About us

We are all in this together

The Gere Foundation’s mission is to amplify the voices and efforts of NGOs, institutions and brave individuals that share our core values. We believe in listening, deciding together and working hand by hand with those who are active on the ground and develop innovative solutions for complex challenges that seem unsolvable.

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Founded with the aim of giving voice to those who cannot raise theirs and visibility to social and environmental causes that move us deeply, the Gere Foundation serves as a bridge—connecting people, ideas, and resources with initiatives that reflect our most essential values:  compassion, individual and universal responsibility, the defense of human and civil rights, and care for this beautiful planet – a place we all call home.

We act as a bridge, channeling our support toward organizations and projects that are already creating meaningful, lasting impact. We align with those who have touched us personally—amplifying their reach, their stories, and their efforts.

We are drawn to stories of perseverance and transformation.  Humanity has always sought solutions to its greatest challenges; we stand beside those who do not give up, but keep striving to build a more compassionate and peaceful world.

At the heart of The Gere Foundation is a firm belief in the human being and the power of acting together as a community. We are all in this together. That is why we listen, decide together, share and work hand by hand. We believe that collective action—rooted in compassion and respect—can transform lives and reshape the future.

Whether it’s advocating for human and civil rights, preserving the planet, giving voice to vulnerable communities, or creating space for spiritual awareness and peace, we act with one guiding principle: to stand beside those who are striving to build a better world.

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Founder & Co-Chair

Richard Gere

Richard Gere is a celebrated actor and producer, and is also widely recognized for his lifelong dedication to the defense of human rights and his profound conviction and commitment to humanitarian causes. For more than forty years, Gere has worked to draw attention and practical resolutions to humanitarian crises rooted in injustice, inequality, and intolerance and promoting causes devoted to human kindness, compassion, and non-violent activism.

A cornerstone of Richard Gere’s contributions to global human rights and humanitarian causes is his unwavering dedication to the Tibetan people and their struggle to preserve their unique culture, identity, and way of life.  Gere has had a decades-long leadership role in civil society organizations focused on the Tibetan movement. He was the Co-Founder and Chairman of Tibet House US in 1987 and joined the Board of Directors at the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) in 1992. He has served as ICT’s Board Chairman since 1995 and, in this role, has addressed key committees in the U.S. Congress, the European Parliament, and the United Nations Human Rights Council. He has also sponsored five historic visits to the United States by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, as well as numerous teachings and publications.

Additionally, in 1991, Richard Gere  founded The Gere Foundation, a private organization focused on, human rights, advocacy, education and cultural and environment preservation. Gere campaigned for awareness and education in HIV-AIDS affected communities in India. More recently, Gere has worked with advocacy groups like CRISIS UK and HOGAR SI  n to draw attention to the homeless issue as well as with Open Arms, a search and rescue organization that has saved the lives of more than 75,000 African refugees in the Mediterranean Sea during the last ten years. Richard Gere and his wife, Alejandra Gere, are behind the launch of the project Sierra a Mar, in Jalisco (Mexico), for the preservation of nature and wildlife in a vast coastal region.

Gere has received numerous honors for his humanitarian work, including recognitions from Amnesty International, amfAR, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Hadassah International, The Tibet Fund, the Harvard AIDS Institute, and the OneXOne Foundation. He is also the recipient of the German Sustainability Award for Advocacy, CARE’s Humanitarian Award for Global Change, the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award, the Marian Anderson Award, and Freedom House’s Raising Awareness Award.

Co-Chair

Alejandra Gere

Alejandra Gere brings grace, purpose, and heart to her role as Co-Chair of The Gere Foundation. With a background in design, wellness, and mindful living, she approaches every project with deep empathy and commitment. She listens and always strives to bring warmth and kindness to every space she enters.

Alejandra leads the Foundation’s focus in some of today’s most urgent social issues: from ending homelessness in Spain by 2030, to promoting mental health, protecting nature, supporting displaced people, and amplifying women’s and youth voices. Her commitment is not abstract. It is visible on the ground, in her visits to schools and hospitals, her support for local communities, and her unwavering attention to those who are often overlooked or forgotten.

She believes that real change begins with human connection, and that every person deserves to be seen, heard, and treated with care. Under her vision and leadership, the Foundation has expanded its reach to embrace community-rooted initiatives that reflect this philosophy — listening and deciding all together, based on trust and equality.

Alejandra’s work is shaped by her belief in the potential for kindness to flourish, even in the hardest circumstances. Coming from that place, she invests her energy into The Gere Foundation’s growth as a space where compassion becomes action — and where every story matters.

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Ana Buitrago

President & CEO

Ana Buitrago

Ana Buitrago combines more than 30 years of an international executive career with a deep commitment with social change. As General Counsel of Amazon for Southern Europe, the UK, and Germany for over a decade, she championed global initiatives that wove sustainability and inclusion into the very fabric of the business strategy. Earlier, at her role as General Counsel of Iberdrola Renovables, she spearheaded the company’s fast international growth – to become the world wind energy leader – and its landmark €25 billion IPO, while establishing a robust culture of sustainability and governance.

Today, as President & CEO of The Gere Foundation, Ana brings her strategic expertise and business acumen, combined with her solid social convictions to strengthen initiatives across the globe that promote human dignity, justice and equity. She also supports underserved communities through her work as a board member and senior advisor of US and Spanish non-profit organizations. Her strategic vision and relevant corporate experience transform those organizations she touches, guiding them towards real and long-lasting impact.

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