About Us

Our History

The HB8 Partnership foundation was created in 2018. It was born out of our desire to make a positive impact on the lives of highly vulnerable communities living in absolute poverty.

Our inspiration was the matriarch, Hilda de Bernal, born in the 1930s into a peasant family in the Tolima region of Colombia. The family faced difficulties due to forced displacement by the violence in the region.

Despite being widowed with eight young children and living in extreme poverty, our mother devoted her life to hard work and managed to educate us, the founders.

These events profoundly shape our lives, motivating us to actively engage in community work and seek solutions to alleviate extreme poverty.

Our Mission

HB8 Partnership is a non-profit foundation with a mission to create development opportunities and provide resources for highly vulnerable communities living in extreme poverty. These communities include unprotected adults and children, widows, single mothers, and displaced individuals residing in rural areas and municipalities across Colombia and other countries.

HB8 Partnership achieves its mission by developing the following projects in rural areas: Food bank, School projects, Empowerment, Health and recreation, and Financing micro projects.

These projects are achieved through donations, volunteering, and sponsorships.

Non-perishable food donations are accepted at collection and distribution centers in Mariquita, Palocabildo, Ibagué, and Bogotá, Colombia.

Cash donations can be made through transfer methods such as saving account Bancolombia, PayPal, Stripe, GoFundMe, Mercado Pago, DaviPlata, and Nequi.

Our Vision

In the years to come, we want to promote sustainable socioeconomic development for individuals and communities living in extreme poverty. This work is guaranteed through comprehensive and ongoing support from HB8 Partnership, which aims to be a leader in creating innovative programs to improve living conditions.

Slogan

"United hands sowing opportunities, enhancing lives!"

Our Values

Solidarity

Fraternity

An attitude of unity to help others.

Integrity

Honesty, ethics, and justice.

Support and Collaboration

Cooperation

We cover basic needs of our communities.

Mercy

Kindness

We sympathize with the suffering of others.

Empathy

Compassion

We identify with the suffering of others, which makes us sensitive and drive us to help others.

Being Accessible

Readiness

Being present for those who need it.

Our Team

Mercedes Bernal

President

Bachelor in Marketing, Politécnico Grancolombiano, Bogotá, Colombia.
MBA, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Having grown up in a family of 8 orphaned siblings and a young widowed mother who chose to stay single to protect her 5 daughters, life has affirmed my mission: to contribute toward a better life for these highly vulnerable communities because What is life for, if not to give it? (Paul Claudel).

Having experienced the hardships of extreme poverty, I firmly believe that regardless of the conditions one is born into, those chains can be broken. Sponsoring orphaned and abandoned children is a way to contribute and positively impact our society.

Lorena Gómez Bernal

Director

Bachelor in Business Administration from the Universidad La Gran Colombia.
Specialist in Project Management from the Universidad Minuto de Dios.

She, along with her family, commits to realizing the dream of aiding others. Her belief is that in life, we must leave a lasting impact. God grants us the opportunity to strive, dream, and turn those dreams into reality—we need only follow them and persevere.

Diana Reyes Bernal

Activities and Events Coordinator

Bachelor in Physiotherapy from the Universidad Nuestra Señora del Rosario.
Specialist in Health Management FUS

Her inspiration stems from the moral education she imparts to her son, who, through her example, learns to embrace love and respect for others as integral parts of his life.

Luisa Fernanda Cabrera Bernal

Director of Communications and Projects

Social Communicator and Journalist
Specialist in Corporate Communication.

My mission is to assist others and find fulfillment in transforming lives by offering comprehensive care to those in need—with warmth, respect, unwavering commitment, and a spirit of service.

Simultaneously, I dream of contributing to the creation of a better country, inspiring others to become better human beings.

Floralva Vela

Accountant

Her life story reinforces the significance of a child having the support and role model of family and close individuals.

The HB8 Partnership team firmly believes that when people come together to create projects to assist boys and girls facing vulnerability and limited opportunities, it embodies gestures of generosity, solidarity, and community responsibility. These efforts have the power to positively impact lives.

Héctor Bernal

Logistic Coordinator

Born in Mariquita, Tolima, he emerged from my mother’s womb at the age of 12, seeking a better opportunity in life. Since then, he has worked independently on agricultural and livestock farms in rural areas of Colombia.

Héctor is deeply passionate about finding solutions to poverty-related challenges faced by rural children. Through the foundation, he has committed to enhancing the well-being of these young ones.

How to Help

Sponsorship

Sponsor a child, an individual, or a family by contributing a minimum monthly amount or any sum of money, you can help us purchase food baskets or support education through our foundation.

Financing Projects

Support in the start-up (meaning the planning of production and commercialization) and the follow-up of projects for groups of people previously classified.

For example, creating a sewing workshop to make school uniforms for a group of single mothers living in absolute poverty.

Charity / Donations

Provide any amound of money, non-perishable food items, new clothes, school supplies, personal hygiene items, toys, sports items through HB8 Partnership Foundation.

Benefited Communities

Highly vulnerable groups living in absolute poverty such as unprotected adults, orphaned children, widows, single mothers, displaced by violence, living in rural areas, municipalities of Colombia and cities like Atlanta, GA and similar locations.

Get involved!