When Club Curry was founded back in 2010, I knew two things for certain: I wanted to give back to the community and I wanted to do so in a unique and engaging way. At the time, I had no idea that what started as an event with only a handful of guests would turn into the success that it is now.

Club Curry is an annual gala hosted by my family foundation, the Mark E. Curry Family Foundation, that raises money for vulnerable groups in the community. This past June, we hosted an event at El San Juan Hotel called 'Curry Carnaval' to raise money for San Jorge Children's Foundation. Like every year, we encouraged guests to dress for the theme, which was Brazilian Carnaval.

This was our third event in Puerto Rico and in support of San Jorge Children's Foundation, and I'm proud to say it was our most successful event to date. We surpassed our fundraising goal, had support from more sponsors than any other year, and sold out the event with over 300 guests. The most important part of all this is that 100% of donations will benefit San Jorge Children's Foundation directly and the children and families it supports. We owe a lot of thanks to our local donors and stateside donors who helped us achieve such success by supporting us through sponsorships and generous donations.

In 2016, we were able to provide the Foundation with updated surgical equipment to operate quicker and with more precision. In 2017, our contribution helped the Foundation purchase a new facility, which enables them to better serve even more patients. With this year's contribution, the San Jorge Children's Foundation will continue to treat their more than 1,400 pediatric patients with limited economic resources.

I truly believe that you're not successful on your own, and when you reach personal success it's important to give back to the surrounding community. Puerto Rico's diverse non-profit sector and community spirit makes it the perfect place to get involved, and whether you're interested in saving animals, local music and art, medical needs, mentoring the youth, elderly care, or even journalism, there's a place for you.

This belief of giving back has been at the core of my non-profits since 2010 and has continued to drive them all of these years. Community involvement has proven to be a very rewarding experience for me, and I challenge those around me to give back to their communities, whether it's with money, time, or knowledge, or simply speaking up.

*Mark E. Curry is a leading entrepreneur, philanthropist and impact investor. Curry founded SOL Partners in Puerto Rico in 2012, and in January 2017 completed acquisition of NotiCel. As Chair of the Mark E. Curry Family Foundation, he invests in critical community charitable organizations.