The former Spanish tennis player didn’t miss the opportunity to attend his foundation’s third gala.
Beyond recognizing the pain of leaving the sport he loves so much, Rafael Nadal fully understood that once he retired from tennis, a new phase in his life would begin. Without hesitation, he turned to enjoying new activities that are also very rewarding.
First and foremost, there’s the family aspect. After more than 20 years where his career was almost exclusively his occupation, La Fiera now has the option of spending much more time with his family, especially with Mery Perelló, his wife and mother of little Rafa Jr., born in 2022. For his part, he can focus on new projects while also taking care of existing ones, such as the foundation and the academy. Just yesterday, Rafael Nadal headlined the third charity gala for the institution run by his wife and mother.
Rafael Nadal inaugurated the foundation in 2010.
One of the clear differences compared to previous years was the presence of the Manacor native, who had been unable to attend in either 2024 or 2023 due to scheduling constraints. Now, the event held at the Son Mir estate in Palma de Mallorca was enhanced by the presence of the idol, who was able to steal the show before the awards ceremony began. The purpose of the meeting was to announce funding for various organizations working to improve people’s lives.
Of the hundreds of applicants for the award, five were chosen by a jury of experts on the subject and their representatives were able to have their photo taken with Rafael Nadal . “Those of us who have been privileged to live in better conditions have a moral obligation to help those who haven’t had the same opportunities,” said the Manacor native.
The former tennis player’s family was present.
The winners
In total, 245 organizations applied for the chance to receive the Rafael Nadal Foundation’s emotional and financial blessing. Those who received this privilege received a prize of 15,000 euros each to invest in infrastructure and everything else the beneficiaries need.
Nadal congratulated the winners.
The winning organizations: Fundación Soñar Despierto (which promotes inclusion in sports for people with limited resources), Fundación Canis Majoris (which works with therapy dogs to improve mental health), Fundación Privada Integra Pirineus (which integrates people into the workforce through sustainable forest management), Fundación Pablo Horstmann (based in Nairobi, focuses on improving the health of children in nearby areas); and ASPAYM Castilla y León (which teaches children with developmental and attention disorders through its innovative 3D technology).
