The SM Foundation was created in 1983 by its founder, Mr. Henry Sy, Sr., and Felicidad T. Sy, with the aim of helping the low-income individuals in the communities it serves. Since the formation of the foundation, it has taken on this 40-year journey with a resolute commitment to find ever-evolving ways to make concrete this lofty objective—to improve the lives of the people it serves, and to provide more opportunities for positive change in urban and rural communities nationwide. It has found meaning through a diverse range of advocacies, and by constantly redefining the pillars upon which the Foundation stands.
What this translates to is that the foundation is a dynamic entity, sensitive to the changing needs of the communities it serves. Of late, as championing sustainability became a newfound objective, the foundation found ways to inject sustainability into the DNA of the foundation’s activities; and have corporate social responsibility (CSR) become entwined with the ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) agendas of the SM group. This converts SM’s CSR and sustainability into driving forces in the business, and in the way the conglomerate thinks and works; and not just as afterthoughts, or separate efforts from the day-to-day aspects of running the businesses.
The social good programs of the SM Foundation can be categorized under the pillars of Education, Health and Wellness, Sustainable Agriculture, and Disaster Relief. To achieve their objectives under each pillar, one will find a blend of on-ground activities, direct engagement, strategic partnerships, and the use of technology to make the programs more accessible and extend their application and reach.
On Education, a partnership with SM Prime (SMPH) has resulted in a School Building Program that recognizes the critical need for quality education infrastructure in underserved areas across the nation. Collaboration between the partnership and LGUs (Local Government Unit) helps to identify areas with the greatest need; and the program goes beyond, providing the physical structure and comprehensive support; It also ensures that there is sustainable impact via disaster- and earthquake-resistant buildings.
The Sinag Schools Program
The Sinag Schools Program, together with Maxeon Solar Technologies, provides solar panels and related equipment, reducing dependence on traditional energy sources, lowering operational costs, and arming the school with a reliable and clean energy alternative. The Sinag Schools Program was launched at Lemery Pilot Elementary School in Batangas.
The initiatives related to education showcase how SM Foundation finds strategic partnerships both from within and outside the SM group; and when from outside, it can collaborate with the private sector or with local government. SM Foundation’s Scholarship Program is making full use of the rapid advancement of technology by adopting new tools and platforms to streamline the application process, improve communication with applicants and scholars, and enhance the overall efficiency of the program.
Go Kit+
Health and Wellness programs are manifested in a number of ways. There is the distribution of Emergency Go Kit+ at the Health and Wellness centers of the SM Foundation to boost their emergency response during disasters. There are mobile health clinics during their medical missions. The integration of mobile play cabinets for children, and of gender-responsive facilities such as breast-feeding rooms, are now regular features of these foundation centers.
This is all done in the name of promoting a welcoming and healing environment at the centers. The primary aim is to enhance the safety, well-being, and health of the individuals and the communities where the centers are located; providing comprehensive care while making the healthcare experience more positive and comfortable.
Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) Foundation
The SM Foundation Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan (KSK) on Sustainable Agriculture Program, in partnership with DA (Department of Agriculture), TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Agency), DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), DOST (Department of Science and Technology), and DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), involves training sessions on sustainable agriculture practices to provide market linkage, and market avenues via the Farmer’s Market Day and SM Sunday Markets. These avenues are now regular features in select SM Supermalls, where farmers directly showcase their produce and gain access to reliable and sustainable market channels.
The transition of extending the program to go beyond training and providing market linkages is part of the commitment and engagement of the SM group to have a holistic approach in supporting farmers on their journey towards more sustainable agriculture, while encouraging awareness and appreciation for consumers to choose locally grown and environmentally friendly products.
Operation Tulong Express (OPTE)
Operation Tulong Express (OPTE) is an SM Foundation initiative that has evolved from providing disaster relief to empowering local malls through community relations and spurring volunteerism among SM employees. OPTE is now also a catalyst for positive change within the SM communities; this is achieved by establishing collaborative partnerships with local organizations, community leaders, and stakeholders to identify community needs and develop targeted initiatives.
.
Through the SM employees’ volunteerism, OPTE has become relevant not only during times of disasters but as a continuing strengthening and bonding mechanism between the malls and the community it serves. This has resulted in truly stirring and wonderful stories all over the country.
MasterCard
One great example of the SM Foundation engaging in a private partnership would be the one with MasterCard: the Shop and Share Project. This involves the Foundation, MasterCard, and The SM Store. For every MasterCard transaction, regardless of the amount, MasterCard gave P100 to the drive geared towards supporting the online learning of the SM Foundation scholars. As a result, more than 1,200 SMFI scholars were supplied with electronic tablets.
With the Philippine Red Cross, the Foundation partners on disaster response efforts, bloodletting activities, and medical missions. In disaster response, the nationwide coverage of the malls allows for quick response and relief efforts during calamities. This coverage also translates into effective bloodletting drives; while the partnership on medical missions means the logistics for these missions are optimized for underserved areas.
In summary, there are multiple touchpoints by which the SM Foundation turns SM into a value proposition for the communities all over the country where SM is found. It is more than just CSR as an activity to give back but a concerted commitment to be embedded in the lives of their stakeholders, partners, and the public they serve – and this is all in honor of the vision and personal pledge of its founder, Henry Sy, Sr. It is a vision that his children and the next Sy generation have taken to heart and made integral to their way of conducting their business.
Be inspired to spread social good—read and download SM Foundation’s #SocialGoodReport 2022
Credit:Source link
