Jorge Mas Canosa was the founder of The Cuban-American National Foundation, and according to the institution’s website, was also an inspiring community leader and visionary pragmatist. Like an unparalleled advocate of freedom and democracy for Cuba, Jorge's primary aspirations were to set Cuba free from the Castro regime, reunite Cuban exiles with those living on the island, and work together as “one people” to rebuild Cuban society and restore hope in the values of freedom, friendship, respect for the rule of law and basic human rights.
Guided by integrity, transparency, and willingness to persevere, the Cuban American National Foundation works diligently to continually identify innovative and collaborative ways to fulfill Jorge's mission and vision of a free and democratic Cuba.
Jorge Mas Canosa was born and raised in the city of Santiago de Cuba on September 21, 1939. As a young student leader, Jorge was a defender of democracy and freedom, fighting against dictatorial oppression, first by Batista and then by Castro. His patriotism forced him into exile in Miami, where he remained firm in the search for a free Cuba; he volunteered for the Bay of Pigs invasion. In the United States, he married his high school sweetheart Irma Santos and raised a family, where three children came along: Jorge, Juan Carlos, and José Ramón.
His first days in the US were difficult: he washed dishes and delivered milk to support his family. But his humble beginnings would not be characteristic of his future. He achieved incredible business success, turning a near-failure electrical assembly firm, Church and Tower, into MasTec, a multinational corporation that was once named the largest Hispanic-owned business in the United States.
But beyond his great success, Jorge's fundamental aspiration was always to liberate the people of Cuba of what he considered the tyranny of the Castro regime. In 1981, he moved one step closer to achieving that goal, with the establishment of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF), a non-profit organization that since its founding has helped shape a US policy toward Cuba that helps for a democratic and just society to emerge on the island.
Like Torre de la Libertad, Jorge Mas Canosa became a symbol of Cuban freedom, a figure of great stature who represented the successes and hopes of generations of Cubans who had left the island but remained loyal to their homeland and determined to make it free. When he passed away in 1997, thousands of Cubans and others inspired by his life's work gathered in Miami to attend his funeral, the largest ever held in this region.
Although Jorge is no longer with us, his determination and commitment can still be felt within the Cuban exile community, who continue to fight for freedom. The CANF continues to be an unconditional bulwark for the freedom of Cuba and Cubans, and has continued to advance towards achieving Jorge's dream. Many of Jorge's initiatives are still active and thriving; His children have become leaders in the Cuban community, and MasTec continues to be a highly successful company.
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