The dream
"We should give everyone a chance"
This historic statement made by Ayrton Senna, brief yet essential, not only demonstrates his awareness of tragic realities and steadfast desire to act personally to eliminate them, but conveys a strong message of trust and hope.
If courage, talent, determination, passion and a desire to be faster and win every time, against everything and everyone, were the qualities that allowed Ayrton Senna to carry out unforgettable acts behind the wheel of a Formula 1 single-seater, then he is worthy of the same respect and admiration for his immense love for his country and people.
His great dream was to be able to give Brazilian children, at least in part, what God had given him: an opportunity to build a future for themselves and the right to hope for a better life.
And with this comes allowing them to be healthy and receive care, to study, play, learn about culture and, lastly, to find success through an honourable job or profession.
Ayrton was in the process of offering them all of these opportunities, on his own and without the knowledge of the masses.
Then, on a cursed Sunday in May, Someone larger than us decided it was time for Ayrton Senna from Silva to shed his earthly attire and become a Legend.
But his seed had already been planted! And its growth led to the establishment of the Ayrton Senna Foundation, the largest private Institution dedicated to infant assistance in the world today. Since its inception, the Foundation has helped 8 million Brazilian children in 25 Brazilian states. Its projects have involved 410,000 educators and more than 10,000 NGOs, with investments amounting to USD 60 million.
The Ayrton Senna Institute, as it is called today, a non-profit organisation managed by Senna's family, is funded by the royalties received from the use of the Senna and Senninha ("little Senna") brands that were donated to the Institute by Senna's family following his tragic death.
Another demonstration of the seriousness of the Institute's intent is that its financial statements have been audited since its first year of operation.