Fundación Real Madrid and VIAHR Foundation Promote a New Model of Excellence
The alliance incorporates burnout prevention, emotional well-being and conscious recovery into sports and educational programs with international impact
Fundación Real Madrid and VIAHR Foundation (Vacation Is A Human Right), a non-profit organization based in New York, have signed a framework agreement for institutional collaboration to develop initiatives focused on burnout prevention, mental health and well-being in high-performance environments.
The agreement was signed by Julio González Ronco, Managing Director of Fundación Real Madrid, and María Méndez, President and Founder of VIAHR Foundation, at Fundación Real Madrid headquarters in Madrid. This event marks the beginning of a strategic alliance between two institutions that share a common vision: to promote a new model of sustainable performance in which physical and emotional well-being form an essential part of human excellence.
Felipe Reyes, ambassador of Fundación Real Madrid and basketball legend, highlighted the importance of this collaboration: “Throughout my career, I learned that no one achieves success alone. Behind every accomplishment there is always a team of people working towards a common goal. That is why I value this partnership between Fundación Real Madrid and VIAHR Foundation, as it is rooted in the desire to join forces, share knowledge and experience, and help others.”
He also emphasized the innovative nature of the agreement: “This is the first time we have jointly launched a training initiative based on co-creation. Listening, learning from one another and building solutions together is an enriching opportunity, and doing so alongside a leading organisation such as VIAHR Foundation is a privilege.”
For her part, María Méndez, President and Founder of VIAHR Foundation, stated: “Preventing burnout means working in a smart and sustainable way. Conscious pause is a strategic tool, not a sign of weakness. The fact that an institution such as Fundación Real Madrid is incorporating it into its programmes sends a transformative message: caring for mental health is part of excellence and holistic development—it is not optional.”
Under the agreement, both organisations will develop practical tools to integrate burnout prevention into educational and human development programmes. Among the planned initiatives is the creation of a specialised mental health and emotional management module that will be incorporated into Fundación Real Madrid’s “Train Your Mind” programme, aimed at young athletes and educators working in high-demand environments.
The agreement also includes the design of immersive in-person experiences based on the PAUSA® Method, the VIAHR Foundation’s proprietary methodology focused on conscious recovery and emotional regulation. These experiences, developed in environments selected for their quality and their capacity to generate optimal conditions for recovery, represent the experiential component of the collaboration: the space where knowledge becomes real and measurable transformation.
The alliance comes at a time of growing international attention to mental health in sports and educational organizations. The VIAHR Foundation will hold its 4th International Congress from November 19 to 22, 2026, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, where experts, institutions and international leaders will discuss burnout, mental health and human sustainability in high-pressure environments. The Real Madrid Foundation will participate in the event as a partner, contributing its experience in the development of programs with social impact on a global scale.