INTRODUCTION

The Nobrega family traces its’ ancestry to Padre Manoel da Nobrega, a Portuguese Jesuit priest, who arrived in Brazil in 1532. The Maria Nobrega Foundation seeks to continue a long history of family philanthropy, with the restoration and sustainable regeneration of the UNESCO World Heritage Township of Olinda, Pernambuco State, Brazil. Founded by the Portuguese in 1537, it contains 22 magnificent baroque churches and monasteries, many of which are in urgent need of restoration. It was from nearby Recife that 23 exiled Jews arrived in New Amsterdam in 1654, to form the first Jewish community, in what is now known as New York.

In contrast with the splendour of its’ architectural heritage, is the poverty of Olinda’s inhabitants, with all the attendant problems of malnutrition, drugs and crime.

Our mission is to provide a future for Olinda, through education, employment, development of the arts and the protection of the environment. Amongst other projects, The Foundation will focus on:

FOCUS 2008-2010

1. The development and restoration of the church of Sao Joa Batista dos Militares as a school. To view the detailed Master Plan for this project click here.
2. The restoration of Igreja Nossa Senhora das Neves Igreja and Convento Sao Francisco to house a school of Architectural Restoration.To view detailed Master Plans for this project click here.
3. A Master Plan for the restoration and sustainable regeneration of Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Misericordia.
4. The recovery of the Curado Atlantic Rain Forest. Click to view photos
5. The publication of an academic reference work on the history of Olinda. The book is to be published in two formats, one in hard cover and the second as a paperback to be issued to schools.
6. The Acquisition of historic Jewish houses in Olinda.

Money raised through our events and fundraising efforts will be used to finance our projects in Brazil. To learn more about our projects in Olinda, please click here.

In order to realize these projects The Maria Nobrega Foundation has been legally established with charitable status in:

USA: The Maria Nobrega Foundation (USA) is a Delaware Nonstock Corporation. Authentication; 2605619 dated 08-28-03 UK: The Maria Nobrega Charitable Trust is a Registered Charity; UK Registration Number 1099540 Brazil: Fundaçao Maria Nobrega has charitable status in Brazil; Registration Number: 06.119.704/0001-64

Elizabeth Nobrega de Araujo Tsakiroglou
Michael R Carrington
Founders and Co-Presidents
The Maria Nobrega Foundation