THE AYRTON SENNA INSTITUTE – Changing Lives through Education
Source: https://institutoayrtonsenna.org.br/en/
Ayrton Senna da Silva was born on 1 May 1960 in Sao Paulo Brazil and was the middle child of a wealthy Brazilian family. He had an odder sister, Viviane, and a younger brother, Leonardo.
Senna grew up to be one of the most successful Formula One racing drivers in history. He was the Formula One champion in 1988, 1990, and 1991.
He was recognized for his qualifying speed over one lap and his ability to push his car to the very limit. From 1989 until 2006, he held the record for most pole positions and is the sixth-most successful driver of all time with 41 Grand Prix victories.
On 1 May 1994, Ayrton was killed after his car crashed into a concrete barrier while he was leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at the Imola Circuit in Italy.
Senna was a devout catholic who was once quoted as saying: “Just because I believe in God, just because I have faith in God, it doesn’t mean that I’m immune. It doesn’t mean that I’m immortal.”
According to his sister, Senna had sought strength from the Bible on the morning of his death: “On that final morning, he woke and opened his Bible and read a text that he would receive the greatest gift of all, which was God himself.”
As his profile rose, Senna expressed concern over the poor in Brazil. After his death, it was discovered that he had secretly donated millions of US Dollars to help poor children.
Two months before his death, Senna had discussed with his sister the foundation of a charitable organization. He cared a lot about his people and dreamt of a country where everyone knew victory and had more opportunities.
Led by Viviane, Ayrton’s family founded the Instituto Ayrton Senna on 20 November 1994 in his honor.
The institute’s primary mission is to create more opportunities for Brazilian children to develop their full potential. Ayrton believed that only a quality education could change his country’s reality of those days.
To date, the institute has invested nearly $80 million dollars in social programs and actions in partnership with schools, government, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and the private sector, aimed at offering children and teenagers from low-income backgrounds the skills and opportunities they need to develop their full potential as persons, citizens, and future professionals. The Senninha (Little Senna) cartoon character, born in 1993/94, was another means by which Senna extended his role-model status in favor of Brazilian children.
Ayrton Senna was known as one of the best Formula One drivers in history and his record speaks for itself, but the positive impact that his dream of a better life for Brazilians continues to this day via the mission of the institute created in his honor!
