Gina deFranco
Executive Director and BWAROC Show Executive Producer
Gina deFranco has over 30 years of experience producing global events and public relations within the nonprofit and luxury brand sector. deFranco has managed fundraiser celebrity events at The Cannes and Oman Film Festival during iconic worldwide entertainment and sporting periods such as The Oscars, Grammys, and Grand Prix F1.
As Executive Director, Gina deFranco manages the event producing and fundraising vision. She secures partnerships to aid other nonprofit projects encompassing one of the four BWAROC 4 Humanity missions. Gina deFranco executive produced The Better World Awards Roc 4 Humanity show since its inception in 2008 with International Luxury Media. (ILM, which was previously named deFranco Media).
As C.E.O. of I.L.M., Gina deFranco has led event production and communications for numerous global charities, such as the Prince’s Trust. Throughout Gina’s career at ILM public relations firm, she has been instrumental in event creation and publicizing some of the world’s most prestigious brands, including Bulgari, Cartier, LVMH, Raffles Resorts & Spa, Remy Cointreau, and La Maison du Chocolat. Variety, in 2000, listed deFranco media as” the leading luxury event producers bridging Europe with the American East Coast.”
The one-time Air France magazine Editor at Large, Gina, witnessed extreme poverty while reporting a story in Mozambique. Her vision of a “better world” was then borne, and she vowed to help: “Save the Planet and Feed the World”-the goal of BWAROC 4 Humanity. Under Gina deFranco’s stewardship, BWAROC 4 Humanity ascertained a 501(C)(3) status; the event has evolved into a live-streaming show, reaching an anticipated 100 million viewers. Since the inception of the Better World Awards, Roc 4 Humanity, Gina deFranco has developed the practice that puts diversity in a central place. She has affected positive cultural change, hiring diverse talent and increasing profit growth. Gina has successfully created entertaining ways for nonprofits to raise funds while implementing marketing for brands by forging partnerships with globally recognized personalities.
Gina deFranco is a native daughter of Los Angeles; she was a SAG /AFTRA actress, an on-camera reporter on E!, and the radio personality “The Party Diva” on KIIS FM Radio (L.A.) and Blink Radio (N.Y.C.) Gina holds a dual BA in television journalism/ fine arts from the University of Southern California.
DeFranco manages The South of France, Los Angeles, and New York City teams. An oil painter, avid swimmer, and yoga devotee, deFranco often paints and photographs concerts and donates the art sales to nonprofit causes.
Ms.Tukwini Mandela
Vice President
Tukwini Mandela, the granddaughter of the South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and former President of South Africa, Mr. Nelson Mandela, is a passionate marketing executive with a unique talent to create humanitarian contributions to business ventures. The oldest of three siblings, she was born in the Eastern Cape in 1974. Tukwini started her career in communications. She honed her skills in a range of industries, including banking and finance to eventually become the Marketing Director for House of Mandela wines, which she runs with her mother, Dr. Makaziwe Mandela.
The House of Mandela is committed to a positive and passionately contributing society. A portion of the profits from the wines is donated to the House of Mandela Family Foundation (HoMFF) and the Africa Rising Foundation. HoMFF seeks to improve the lives of Africa’s poverty-stricken communities through working with development organizations and charities like BWAROC.org, which focuses on education, health, agriculture, and alternative energy sectors.
BWAROC 4 Humanity Board Members: