We are very excited to announce our continued commitment to our philanthropic efforts in Puerto Rico via the next round of our 2023 La Borinqueña Grant Awards. We support local non-profit organizations and projects in Puerto Rico that are committed to sustainable development. We celebrate work in the areas of child development, women's health, agriculture, environmental justice, and the arts. We also recognize the preservation of Afro-Puerto Rican heritage and envisioning a thriving Puerto Rico that is self-sufficient.
ALL DONATIONS WILL BE MADE TO OUR FISCAL CONDUIT APRENDES FOUNDATION (501c3 Non-profit Organization).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Just short of the 5-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria’s landfall in Puerto Rico, Hurricane Fiona has brought devastating floods and power outages once again to the island. Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez and his Brooklyn based independent creative services studio, SOMOS ARTE, created La Borinqueña (pronounced “laBorinˈkenya”) superhero as a symbol of hope from the wake of destruction left by Hurricane Maria and, today, announces that La Borinqueña is, once again, stepping into rescue-mode and is sending out a call to action for those individuals and organizations looking to get involved in the recovery and reconstruction efforts in Puerto Rico.
“In order to make truly transformative work over the years, we have dedicated close to $200,000 in micro-grants that we have awarded to grassroot non-profits in the hardest hit areas on the island by climate change and other recurring social and infrastructural issues”, says Miranda-Rodriguez. “This is an opportunity to take corporate responsibility to another level by partnering with us. We have vetted organizations over the last 5 years and have become a reliable conduit that distributes resources where the most impact can be made and felt. Teaming up with a Puerto Rican owned agency, such as FanGirl Consulting, has opened doors for La Borinqueña and we are doubling our efforts to open more doors together.”
The combined team of FanGirl Consulting and La Borinqueña is calling upon the retail and licensing community to support both short-term and long-term relief efforts resulting from Hurricane Fiona’s destruction in PuertoRico. The La Borinqueña Grants Program is equipped to receive and distribute immediate cash donations that will be disseminated to the various grass roots organizations throughout the island that have been vetted these last few years. As the situation in Puerto Rico stabilizes, the coming months will see a shift to long-term rebuilding and reconstruction activities. Cohesive licensing and retail programs are strategic tactics to stay engaged and provide a consistent flow of proceeds to the grant fund for these affiliated community organizations.
FanGirl Consulting & Brand Management will serve as the main point of contact. For inquiries email: info@fglicensing.com
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ABOUT LA BORINQUEÑA GRANTS PROGRAM:
In 2017 as a response to Hurricane Maria, award-winning graphic novelist and creator of La Borinqueña Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez, published the best-selling benefit anthology Ricanstruction: Reminiscing & Rebuilding Puerto Rico. Sales from this benefit anthology went towards grants that were awarded to non-profit organizations based in Puerto Rico funding work in the areas of child development, arts, women's health, environmental justice, and sustainable farming. La Borinqueña Grants Program, since its founding in 2018, brings awareness to community-led solutions through a range of fundraising initiatives and partnerships with international artists, brand collaborations, and exhibitions. Inspired by the original graphic novel superhero, La Borinqueña, the grants program also celebrates and works to preserve Afro-Puerto Rican heritage and envisions aPuerto Rico that is self-sufficient and thriving.
ALL DONATIONS WILL BE MADE TO OUR FISCAL CONDUIT APRENDES FOUNDATION.
https://www.la-borinquena.com
ABOUT FANGIRL CONSULTING & BRAND MANAGEMENT:
FanGirl is a boutique consulting and licensing agency concentrating on pop culture and unlocking the business potential behind fandoms. Services include Inbound licensing activities on behalf of Manufacturers; Brand Building and Outbound Licensing programs on behalf of IP owners; and marketing consultations. For the fans, by the fans!
http://fglicensing.com/
Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez is a graphic novelist most notably recognized as the writer and creator of the critically acclaimed and bestselling superhero series La Borinqueña. In addition, he is the recipient of Eisner's Humanitarian Award for his philanthropic efforts via the benefit anthology Ricanstruction: Reminiscing & Rebuilding Puerto Rico featuring La Borinqueña teaming up with Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman and other DC Comics heroes. He self-published this anthology under his own studio Somos Arte and to date Edgardo has raised close to a quarter of a million dollars for grassroots organizations in Puerto Rico via the La Borinqueña Grants Program. As the Creative Director and owner of Somos Arte, a Brooklyn-based creative services studio he has worked with such notable clients as Atlantic Records, Columbia University, Sony Pictures and Marvel. Edgardo is also an Arts Envoy for the U.S. Department of State giving talks and leading workshops in Latin America about how La Borinqueña speaks to social justice issues as a graphic novel. In addition, Edgardo is a curator of art exhibitions having already produced three original Marvel comic book art exhibitions and his very own La Borinqueña for the Smithsonian Museum and Fundación Cortés in Puerto Rico.
Edgardo continues to be recognized widely for his work on NBC, CNN, The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR and numerous other media outlets for having already produced in addition to his own series La Borinqueña, graphic novels under the Darryl Makes Comics imprint which he co-owns with Darryl DMC McDaniels (from RUN DMC), and the comic book series Freak written by Emmy and Tony award winning writer John Leguizamo. He has also written for Marvel Comics critically acclaimed anthology, Guardians of the Galaxy: Tales of the Cosmos.
As part of his national tour he continues to speak on such topics as diversity in comic books and current socio-political issues related to Puerto Rico. The Smithsonian, The American Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Princeton University, Colgate University, Contemporary Art Center of New Orleans, New York Comic Con, Rhode Island School of Design, Viacom, Hasbro and many other institutions, libraries and events invite him to deliver keynote presentations and talks to audiences that range from elementary school children to graduate students.
For more information please visit www.la-borinquena.com and www.somosarte.com and follow Edgardo on social media:
Twitter @MrEdgardoNYC
Instagram/Facebook @LaBorinquenaComics
La Borinqueña is an original character and patriotic symbol presented in a classic superhero story created and written by graphic novelist Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez. Her powers are drawn from history and mysticism found on the island of Puerto Rico. The fictional character, Marisol Rios De La Luz, is a Columbia University Earth and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate student living with her parents in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She takes a semester of study abroad in collaboration with the University of Puerto Rico. There she explores the caves of Puerto Rico and finds five similar sized crystals. Atabex, the Taino mother goddess, appears before Marisol once the crystals are united and summons her sons Yúcahu, spirt of the seas and mountains and Juracan, spirit of the hurricanes. They give Marisol superhuman strength, the power of flight, and control of the storms.
La Borinqueña is teaming up with actor/activist Rosario Dawson in our new graphic novel La Borinqueña Guest Starring Rosario Dawson. This original story written by Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez is illustrated by Will Rosado, colored by Chris Sotomayor, and features original cover art by Rita Fei and variant covers by Bill Sienkiewicz, ChrisCross, Leila Del Duca, Luciano Vecchio, Gustavo Vazquez, and Rafael Albuqueque. Short stories also written by Miranda-Rodriguez feature the Nitainos the new superhero team lead by La Borinqueña illustrated by Steve Buccellato, David Fernandez, Francisco Javier Rodríguez, and Elkys Nova Díaz. Thanks to the support from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) this graphic novel will raise money for our La Borinqueña Grants Program which already has awarded $165,000 in grants to non-profits throughout Puerto Rico.
AVAILABLE NOW
LA BORINQUEÑA ROSARIO DAWSON
Our new line of collectible highly-articulated action figures are now available for pre-order! Each action figure comes with alternate heads, hands, accessories, and star base for posing. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of these action figures will go towards our La Borinqueña Grants Program.
CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER NOW!
It is with great pride and excitement that we share with you our collaboration with Chocolate Cortés P.R. to further our philanthropic work on the island. Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez created an original story that will be reproduced in a comic strip series in four limited edition separate chocolate bars available now in Puerto Rico that he designed the wrappers for! Proceeds from this chocolate bar and merchandise will go towards Fundación Cortés as part of our La Borinqueña Grants Program. Special shout out to our creative team of artists Will Rosado and Christopher Sotomayor who worked with our studio to produce this amazing charitable project!
With each purchase of a Cortés Chocolate bar you will be contributing part of the profit to the Cortés Foundation and you will get one of the four limited edition volumes of the La Borinqueña comic.
COLLECT ALL 4 CORTES CHOCOLATE BARS NOW!
Legendary world-renowned graffiti artist John “Crash” Matos who’s work draws many inspirations from cartoons to superhero comics collaborates for the first time ever on a comic book cover with award-winning graphic novelist, activist, and philanthropist Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez on his creator-owned self-published series La Borinqueña. Our partners at Fine Art Pop have created new merchandise for this epic collaboration! Get your customized sweatshirts, mugs, water bottles, and more with beautiful art inspired by this collaboration! ORDER YOUR MERCHANDISE NOW!
PURCHASE NOW:
fineartpop.com/collections/la-borinquena
For a limited time we're offering a free La Borinqueña coloring book to all of our fans. These days it's up to all of us to become heroes and stay home to do our part to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases. This is our gift to parents so that you can share this digital coloring book with your children. Print out these pages, then post photos or videos of yourselves coloring them. Tag us on our social media accounts and we'll share your art with everyone.
#LaBorinqueña Instagram/Facebook: @LaBorinquenaComics
Twitter: @LaBorinquena_GN
DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE LA BORINQUEÑA COLORING BOOK WITH NEW PAGES!
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD (5.3 MB PDF)
Sept. 20, 2022 | West Prep Academy Middle School, NY, NY
Sept. 22, 2022 | 5-7pm, Plaza Art Gallery, Nassau Community College Gallery Opening Reception with Catering by Chocobar Cortes Website
Sept. 23, 2022 | 5pm, Mural Arts Dedication | Location: 1957 N Mascher Street at W Norris Street, North Philadelphia, PA GOOGLE MAP
Sept. 24, 2022 | CMOM Children's Museum of Manhattan, Art Exhibition and Workshops at 2pm & 3pm, 212 W 83rd Street, NY NY Website
Oct. 5, 2022 | 3pm, VIRTUAL PRESENTATION: Measures for Justice
Oct. 6-9, 2022 | 10am-7pm, New York Comic Con, Artist Alley, Location H-28, Javits Center, NYC Website
Oct. 11, 2022 | VIRTUAL PRESENTATION: National Grid
Oct. 12, 2022 | 4:30pm-6pm, Goucher College, Baltimore MA
Click to view full list of past appearances
1st Issue Cover Artwork by Ralph Anthony ‘Rags’ Morales & Emilio Lopez, 60 pages including a bonus story.
2nd Issue Cover Artwork by George Perez & Juan Fernandez, 64 pages.
2nd Issue Variant Cover Artwork by Nicole Virella, 64 pages.
*Plus Shipping & Handling
NOTE: Personalized signed books will be signed with the name of the person purchasing the books. If you would like a different name, please email info@la-borinquena.com with your Name, Date & Transaction # along with the Name you would like to have signed immediately after your purchase.
*Plus Shipping & Handling
*Plus Shipping & Handling
NOTE: Personalized signed books will be signed with the name of the person purchasing the books. If you would like a different name, please email info@la-borinquena.com with your Name, Date & Transaction # along with the Name you would like to have signed immediately after your purchase.
*Plus Shipping & Handling
NOTE: Personalized signed books will be signed with the name of the person purchasing the books. If you would like a different name, please email info@la-borinquena.com with your Name, Date & Transaction # along with the Name you would like to have signed immediately after your purchase.
*Plus Shipping & Handling
NOTE: Personalized signed books will be signed with the name of the person purchasing the books. If you would like a different name, please email info@la-borinquena.com with your Name, Date & Transaction # along with the Name you would like to have signed immediately after your purchase.
Ricanstruction: Reminiscing & Rebuiliding Puerto Rico is an anthology featuring contributions from writers and artists from the comic book industry like Frank Miller, Gail Simone, Greg Pak, Reginald Hudlin, Denys Cowan, Tony Daniel, Ken Lashley, Bill Sienkiewicz, Yanick Paquette, Gabby Rivera, Will Rosado, Jorge Jimenez, Mike Allred, Chris Sotomayor, to Puerto Rican and Latinx celebrities like Rosario Dawson, Rubén Blades, Javier Muñoz, Sonia Manzano and over 100 more. Produced and also featuring stories written by Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez, this anthology teams up his original character LA BORINQUEÑA with some of the most iconic comic book heroes of all time from DC COMICS: Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman, Aquaman, The Flash and many others. Original stories also take us to the past to explore the beautiful history of PUERTO RICO as well as tales that envision a stronger and rebuilt island. 100% of the proceeds from this anthology will go to the continued work to help over 3 million Americans living in Puerto Rico, providing solar-powered lamps, food, clothing and so much more. These short stories remind us all that the true power of being a hero is inside each of us. When we come together as a united people, we will never be defeated! ¡El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido!
Thanks to DC for generously giving our studio, Somos Arte, permission to use some of DC’s iconic characters in original stories for this anthology, whose proceeds Somos Arte will contribute towards the continued hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico.
RETAILER FOR WHOLESALE/BULK PURPOSES CLICK HERE
