Mercado Global’s Board Member Yaz Hernandez, former fashion industry executive and philanthropist, hosted a cocktail party for guests at her home to meet the organization’s Executive Director, Ruth DeGolia.

Guests included: Rachel Alonso-Mendoza, Frederick Anderson & Dmitry Astashenok, Gabriel Rivera Barraza, Elizabeth Baliey, Beatriz Colon, Donna Corbat, Edmundo Castillo, Ruth DeGolia, Marina Dobreva, Dr. Jane Galasso, Michele Gerber Klein, Sallie Giordano, Valentin Hernandez, Sharon Handler Loeb, Aimee and William Maroney, Dr. John Mesa, Elizabeth Musmanno, Lara Meiland-Shaw, Othon Prounis and Kathy Prounis, Leticia Pittman Presutti & Rick Presutti, PJ Pascual, Sana H. Sabbagh, Alexandra Seegers, Leslie Sardinias, Maria Soler, Felicia Taylor and Carmen Torruella.

This year’s fall benefit will celebrate the launch of Mercado Global’s three-year scaling campaign to bring on 1,000 new artisans and expand our market access and sales program to new heights. This special night will be an opportunity to build momentum as we embark on this ambitious vision to empower more women in Guatemala.

Mercado Global empowers indigenous women to overcome poverty and become agents of change in their communities.

Mercado Global empowers rural indigenous Mayan women to break the cycle of poverty by connecting them to international markets, fostering sustainable livelihoods for their families, and pioneering a socially responsible business model within the fashion industry. Since its inception in 2004, Mercado Global has impacted the lives of over 400 women throughout more than 40 communities in the rural highlands of Guatemala.
As an ethical fashion brand and social enterprise, Mercado Global connects partner artisans to international sales opportunities, partnering with retailers in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, including Anthropologie, Calypso St. Barth, Comptoir de Cotonniers, Levi Strauss & Co., J. Crew, United Arrows, and Zady. By combining market access with community-based education trainings and asset development support, Mercado Global provides the tools needed to fully leverage income and break the cycle of poverty. For more information about Mercado Global: https://www.mercadoglobal.org/pages/the-need