Save the Children Philippines has awarded corporate partners for life-changing actions for children to have a healthy start, access to quality education and protection from all forms of violence, both in their day-to-day lives and when disasters strike.

Atty. Alberto Muyot, Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Philippines said support from corporate partners is critical to sustain humanitarian response and development programs that benefit children in times of natural disasters and emergencies.

“Save the Children Philippines,  together with our partners,  is committed to deliver transformative programs to children in the most deprived and marginalized situations,” said Muyot. “The unwavering support of our corporate partners inspire us to sustain our work and achieve breakthroughs.”

Representatives from 95 companies, schools, and organizations in the Philippines gathered at the Manila Marriott Hotel yesterday, where Save the Children Philippines showcased ways companies and institutions can support programs.

Johnson and Johnson Philippines and GSK Philippines were recognized as “Partners of the Year” for their high impact support for programs and emergency response. Johnson and Johnson Philippines provided support in promoting maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition and addressing severe malnutrition of children in deprived areas in Metro Manila. GSK Philippines provided support for the affected children and families of Typhoon Ompong, communities affected by Dengue outbreak, and those affected in Davao del Sur and North Cotabato during the Mindanao earthquakes.

Save the Children Philippines also awarded partners under the following categories:

·         2018 Most Outstanding Grant Project Donor- Johnson and Johnson for “Strengthening and Empowering Partners to Scale up Maternal and Newborn Child Health and Nutrition;”

·         2018 Most Outstanding Global Grant Project Donor- Prudence Foundation for the following projects:

–       FIRST READ, an early childhood learning program

–       Education Safe from Disasters that puts in place and automate a management information system for disaster preparedness in all public schools.

–       Local Empowerment through Access and Participation (LEAP) in Panay to build resilience of children and their families from disasters.

·         Corporate partners which initiated fundraising activities were given special awards under the following categories:

–       Workplace Giving under Sparebucks4Change-Johnson and Johnson

–       Fundraisers-Marriott Worldwide Business Councils Philippines

–       Christmas Campaign-Utkilen Norway

–       Emergency Donors- Insular Foundation

–       Gift in Kind  (Media category)-CNN Philippines

–       Gift in Kind-Terry SA Inc for Havaianas

–       Special Awards were given to British Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines and European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines.

Naida Pasion, Chief Business Development Officer urged support to Sustainable, Area-Focused and Empowering (SAFE) programs in Metro Manila, Leyte and Samar provinces and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

“Investing in children is good for business,” said Pasion. “When children become the best that they can be, as adults, they are the prime movers of a vibrant market.”

Bruce Winton, Chair of Marriott Worldwide Business Councils Philippines reiterated the company’s commitment to programs supporting children. The global hotel chain is one of the new corporate partners for 2019 which hosted a series of events and activities to raise funds for children. These include Run to Give, Charity Golf Tournament, Opt-In-Donation for all hotel guests across all Marriott-owned properties.

Save the Children Philippines showcased programs being supported by corporate partners through an exhibit, these include:

·         First Read project, a critical support for children in the first three years to develop foundational skills on literacy and numeracy.

·         Project Nurture, a life-saving support for children who are severely malnourished.

·         Maternal, Newborn and Child health and Nutrition, an integrated support for health and nutrition of pregnant and lactating mothers in the deprived areas of Metro Manila and Mindanao. The program ensures health and well-being of babies in the first 1,000 days through breastfeeding, proper nutrition and access to health service and early childhood education.

·         Build Urban Children’s Resilience against Shocks and Threats of Resettlement (BURST) project that helps children and their families being displaced in Metro Manila to find relocation and resume classes.

Atty. Muyot, in his closing remarks said support from corporate partners helped Save the Children Philippines reach around 4.2 million children in the most deprived and marginalized situations to get access to education.

“The impact that we bring to children has created ripples of hope,” he said.