

Susanna Hunanyan

Medical liaison executive and community defense

Alexis Lugo

Patient Advocacy Executive

Monserrath Flores

MEDIA PRODUCER

Saúl Leal

Outreach Coordinator

Ruben Cantu

Development Program Manager

Claudia Espinal

Community Engagement coordinator and fundraising

Celeste Marchán

Content Manager

Katia Zuñiga

Social Media & Web Manager

Team in Puerto Rico

Carmiña De León

Volunteer Coordinator and Fundraising events

María Colón

Nurse Supervisor & Family Care

Contact

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We are proud to earn the Platinum Seal for sharing our full story. To achieve the highest level of transparency, we add extensive information to our nonprofit profile: information about our missions, programs, leadership, etc.; detailed financial information; qualitative information on objectives, strategies and vision; and our progress toward our mission. Your physical, mental, spiritual and social needs.
Donor Confidence The Akari Foundation is an IRS accredited 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization. All donations are tax-deductible. EIN 82-2557369 The Akari Foundation maintains minimum operating expenses. The Board of Directors is a group of committed volunteers. No board member receives compensation. Your generous donation helps us with our Mission to Educate and empower the Hispanic community on rare diseases and help with resources, awareness, advocacy, and education, specializing in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The goal of the Board of Directors of The Akari Foundation is that donors have the highest level of confidence when making contributions to the Foundation. We intend to provide you with that confidence by sharing the following information. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to email Giving@theakarifoundation.org
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