The prestigious Anvil Awards has recognized SM Cares, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc., for its outstanding achievements in promoting its pioneering and innovative CSR programs that uplift communities and effect nation-building.
In stellar ceremonies held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City, SM Cares, a division of SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI), bagged 3 awards at the 51st Anvil Awards spearheaded by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP).
The Anvil Awards is the PR profession’s most distinguished award that recognizes and raises the bar of PR practice as a fundamental part of businesses and organizations as well as promoting social responsibility.
The Special Movie Screening for the Blind and Deaf, SM’s Casual Employment Program for Senior Citizens and the SM Cares Housing Project for the Survivors of Typhoon Yolanda were given the Anvil awards for showcasing exceptional public relations practice.
SM has always endeavored to make CSR as integral part of its operations. It has been leading efforts to execute and promote pioneering programs that aim to make a difference in the lives of the Filipino people.
The Special Movie Screening for the Blind and Deaf is the first of its kind in the country where movies are fitted with audio-description and closed captioning to allow the visual impaired and hard at hearing a chance to enjoy going to the cinemas. The project is in partnership with the Deaf Blind Support Philippines (DBSP).
The Casual Employment Program for Senior Citizens gives senior citizens a chance to regain their self-worth by giving them employment opportunities in SM malls. This initiative is in partnership with the Office of the Seniors Citizens Affairs (OSCA).
The SM Cares Housing Project for the Survivors of Typhoon Yolanda is a distinct manifestation of the Filipino’s bayanihan spirit in the face of adversity. An initiative that was spearheaded by SM Prime President Hans Sy in the aftermath of super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013, the project gathered together the donations of SM’s business partners, tenants and other groups and individuals to raise P200 million to build 1,000 disaster-resilient houses in the areas badly hit by Yolanda in the Visayas region. The houses are given to survivor-beneficiaries for free.
In receiving the awards, Annie Garcia, President of SM Supermalls said “We are deeply honored to have been recognized by the PRSP with these Anvil Awards as these programs are truly aimed at supporting communities. We hope that through these projects, we are able to serve more of our countrymen towards our goal of helping the country in nation building. We share these awards with the men and women who have continuously inspired us to do better in serving the Filipino people.”
Last year, SM also won various awards for its CSR programs, notably from the Apolinario Mabini Awards, the Global CSR Awards and the Emilio Abello Awards for the Environment.
To know more about SM Cares and its advocacies, please visit www.smcares.com.ph or www.facebook.com/OfficialSMCares.