WHO    Pierre Lacaze, CEO of LCM Commodities, JR, the artist, Yoann Richomme, skipper, BrazilFoundation, favela youth in Brazil

WHAT   ART AND CULTURE VS. DRUGS FOR FAVELA YOUTH. In the chaotic favelas of Brazil, youth have little opportunities, beyond being caught up in the cross hairs of drug culture. Futures become brighter when a financier and a sailor sail on the high seas in a legendary race, with a sail by famous artist, JR, all to raise funds for cultural programming as an alternative to drugs and crime.
A Dream: Financier Pierre Lacaze chases a dream across 4800 miles at sea on a two-handed regatta to dramatically raise funds for projects and initiatives he has supported for over 6 years
The Arts: Teamed up with fellow philanthropist, internationally-known artist JR, the artist’s photography of a giant woman’s eye adorns the sail of the yacht called Vivo à Beira, Life on The Edge
The Legendary Race: Transat Jacques Vabre, 13^th edition, an unforgiving two-week long Trans-Atlantic sailboat race via 4800 miles between Le Havre, France and Brazil’s northeast coast, along the historical coffee trade route. The team will compete against the planet’s most accomplished skippers, navigating some of the fastest sailboats ever designed.
Fund-Raising for Cultural Initiatives for Brazilian youths: Vivo à Beira plans to raise $500,000 for social initiatives based in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, Brazil. As of October 2017, the trip has raised nearly $60,000.
WHY For kids growing up in Brazil’s poverty-stricken favelas drug dealing and a life of crime can seem like the only viable life and career choice. With Brazil now in a recession with unemployment rates having soared to unforeseen levels, support for social projects for favela youth have come to a halt. When financier/philanthropist, Pierre Lacaze experienced first hand the favela life, he “saw guns and anger but I also saw resolve and intent.” This intent has became his philanthropic passion for six years supporting creative arts initiatives for youth in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas with BrazilFoundation with the Fundo Carioca, a special fund whose investments are directed exclusively for these projects.
WHERE   The 4800-mile Trans-Atlantic Journey, Transat Jacques Vabre
WHEN    Events in Brazil, France and US:
             
November 5, Le Harve, France, Official start of the race, Departure of Vivo à Beira
November 21- 25, Salvador, Brazil, Arrival of Vivo à Beira finishing the race

HOW To Contribute: The public can find out more about Vivo à Beira and contribute by visiting:
http://vivoabeira.org/ (English) +1 212 244 3663
org/campaign/vivo-a-beira (Portuguese and English)
Instagram   https://www.instagram.com/vivoabeira_fundocarioca/

“Racing across the Atlantic on some of the fastest sailboats ever built is a dream I have had since I was ten years old,” Lacaze, CEO of LCM Commodities based in Manhattan admits. “My main goal, is to get kids to dream big, make them proud, and raise money for their education. We called this sailboat adventure Vivo à Beira that translates to ‘Life on the edge.’ Favela youth and I have shared this feeling through tears, smiles and laughs. They are hard working and pure. They deeply care about chasing dreams. They are the best of us.”