CSR tales of three firms

HSBC donates nearly P11M to Red Cross for Typhoon Sendong victims

MANILA, Philippines–HSBC recently donated nearly P11 million to the Philippine National Red Cross to assist in the recovery and relief efforts for victims of Typhoon Sendong (international name: Washi).

The bank made a total donation of P10,887,500 to Red Cross last week following devastations caused by Sendong in southern Philippines killing nearly 1,500 people.

HSBC has also set up a peso account in the Philippines to accept donations from its staff as well as a multicurrency account in Hong Kong to accept donations from employees around the world.

HSBC has likewise begun accepting in-kind donations from its employees particularly urgently needed supplies such as food, water, medicines and clothing.

HSBC Philippines President and CEO Tony Cripps said, “Our hearts go out to the victims of Typhoon Sendong. Once we close our collection of funds in January, we will match the total staff donations made and send them to Red Cross. In the 136 years we’ve been in the Philippines, HSBC has been strongly committed to the well-being of the community through our corporate sustainability initiatives driven by senior management and staff volunteers.

‘’This is the way we do our business, to help ensure that the community we operate in is well taken care of. Though the lives lost can never be replaced, we sincerely hope that our donation will help ease the suffering of the families of the victim and the survivors of the tragedy.”

In total, Sendong affected 21 municipalities and over 14,000 families.

Nearly 250 were injured and 807 are still missing. About 70,000 people are currently housed in evacuation centers waiting for emergency relief goods.

“The Philippine Red Cross is thankful to HSBC for being our partner in saving suffering humanity. As we move from the rescue and relief phases in the aftermath of Typhoon Sendong, we enter the most crucial phase of rehabilitation of the ravaged communities.
The support from HSBC will help the families and individuals that are most affected rebuild their lives so that they can once again live in dignity, said Carissa Coscolluela, national governor, Philippine Red Cross.

AirAsia joins forces with DSWD

MANILA, Philippines–AirAsia Inc. joined forces with DSWD, DILG, DOTC and PAF to help Typhoon Sendong victims in Mindanao. AirAsia Philippines’  Airbus A-320 left its hub in Clark, Pampanga, early morning to pick up 8.5 tons of high energy biscuits donated by the United Nations World Food Program from Villamor Air Base in Manila before it flew on a mission flight to Cagayan De Oro City Airport on Dec. 24.

AirPhil Express and MIASCOR provided cargo handling facilities free of charge.

The all-Filipino crew were led by AirAsia Captains Johansen Hernandez, Arturo Perlada Jr., Dexter Comendador and Saturnino Villanueva.

BPAP launches ‘My Dream in a Shoebox’

MANILA, Philippines–The Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP), in partnership with strategic marketing communications firm TeamAsia and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), successfully launched this year’s “My Dream in a Shoebox,” a Christmas campaign that aims to help less fortunate children pursue their education by raising funds and handing out school supplies in simple shoeboxes.

In its third run, My Dream in a Shoebox aims to reach bigger targets, including rebuilding a school and gathering at least 3,000 shoeboxes and 200 computers for public schools. A total of 7,492 shoeboxes, more than 2,000 school supplies, 120 computers and laptops, and almost P1 million in cash donations have been collected to date and will be deployed to areas such as remote villages in typhoon-stricken Iligan City and to public schools identified by nonprofit organization Children’s Hour and the Department of Education.

“BPAP aimed for bigger targets this year to make a bigger impact and serve more disadvantaged young people,” said Gigi Virata, BPAP senior executive director. “Gift-giving started in Lipa, Batangas, where computers and shoeboxes filled with school supplies were distributed to 1,500 kids and to the computer laboratories of Tambo Elementary School, Paninsingin Elementary School, and Pinagkawitan Elementary School.”

Raymond Lacdao, BPAP industry affairs director, added that funds raised by industry partners will also be used to assist those affected by Typhoon “Sendong” (international name Washi). Funds have already been donated to Iligan City and other remote areas through the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines and ICT Davao Inc.

“We are overwhelmed with the industry’s response to the campaign and thank all those who volunteered and took the time to assist not only public schools this Christmas season but also remote communities affected by Typhoon Sendong not immediately reached by relief efforts,” Lacdao said.

BPAP, TeamAsia and AFP, together with industry sponsors and volunteers, worked together in collecting shoeboxes, school supplies, computers, and cash donations for beneficiaries such as Children’s Hour and Bayanihang Pampaaralan. Children’s Hour aims to give marginalized Filipino children better access to quality education, quality health and nutrition; Bayanihang Pampaaralan is a private sector-led project that aims to build 10,000 classrooms by year 2013 and is being organized by the 57-75 Consortium.

Distribution of shoeboxes and funds will continue until the end of the year in different municipalities and provinces. About 50 companies and organizations have so far contributed to the My Dream in a Shoebox campaign. Major sponsors include Chevron Holdings Inc., E*TRADE, Firstsource, Isla Lipana & Co., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Shell Shared Services (Asia), Stream Global Services, Sutherland Global Services, and TeleTech.

For more information on the My Dream in a Shoebox campaign, visit www.teamasia.com/shoeboxcampaign.