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FOUNDATION'S HISTORY  After wide-ranging inclusive consultations with a broad set of Pro-Puerto Rico Statehood figures, organizations and personalities on the mainland United States and the territory, The July 4th, 1899 Foundation was established on July 4th, 2006 to serve as a much needed incubator of ideas, a ‘think-tank’ committed to researching and disseminating policy and academic work that promote and support a Non-Partisan, Pro-Statehood philosophy and agenda for the people of Puerto Rico. The Foundation’s name honors the memory and legacy of Dr. Jose Celso Barbosa, the recognized father of the Puerto Rico Statehood movement and widely regarded by Puerto Rico sovereignty supporters as the foremost 20th century leader in the quest for Puerto Rican equality through full incorporation as a participating State of the Federal Union.
As an organization breaking new and unchartered ground with a unique purpose and mission, the Foundation seeks to responsibly influence the course of Puerto Rico's destiny; achieve equality in rights, representation, and opportunity to permit the attainment of the people’s democratic aspirations. Statehood, Sovereignty and Equality of Existence and Opportunity, based on sound and tested reasoning, supported by scholarly research to foment rational public discourse, all with an inclusive federal vision. Through its policy and academic endeavors the Foundation works to unify the people of the territory; and the United States; and to provide the necessary academic resources that will inform and educate outreach to enable them to achieve Statehood, bringing with it inherent equality in democratic rights and opportunity.
MILESTONES
Building Bridges
On October 16, 2006, the Foundation held a series of vitally important meetings with Island-based Pro-Statehood leaders including the President of the Puerto Rico Senate and others, to share its vision and intention to strengthen and improve the bonds of the Pro-Statehood movement in Puerto Rico and the mainland United States. The Foundation's overtures were very well
received and the response-in-kind was overwhelming with unequivocal assurances of support from the Island's leadership.
Outreach
On May 4th, 2007, the Foundation joined with leading mainland and island-based Pro-Statehood figures and organizations for a dialogue with the leadership of the foremost and largest grass-roots conservative organization in the United States, the influential American Conservative Union, in Washington, D.C. This historic conversation afforded an opportunity to dispel many widely held misconceptions that exist in the 50 states about Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans and their condition as an unincorporated territory. This dialogue entitled "What Statehood for Puerto Rico Would Mean for the 50 States and for Puerto Rico - Economically, Politically, and Socially", was significant because it marked the beginning of adequate, reasoned discussion and debate of the status quandary for democratic rights for Puerto Rico and for 4 million citizens trapped in the position of second class citizenship; and the opportunity to live up to their full potential.
Recognizing Leadership
On June 25, 2007, a reception was hosted by the Foundation in New York City for the elected representative of the people of Puerto Rico in Washington, D.C., then-Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, the Honorable Luis G. Fortuno. The Foundation's leadership along with other supporters of Statehood for Puerto Rico, welcomed Mr. Fortuno to acknowledge his service and distinct commitment, as the sole elected representative of Puerto Rico in Washington and the United States Congress, to the equal democratic rights of Puerto Ricans.
The Foundation became a legal entity on November 29, 2007 and is recognized as a domestic not-for-profit corporation in the State of New York.
THE WORK OF THE FOUNDATION
The Foundation is presently engaged in a number of policy-related and academic projects, among them the translation and reproduction of critical literature and scholarly works supportive of true, representative Puerto Rico democracy, sovereignty and Statehood ideals; Also under development is a comprehensive bibliography of existing economic studies on Puerto Rico.
The Foundation is committed to the present and next generations of Puerto Ricans and actively works to promote outreach and mentoring to youth, with a view to breaking free from the bondage of the often negative undercurrent of thought relating to Puerto Rico’s present-day position in relation to the mainland, the union and Puerto Rico’s acceptance as a fully enfranchised state of the union of the United States. The Foundation in its very essence, believes in their full potential, for they are Puerto Rico’s future leaders and those of the United States. The Foundation seeks to develop new ideas and ways of thinking to foster economic development and growth for Puerto Rico, providing opportunity for Puerto Ricans to realize their full potential.
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