Mochary Programs provides funding to AfroReggae. AfroReggae was started by Jose Junior in 1992 to educate the black Brazilians who live in the drug war-torn slum (”favela”) of Vigario Geral, Rio de Janeiro about their cultural heritage - music, dance, art. Today, AfroReggae provides an alternative to the drug life for thousands of favela kids, training them in drumming, music, dance, capoeira, acrobatics, health, and art. This training has led to the creation of a band that was signed by Universal Music, as well as several acrobats who were hired by Cirque de Soleil and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Today, AfroReggae provides full-time employment to over 50 favela youth, who no longer need to turn to drug trafficking to earn money. Matt Mochary, along with filmmaker Jeff Zimbalist, directed and produced the feature-length documentary film Favela Rising about the life of AfroReggae’s president, Anderson Sa, which premiered at the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival. Matt and Jeff were awared Tribeca’s Best Emerging Documentary Filmmakers prize for the film. Favela Rising is expected to be screened in commercial theaters, released on DVD, and then aired on broadcast television in 2006.