Carmen Linda Atayde (fourth from left), executive director for Education of SM Foundation, receives the Silver trophy during the 52nd Anvil Awards held in Shangri-la Makati. She is joined by SM Foundation’s team on School Building program led by its consultant Juris Soliman (third from left). (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
The SM Group bagged four awards during the recent 52nd Anvil Awards held at the Rizal Ballroom of Shangri-la in Makati City.
SM Investment’s 2015 Environmental, Social and Governance Report received the Gold Award, while its 2015 Annual Report, and Website Design received the Silver awards.
Sustainability in SM means serving as catalysts for development in the communities it serves. It has integrated environmental, social and governance (ESG) programs and initiatives the way it does its business.
SM is committed to create a sustainable future by promoting inclusive growth and development and providing greater value to its stakeholders. As a holding company with diverse investments, SM has gone beyond philanthropy by nurturing the environment and supporting its host communities as it grows its business.
The company’s ESG initiatives are in line with the UN Global Compact Principles and the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
SM Foundation’s school-building projects was also awarded a Silver trophy for its program “Building Sustainable Schools for Building Successful Futures.”
SM Foundation’s School Building Program started in 2002. The project aims to build fully furnished classrooms in select public schools nationwide identified by the Department of Education and SM malls. These classrooms are already equipped with chairs, teacher’s tables, chalkboards, electric fans and toilets.
In Cebu, SM Foundation Inc. already turned over four classrooms to Jugan Elementary School in Consolacion, Cebu, and eight classrooms to Polambato Elementary School in Bogo City, with the support from Deutsche Bank and DFS Group Limited.
SM patriarch, Henry Sy Sr. believes that education is the greatest equalizer. Thus, SM Foundation allocates most of its social investments in its education programs namely the school-building program and the scholarship program for both college and technical-vocational education. /PR