A foundation that began over 70 years ago to respond to the challenges and needs posed by society.

OUR MISSION

We work for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities and to help them get involved in society, supporting them whenever they come up against barriers.

OUR VISION

To continue to be a benchmark and a generator of social change in the context of intellectual disability through:

  • The value and results of the services and solutions provided
  • The fulfilment and happiness of the people we work with and their families
  • The development of our professionals
  • Creativity and innovation
  • Excellence in management
  • Unconditional support for sustainable and social development

Values

Justice and equality

Fundamental equal rights for everyone, redistributing opportunities.

Ethical, coherent and transparent management.

With special support for those with fewer economic resources.

Solvency and entrepreneurship

Full participation of people with intellectual disabilities to make our society more sustainable.

Activities and structure that are designed based on sustainability, by ensuring that people are capable of generating their own resources.

Diversity

Diversity as a source of wealth.

A diverse staff team and a high percentage of employees with disabilities.

The organisation’s values are embodied in individuals with the following personal values:

Idealism

  • The vision of creating a better world
  • Commitment
  • Defending people’s dignity

Ethics

  • Meeting standards
  • Transparency
  • Credibility

Diversity

  • Creativity and openness
  • Respecting differences

Entrepreneurship

  • Initiative
  • Innovation
  • Passion
  • Sustainability

Good Vibes

  • Smiling faces
  • Open doors
  • Cooperative spirit

Setting an Example

  • Promoting values
  • Social change
  • A benchmark

Our Ideology

Our ideology is behind the way we do everything, and we would like to share it with you

Our History

The origins of the Foundation go back to 1948, when Carmen Pardo-Valcarce acknowledged the petitions of individuals stricken with leprosy, who were living in the Trillo Leper Colony in Guadalajara. They asked her to help their children grow up and be educated in a leprosy-free environment. There was so much love and dedication in that request that Carmen, moved by her Christian generosity and always at the service of the needs of vulnerable people, bought and donated the land located opposite what is today the Mirasierra neighbourhood in Madrid. She began work on the building that accommodates the Foundation today. Carmen Pardo-Valcarce therefore created the Niño Jesús del Remedio Special Education School to tackle this challenge. Rosario Cavestany, one of her daughters, continued her work with the preventorium, seeing how leprosy was eventually eradicated in Spain, and in turn passing on the baton to her daughter Carmen. Carmen Cafranga Cavestany, our founder’s granddaughter, quickly realised that she had to continue with her grandmother’s and mother’s work, dedicating themselves to children and young people at risk of social exclusion. She chose to help people with intellectual disabilities integrate into society.

She created Fundación A LA PAR in her grandmother’s memory, and in just a few years, it became a reference point throughout the world in its sphere of activity.

Almudena Martorell Cafranga, Carmen’s daughter, is currently the president of A LA PAR. Her dedication and extensive training in the field ensure that the work started by her great-grandmother over half a century ago continues to prosper.

Find out more about our history…

Governing Bodies

Our governing and management bodies are made up of a committed team with extensive experience both in business and in the field of caring for people with intellectual disabilities.

Trustees

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Almudena Martorell Cafranga

Position: President and Family Trustee

Great-granddaughter of Carmen Pardo-Valcarce, is a Doctor from the Autonomous University of Madrid. MBA at the Instituto de Empresa with honors. Graduated in Psychology from the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas. With honors.

Author of numerous publications in the field of intellectual disability and with a large number of training activities and conferences. Granted by the Ministry of Culture, she has spent stays in relevant places related to disability such as the Estia Center of King’s College London or the Children’s Hospital of Harvard in Boston.

Her professional career has always been linked to Fundación A LA PAR, where she began as a psychologist at its College of Special Education and later at the Occupational Center. He designed and directed the DIEM care center for people with intellectual disabilities and mental illness, and later became the general director of Fundación A LA PAR.

He has received numerous awards for both research and social management.

Almudena Martorell Cafranga

President and Family Trustee

Great-granddaughter of Carmen Pardo-Valcarce, is a Doctor from the Autonomous...

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María Luisa Basa Maldonado

Position: Secretary and Family Trustee

More than 30 years of commitment, carrying out his professional career in the social sector.

She is currently attached to the board of the Niño Jesús del Remedio Association and attached to the presidency of Fundación A LA PAR, as well as the patron of Fundación Montemadrid.

During her professional career, she has also been the patron of Fundación Realiza.

María Luisa Basa Maldonado

Secretary and Family Trustee

More than 30 years of commitment, carrying out his professional...

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Juan Martorell de la Calzada

Position: Family Trustee

He has a degree in Sciences (Geology), obtaining an Extraordinary Degree Award from the Complutense University of Madrid, where he later continued his career as a professor in the chair of Rock Petrology. Writer by vocation, he has published three novels that have been translated into several languages. He is the husband of Carmen Cafranga, former president and granddaughter of Carmen Pardo-Valcarce.

Juan Martorell de la Calzada

Family Trustee

He has a degree in Sciences (Geology), obtaining an Extraordinary...

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Ricardo Cendán Lasheras

Position: Family Trustee

He studied Law at the Ramón Carande Center for Social and Legal Studies and currently works in the AON insurance brokerage as an operations supervisor. Married to Almudena Martorell, he was the last to join the family part of the board of trustees.

Ricardo Cendán Lasheras

Family Trustee

He studied Law at the Ramón Carande Center for Social...

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María Aguilar Urquijo

Position: Trustee

All her life linked to Fundación A LA PAR and more than a decade as a patron, she has a degree in Philosophy and Letters (History of Art) from the Complutense University of Madrid.

María Aguilar Urquijo

Trustee

All her life linked to Fundación A LA PAR and...

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María Luisa Merino Enseñat

Position: Trustee

He takes over from his mother María Luisa Enseñat, who founded together with Carmen Pardo-Valcarce, the Niño Jesús del Remedio Board of Trustees, origin of the current Fundación A LA PAR.

María Luisa Merino Enseñat

Trustee

He takes over from his mother María Luisa Enseñat, who...

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María Victoria Rodríguez Arce

Position: Trustee

Graduated in Philosophy and Letters, specialty Geography and History, from the Autonomous University of Madrid. Patron of our Foundation since 2012. She was also patron of Fundación Realiza.

María Victoria Rodríguez Arce

Trustee

Graduated in Philosophy and Letters, specialty Geography and History, from...

Management Committee

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Almudena Martorell Cafranga

Position: President

Great-granddaughter of Carmen Pardo-Valcarce, is a Doctor from the Autonomous University of Madrid. MBA at the Instituto de Empresa with honors. Graduated in Psychology from the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas. With honors.

Author of numerous publications in the field of intellectual disability and with a large number of training activities and conferences. Granted by the Ministry of Culture, she has spent stays in relevant places related to disability such as the Estia Center of King’s College London or the Children’s Hospital of Harvard in Boston.

Her professional career has always been linked to Fundación A LA PAR, where she began as a psychologist at its College of Special Education and later at the Occupational Center. He designed and directed the DIEM care center for people with intellectual disabilities and mental illness, and later became the general director of Fundación A LA PAR.

He has received numerous awards for both research and social management.

Almudena Martorell Cafranga

President

Great-granddaughter of Carmen Pardo-Valcarce, is a Doctor from the Autonomous...

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José Luis Castro Garrido

Position: Managing Director

Graduated in Psychology from the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas and professor of Special Education from the La Salle University School.

Over the last twenty-five years, he has held different responsibilities in Fundación A LA PAR: development of the Center Plan of the College of Special Education and creation, authorization and public contracting of the various services that Fundación A LA PAR has arranged with the Community Madrid (Occupational Center, Sheltered Housing and Day Center).

José Luis Castro Garrido

Managing Director

Graduated in Psychology from the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas and...

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Carmela Pérez Anchuela

Position: Director of Innovation in Inclusive Projects

Degree in Law from the Autonomous University of Madrid. Business Tax Advisory Course by CEU-San Pablo de Madrid.

General Director of Social Services of the Community of Madrid from 2003 to 2015. Member of the Support Committee for CERMI (Spanish Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities), in its role of promoting, monitoring and supervising the application of the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Spain from 2011 to 2017. Technical Counselor for Social Services at the Madrid City Council between 1999 and 2003.

His professional career has always been linked to the field of Social. He has received numerous recognitions, both for his management at the head of the General Directorate and the projects he developed to achieve equal opportunities for Madrid residents with greater difficulties, as well as for his professional career.

Carmela Pérez Anchuela

Director of Innovation in Inclusive Projects

Degree in Law from the Autonomous University of Madrid. Business...

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Andrea Suaznábar Suárez

Position: Financial Director

Degree in Business Administration and Management from the Complutense University of Madrid (CUNEF).

For five years at KPMG as an auditor and consultant in the KPMG Reestructing team. Consultant at Forest Partners for seven years. In 2014 he joined Fundación A LA PAR.

Andrea Suaznábar Suárez

Financial Director

Degree in Business Administration and Management from the Complutense University...

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Cristina Sota Adán

Position: Pedagogical Director of the Special Education School

Degree in Pedagogy from the Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Speech therapist from the Autonomous University of Madrid and Psychomotorist from the Complutense University.

All my professional career linked to the Foundation. Since 1989 as a teacher at the A LA PAR school. Since 1997 as head of studies and currently pedagogical director. I like to develop educational projects and especially European ones, the latter I have coordinated for 21 years.

For 26 years I have also dedicated myself to training in occupational workshops and special employment centers. I started family schools 25 years ago.

Cristina Sota Adán

Pedagogical Director of the Special Education School

Degree in Pedagogy from the Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Speech therapist...

Myriam Becerril Basa

Position: Coordinator of the Psychosocial Area

Diploma in Social Work from the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas. Postgraduate degree in Psychomotricity from the Madrid Psychopraxis School.

In 2002 he began his professional work at the A LA PAR Foundation Special Education College. In 2011 she was appointed coordinator of the psychosocial area of ​​Occupational Centers and Special Employment Centers. It also develops the independent life projects of Fundación A LA PAR.

Myriam Becerril Basa

Coordinator of the Psychosocial Area

Diploma in Social Work from the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas....

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María Fúster Cavestany

Position: Director of Special Employment Cetres. Director of La Muñoza

Degree in Education Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid.

Diploma of Art and Antiquities. Linked to social action entities both at the management level and their boards. He has worked for more than 12 years in the Public Administration in management positions in the Madrid City Council, as well as in advisory positions in the Community of Madrid.

In 2016 she returned to Fundación A LA PAR where, from 1994 to 2003, she held the positions of educator and teacher at the school, at the Occupational Center and at the Special Employment Centers.

María Fúster Cavestany

Director of Special Employment Cetres. Director of La Muñoza

Degree in Education Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid....

Raúl González Villanueva

Position: IT and Communications Director

Computer Systems Engineer from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and specialized in software engineering. First cycle of Mathematical Sciences.

Experience as director of ICT projects, both in the part of hardware structures and in the part of software engineering.

He started working at Fundación A LA PAR in 2007.

Raúl González Villanueva

IT and Communications Director

Computer Systems Engineer from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and...

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Marcos Antonio Herrero Piedra

Position: Director of the Sports and Health Area. Director of the Fuencarral Tennis and Paddle Tennis Club

Diploma in Physical Education from the Complutense University of Madrid and higher sports technician in Special Education. Member of the Board of Directors of Special Olympics and the Federation of sports for people with intellectual disabilities. He was head coach of the Special Olympics Spain delegation at the World Games in Shanghai 2007, Athens 2011 and Los Angeles 2015; and held the same position in basketball and soccer at the European Championships in Luxembourg 2005, Rome 2006, Hungary 2007, Switzerland-Austria 2008 and Warsaw 2010.

He began working at Fundación A LA PAR in 1998 as director of the sports club, making it the No. 1 in Spain and in 2015 he also assumed the management of Club de Pádel y Tenis Fuencarral.

Marcos Antonio Herrero Piedra

Director of the Sports and Health Area. Director of the Fuencarral Tennis and Paddle Tennis Club

Diploma in Physical Education from the Complutense University of Madrid...

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Juan Peláez de Sarriera

Position: Human Resources Director

Degree in Business Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid. Specialization in Foundations Management by Universidad San Pablo CEU and the Spanish Association of Foundations.

Since 2010 he has worked at Fundación A LA PAR, after more than 10 years of previous experience in investment banking and real estate asset management.

Juan Peláez de Sarriera

Human Resources Director

Degree in Business Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid....

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Jaime Peidró Hombravella

Position: Director of Institutional Relations

Degree in Law from the CEU-San Pablo University of Madrid. Master in Corporate Responsibility Management from the Instituto de Empresa and Master in Corporate Social Responsibility from ESEM. He has worked in Latin America with Llorente y Cuenca and Sanchís Asociados for clients such as Philip Morris, Coca-Cola, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Endesa, DHL and Ferrovial.

Expert in analysis of the Third Sector, mainly in the “win win” business-Third Sector relationships and return on investment of the social action of companies. He has worked at Fundación A LA PAR since 2009.

Jaime Peidró Hombravella

Director of Institutional Relations

Degree in Law from the CEU-San Pablo University of Madrid....

María Fúster Cavestany

Position: Marketing and Communication Director

Degree in Business Administration and Management from the Complutense University of Madrid (CUNEF).
Postgraduate in Digital Marketing and Inbound Marketing (INESDI).

For more than 13 years she worked as Brand Director at Unilever, an Anglo-Dutch multinational consumer company.
Marketing Director of Zumosol for two years until 2017. Until she joined the Fundación A La Par in 2021, dedicated to managing Marketing projects on her own, mainly for companies in the food sector.

María Fúster Cavestany

Marketing and Communication Director

Degree in Business Administration and Management from the Complutense University...

Organisation Chart