Bankinter celebrates the 13th Edition of “"Implicados y Solidarios" (Involvement and Solidarity)”
The thirteenth “Implicados y Solidarios (Involvement and Solidarity)” awards were held yesterday with an event at Bankinter's headquarters. The event was attended by a large group of third sector representatives and the bank's employees and managers of the bank who cast their votes to donate to the different candidates presented for this year's edition.
The event unveiled the 10 selected projects from NGOs, foundations and associations that receive donations from purchases made by customers with the Bankinter Solidarios card.
Over the course of its 13-year history, “Implicados y Solidarios” has backed more than 135 social projects, which have received 667,000 euros in total.
A total of 226 charitable projects were entered in this year's competition. Votes were first cast on social-media platforms, and then by Bankinter employees as part of a second phase.
This year, the projects received 21,234 votes on social media, with a high percentage of the bank's staff casting their vote, a total of 2,153 employees, which indicates the internal support that this competition creates year after year. Each project is presented by a bank employee from one of the regional organisations or central services and then sponsored by a Bankinter manager.
This year's godmother of the event was Pepa Muñoz, renowned chef and member of the World Central Kitchen Foundation created by chef José Andrés. Pepa Muñoz, chef and owner of the restaurant El Quenco de Pepa, was chosen as godmother for her special involvement in solidarity with those affected by the recent DANA that affected the Spanish Levante. During the event, Pepa Muñoz recounted her experiences at the Foundation and, in particular, the work carried out during the events in Valencia.
The celebration event opened with a very special performance: delivered masterfully by the musical group from Fundación Grupo SIFU, an organisation which sets out to raise awareness about the value of disabled people within society and promote social and workplace integration for them.
The winner of this year’s Gold Solidarity Card, which received a €12,000 cash prize, was “APASCIDE”, the Spanish Association of Families of Deafblind People, for its summer camp project for deafblind children.
Scooping second place, with the Silver Solidarity Card and a €10,000 cash prize, was FUNDACIÓN LAGUNA, which works tirelessly to care for vulnerable people suffering from diseases with no hope of cure, for its project devoted to therapies for people with Alzheimer’s or some other neurodegenerative disease.
Meanwhile, the Bronze Solidarity Card, worth 8,000 euros, was given to DOWN CORUÑA for its project “Quiosco Down Experience”, a social entrepreneurship project in which people with and without disabilities work together in catering activities. The purpose of this association is to carry out activities that contribute to improving the quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities in general and with Down syndrome in particular and that of their families, through their full social integration.
Finally, two special cash prizes worth 5,000 euros were given to the runner-up, BABIES UGANDA, for its project to build a school for disabled children in that country, where they can receive education, love and food. And also for AURA FOUNDATION, for its innovative programme “Aura Habitat”, which gives young people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to live with university students in training apartments, preparing them in a very practical way for independent living.
In addition, five NGOs and foundations received a €3,000 donation to support their work. The employee in question is:
-APSURIA, an association dedicated to the care of people with severe disabilities. Since last year, their residence has had a Sensory Stimulation Room that promotes their safety and well-being. Now they want to equip it to incorporate a very innovative therapy, based on sensory experiences.
- EL SUEÑO DE VICKY, which has been funding a research project on childhood cancer for 5 years in collaboration with the CIMA of the University of Navarra, based on immunovirotherapy. Paediatric brain tumours represent one of the greatest challenges facing paediatric oncologists.
- FUNDACIÓN TAMBIÉN, which promotes and funds adapted sports activities for people with disabilities, such as cycling, paddle tennis, skiing or surfing, providing all the necessary equipment.
-FULL INCLUSION VALENCIAN COMMUNITY. The facilities of several of its associations have been flooded and will require a lot of resources to rehabilitate them. In the meantime, home help is being offered, providing care and psychological attention.
- FUNDACIÓN SENARA and its project “CONTIGO”, which aims to reduce unwanted loneliness of the elderly, through young volunteers who accompany them in residences, hospitals and at home.
Closing by the President of Bankinter.
The event was concluded with a speech by Maria Dolores Dancausa, Chair of Bankinter, who is also Chair of the bank's Sustainability Committee.
During her speech, Maria Dolores Dancausa mentioned “that solidarity is not just only an act of giving, but a way of life. It is understanding that every small gesture counts. And today, more than ever, we need that solidarity, as we have seen in those affected by DANA in various regions of Spain, but especially in Valencia”.
The Chair of Bankinter expressed her deepest gratitude to the representatives of the NGOs, associations and foundations attending the event, because they not only help improve the lives of disadvantaged, sick or lonely people, but also provide them with an invaluable attribute: “ hope. And this is what makes these people subject of admiration for all of us, by setting the example”.
Social initiative.
"Involvement and Solidarity" is a programme involving different groups linked to Bankinter: customers who use the Bankinter Solidarios card; the bank's employees, who are presented with different social projects; To society, which participates and disseminates the project through social networks; the bank's executives, who act as sponsors of the different projects; And the NGOs, who make all these dreams come true.