On October 6th, the iconic Hotel Unique in São Paulo hosted the 3rd edition of Onçafari’s benefit dinner: “Where there are jaguars, there is life in balance.” The event brought together artists, entrepreneurs, influencers, donors, sponsors and partners for an evening that combined purpose, gastronomy and art with the goal of presenting new projects and raising funds for conservation projects.
The dinner was an opportunity to engage new people with the cause, strengthen the support network, and celebrate important achievements. And as the event’s name suggests, the jaguar is a bioindicator; it is a top predator, and its presence is a sign that the ecosystem is healthy, with forests, rivers, and wildlife in perfect balance.
Credit: Fernanda Freixosa, Thábata Cordeiro e Titina Leão
At the entrance, guests were moved by the exhibit “Water Pantanal Fire” curated by Eder Chiodetto with photographs by Lalo de Almeida and Luciano Candisani in partnership with Documenta Pantanal. The exhibition powerfully and sensitively portrays both the beauty of the biome and the scars left by droughts and wildfires that have ravaged the region. In 2024 alone, more than 2.6 million hectares of the Pantanal were devastated by fire with 61% of the area affected. In the face of such an alarming scenario, the exhibition served as a call to action and a reminder of the importance of organizations like Onçafari, which works on the front lines of conservation, including through its Fire Prevention division dedicated exclusively to preventing and fighting wildfires.
The dinner, curated by chef Emmanuel Bassoleil, preceded the much-anticipated charity auction led by Henri Zylberstajn, a member of Onçafari’s board. Among the auctioned items were: a Can-Am quad bike, an exclusive pendant by jeweler Ara Vartanian, flight tickets from United Airlines, autographed jerseys from Palmeiras, Corinthians, and São Paulo football clubs, a helmet customized by race car driver Augusto Farfus, and stays at conservation-focused lodges such as Caiman Pantanal, Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge (Amazon), Pousada Trijunção (Cerrado), and Txai Resort (Atlantic Forest).
In addition to the auction, various items were raffled off among the guests, including a pair of custom Nike Air Force sneakers, a wellness set by Andrea Bogosian, pajamas from Bo.Bô, a vegan makeup kit by Detoni, a Le Creuset pan, and a stay at the Sandi Hotel in Paraty/RJ.
One of the most memorable moments of the evening came at the end when actress Mel Lisboa, who was also among the guests, took the stage for a special performance singing songs by Rita Lee.
Caption: Closing performance of the benefit dinner Where There’s a Jaguar, There’s Life in Balance by Mel Lisb
Among the attendees were notable names such as actor Klebber Toledo — master of ceremonies for the third year in a row —, philanthropist Teresa Bracher, TV host Rafa Brites, activist Kamila Camilo, model Lettícia Muniz, influencer Patrícia Ramos, and Olympic medalist Hebert Conceição, lending visibility and support to Onçafari’s mission. Also in attendance were board members, supporters, and representatives of partner companies.
The event was sponsored by brands such as Defender – Jaguar Land Rover, Nike, Instituto PremieRpet, Isa Energia, Itaú Private Bank, and Fairfax, with additional support from Freixenet, NB Steak, Titina Leão, Coordinare and others. The support of these companies was essential to the success of the evening and to enabling the work that takes place daily in the biomes where Onçafari operates.
Credit: Fernanda Freixosa
However, the dinner served to highlight a greater work that has been ongoing for 14 years. Today, Onçafari is on track to close the year with approximately 100 professionals directly involved in the conservation of Brazilian biodiversity. It’s a significant milestone that reinforces that conservation cannot happen without people.
In September 2025, Onçafari Onçafari joined forces with three other local NGOs from South America across Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina to launch the Jaguar Rivers Initiative, a project aimed at building a continental ecological corridor connecting Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina through rivers essential to the survival of wildlife.
Still this year, it received dual recognition at the Folha Social Entrepreneur Award, one of the most prestigious honors in Brazil’s third sector, winning in the categories Social Innovator of the Year and MobilizAção, for achieving the highest fundraising total among the finalists. This recognition reflects the team’s daily dedication, the trust of our partners, and the support of everyone who donated and believed in our mission.
The event celebrated all of Onçafari’s achievements, and by the end of the evening, between toasts, hugs, and smiles there was a clear sense that each person present whether donating, participating, sharing, or supporting helped turn impact into action.
As Mario Haberfeld, CEO of Onçafari and host of the evening, concluded:
“Come dream big with us.”
Credit: Thábata Cordeiro
Written by: Maria Julia Farias
Cover photo: Thábata Cordeiro
