FOR its pioneering and exemplary programs for People and Disabilities (PWDs), SM Cares, the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. bagged the first ever Corporate Social Responsibility Excellence Awards on PWDs given by the People Management Association of the Philippines.
 
In a simple ceremony at the AIM Conference Center in Makati City, PMAP Human Resources Management Foundation gave the CSR Excellence Award under the Community Service Category to SM Cares for its outstanding initiatives to recognize and uplift the lives of PWDs. Seven other companies were given awards for their CSR programs.
 
PMAP Foundation President Atty. Pilar Nenuca Almira said they have decided to give out the first CSR Excellence Awards to recognize companies that have fully integrated CSR in their business operations.
 
“This companies have made CSR an integral part of their business operations which not only serve as inspiration to other businesses but promote community service in bringing about changes in society,” Almira said.
 
SM Cares Program on PWDs, according to PMAP, “exemplified the tests of Innovation, Sustainability, Replication, Scalability, and Impact; and significantly exemplified the values of Social Significance, Business Impact, Employee Engagement, and Innovative Partnership.”
 
He said its many programs on PWDs, which include Angels Walk for Autism, Happy Walk for Down Syndrome, Movies for the Blind and Deaf, Special movie screening for children with autism, Autism Awareness Day and Earthquake Resilience Conference for PWDs and Seniors, among others have brought unprecedented social impact for PWDs all over the country.
 
SM Cares Program on PWDs has also been recently elevated to the Hall of Fame by the Apolinario Mabini Awards spearheaded by the Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled.
 
Engr. Bien Mateo, Vice President for Operations of SM Supermalls and Director of the SM Cares Program for Disability Affairs, said they are deeply honored by the award saying it is a recognition of the company’s collective effort for PWDs.