Pepe Fanjul Proudly Stands by His Wife Emilia Fanjul As She Receives
Vanidades Magazine’s Icon of Style of Philanthropy Award
Pepe Fanjul proudly accompanied his wife Emilia Fanjul to the
Vanidades Icon of Style event in New York last Thursday. Pepe
Fanjul was there to support Emilia as she was honored as Vanidades’
Icon of Style of Philanthropy on September 27 at the
Spanish-language magazine’s annual Icon of Style Awards.
Deborah Norville, anchor of TV’s Inside Edition, presented Emilia
with the recognition during a night of celebration at the Mandarin
Hotel in New York City. More than 10 years ago, Emilia founded two
charter schools in rural western Palm Beach County to give parents a
choice in their children’s education. Emilia serves as chairwoman
of the two schools — Everglades Preparatory Academy high school and
Glades Academy elementary school — in Pahokee.
“I’m a proud husband tonight,” said a smiling Pepe Fanjul, who is
vice chairman, president and chief operating officer of Florida
Crystals Corporation, a company whose sugar operations are also
located in the western communities. “I’ve watched Emilia work so
tirelessly for the past decade to make sure the children in her
schools receive the best education possible and do it in a safe and
nuturing environment.”
Glades Academy earned an A rating in the last school year and was
the only elementary school in the western area to do so. The
elementary school also achieved Annual Year Progress (AYP) the last
three out of four years. The charter schools are partially
underwritten through an annual fundraiser at Palm Beach’s Café
Boulud. Pepe Fanjul is an annual benefactor, supporting his wife’s
passion and helping the children in the communities excel.
“I’m grateful to Vanidades for the recognition as an Icon of
Philanthropy,” said Emilia Fanjul. “I believe a quality education
is a fundamental right all children should have. The time I spend
working to give the students at my schools a better education is
completely rewarding to me individually.”
Emilia achieved a long-time goal in December 2011 when she cut the
ribbon at the grand opening of the brand new Glades Academy school
campus. Pepe Fanjul and the Fanjul family’s company, Florida
Crystals Corporation, donated the land where the new school was built.
Other Vanidades’ Icon of Style winners include designers Carolina
Herrera, Angel Sanchez, Sara Beltran and Gabriela Moya; Polo player
Nacho Figueras, musician Ruben Blades; and artist Ruben Toledo.