“We are happy to be here.”
This was the warm succinct message of gratitude by Mr. Dominic Lemay, the Founder of Virlanie Foundation, on behalf of its adopted community from Tondo, Manila during the Solidarity Week celebration of AccorHotels Group Philippines.
Together with the representatives from AccorHotels in the Philippines including Heartists from Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, Raffles and Fairmont Makati, Joy-Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila, Mercure Manila Ortigas, soon-to-open Admiral Hotel Manila – MGallery and Novotel Suites Manila at Acqua, and the Novotel Manila Araneta City joined the kids for an unlimited photo session at the interactive Art Island Museum.
“I invited this community two weeks ago and it’s so so poor, no anything, no electricity, no food also. For me, I’m really proud that we give joy to them,” Lemay adds.
Eleven years since Solidarity Accor began, its mission to combat the economic and social exclusion of disadvantaged and vulnerable people through training and aiding integration into work has grown stronger year after year.
Globally in 2018, an impressive result of over €100,000 was raised by over 11,000 Accor employees from 49 different countries, including the Philippines, and donated it to benefit 120 charities and non-profit organizations including the Virlanie Foundation.
“Accor supports Solidarity projects in the Philippines both financially, through the endowment fund, and in many ways more importantly the engagement, empathy and voluntary work of our 3,573 Heartists from all over the country,” expressed Mike Brown, Novotel Manila Araneta City’s General Manager and Area General Manager for Philippines, MidEco and Movenpick brands.
The Virlanie kids and their partner Ate and Kuya hoteliers exchanged hugs and laughter as they, later on, shared a hearty afternoon snack together. The day ended with each AccorHotel property providing memorable and generous gifts to every kid who left with so much glee in their hearts.
Virlanie Foundation, Inc. is a non-stock, non-profit, non-sectarian, Filipino institution that empowers, loves and protects the abandoned, abused, exploited, neglected, orphaned and those among the poorest of the poor children.
Since its creation in 1992 by the French social worker Dominique Lemay, Virlanie helped more than 17,000 children in need of special protection through its innovative familial approach and its various programs and services.
For inquiries and reservations, please call (02) 8990 7888 or email H7090@accor.com. More information about Novotel Manila Araneta City, its facilities and services are available at www.novotelmanilaaranetacity.com.
ADVT