Nearly 3,000 employees engaged in volunteer work as Citi recently celebrated Global Community Day (GCD). For this year’s 19th GCD in the Philippines, Citi employees, led by Citi Country Officer and Banking Head Paul Favila, shared their time, skills and talent to help in communities where they live and work, in partnership with select nonprofit organizations (NGOs).
“Global Community Day puts a spotlight on the work that Citi does to enable progress in our communities and ultimately our country. We are proud that our colleagues take the time to engage in activities that help the community, and even bring their family and friends with them. On the ground, you can feel the positive energy and enthusiasm of our Citi volunteers as they pitch in to take large and small actions that have a positive community impact,” said Favila, “This is our way of giving back and helping empower Filipinos.”
Sharing their knowledge and skills, Citi volunteers worked with World Vision to mentor Citi Foundation’s Project AID youth beneficiaries on financial literacy; Philippine Business for Education (PBED) to coach youth beneficiaries of the JobsNext Program on job preparation activities such as mock job interviews and CV-writing; and Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) to mentor public school teachers on how to use Microsoft Excel. In all, 100 students and 50 teachers were given assistance.
Citi volunteers also joined Gawad Kalinga’s Bayani Challenge in Cavite and Muntinlupa, for house-building activities, such as piling hollow blocks and repainting. Through PBSP’s Kain Tayo campaign, and in collaboration with global food rescue foundation Scholars of Sustenance Philippines (SOS), over 1,200 daycare students were given hot, nutritious meals.
World Vision Development Foundation Inc. National Director Jun Godornes said, “World Vision owes the success of its ministry to partner institutions like Citi that cultivate a culture of kindness and generosity among their employees and encourage them to serve others through volunteerism.”
Philippine Business for Social Progress Executive Director Elvin Uy adds, “We are honored to have been chosen as their partner for this significant event. This year, through our collaboration, we were able to make a meaningful impact across various sectors. These activities are a testament to the positive change that can be achieved when organizations come together for a common cause.”
Working with Childhope Philippines, Citi volunteers also put together around 1,500 snack packs for 500 street children and their families. They supported the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and CARA Welfare Philippines Inc. in looking after stray cats and dogs by donating pet care items.
In support of GMA Kapuso Foundation’s Operation Bayanihan program, Citi volunteers helped repack more than 17,000 hygiene kits and disaster relief goods, and over 5,6000 school bags. They also partnered with World Vision to clean, repaint and spruce up the grounds and classrooms of two public schools in Baseco, Manila, benefiting 6,600 students.
Through Global Community Day, Citi has planted a seed for giving back and making a difference – one that is brought to life by the volunteerism, commitment, and teamwork of Citibankers across its global footprint.
