Pledges long-term support for four local charities in
aid of children’s causes
MANILA, Philippines -- Dell Philippines has pledged support for four
local charitable organisations promoting children’s welfare and education,
further extending the company’s strategic global giving efforts to make a
meaningful impact to communities around the world. The identified organizations
are Tahanang Walang Hagdan, Inc., Childhope Asia Philippines, Inc., Children's
Joy Foundation, Inc., and Haven for Children.
With an aim to address pressing social issues, Dell
will work with these charities to provide assistance through technology,
know-how and volunteer support. “We find that these four organizations have
many needs, donations being just one of them,” Richard Teo, president for Dell
Philippines said. “The activities that they need to roll out require volunteers
and additional manpower, so I see our Make a Difference program as the best way to connect our
team members and the communities that can benefit from our collective giving
efforts.
“Our team members have always been passionate about
wanting to help different communities, but in the past, they did not know how
and where to go. By formalizing our strategic giving partners, we now encourage
team members to devote their time to these worthy causes,” added Teo.
“We chose our current partners because they regularly
need volunteers and team support. The programs may evolve, but the need for
help is always there,” he said. “Dell Philippines will strive to sustain these
charitable activities and lend our time year-on-year. The ultimate goal is to
spread volunteerism among our people, and to see our efforts grow and benefit
the community.”
Tahanang Walang Hagdan, Inc.
Dell has been supporting Tahanang Walang Hagdan,
Inc.—a rehabilitation and skills training center dedicated to helping people
with disabilities become productive and self-sufficient members of
society—through mentoring, donations and volunteering at the center. Tess
Lloren, resource mobilization director of Tahanang Walang Hagdan Inc., said
“Dell really has compassion towards marginalized sectors; not all companies
will stay with you throughout the years. They have been very supportive with
our outreach programs and services and have really helped us in every way.
“Dell also donated several laptops which we use in the
offices making our work faster and more efficient and also use them during our
community visits in places where we undertake the community-based
rehabilitation program,” she added.
The two organizations have also teamed up for a
sustainable recycling program, another indication of the deep partnership
between the two entities. According to Lloren, recyclable materials from the
Dell Philippines offices will be sent to the center to be re-purposed. Items
such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles can be reused by the
foundation's staff, while newspapers are woven into other products, and
non-recyclable items are sold to buyers of scrap materials. “The efforts of the
volunteers and the proceeds really help us in sustaining our educational
program for the young and with disabilities,” Lloren said.
Childhope Asia Philippines, Inc.
Advocating the cause to protect and defend the rights
of street children and turn them into productive citizens, Childhope Asia
Philippines, Inc. has also benefited from donations and time expended by Dell
volunteers. “We need volunteers very badly because of the wide area we cover.
We need a lot of support from willing and able people to teach in the areas
where we operate, to engage with the children in educational and
extra-curricular activities such as sports, singing and dancing, mathematics,
reading and writing tutorials, physical exercises, handicrafts, computer
literacy and values formation,” explained Teresita Silva, Childhope Asia
Philippines’ president and executive director.
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| Child Hope Asia with Dell Phils. president Richard Teo |
Dell’s Teo said “Dell's partnership with Childhope is
part of our commitment to actively support children’s issues which are very
close to the hearts of many Dell team members. There are mothers in our
organization with children of their own whom we wish to see grow up and become
productive members of our communities.” At present, Dell has supported
Childhope Asia Philippines with footwear donations and feeding programs.
Children's Joy Foundation, Inc.
Dell team members have also been volunteering time,
offering community classes for the abandoned and neglected children sheltered
at the Children's Joy Foundation, Inc.
“The Dell Philippines team has been a very good
partner of the Children’s Joy Foundation in achieving our advocacy to give a
brighter future to destitute children across the country by providing quality
education and empowerment of computer literacy program. We believe that
the true measure of our success as an institution that helps children is seeing
a lesser number of computer illiterate youths and more brilliant Filipino IT
professionals who are inspired by good people like the Dell team,” said
Rosemarie Dimagnaong, executive director of Children's Joy Foundation, Inc.
“The Dell team also spent an evening with the children
during last year’s Christmas season. They made the kids very happy, giving them
a reprieve from the rigors of daily life through a night of laughter and love,”
she added.
Haven for Children
Haven for Children, a government institution working
with more than a hundred former street children and substance abuse victims
aged seven to 13, is another primary partner of Dell Philippines. Last year,
Dell provided the organization and the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) with new desktop computers for the institution’s educational
component. “We are very grateful to Dell for the computers they donated,” said
Nieve Gentelizo, officer-in-charge of Haven for Children. “The children are now
starting to learn computer basics, so Dell's donation really helped us a lot.”
Apart from donating clothing, medicine and other basic
provisions, Dell team members can also volunteer for Haven for Children's
computer literacy program to bolster the efforts of the five teachers in charge
of the kids.
“More work can be done. Dell recognizes these concerns
and our people from all levels and departments will continue to work with the
four giving partners. The little things we can contribute can make a big
difference,” Teo said. “If everyone of our over 1,600 team members contributes
even two to three hours a month, the impact we can make in the communities and
the lives of the underprivileged will be significant.”
About
Dell
Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and
delivers innovative technology and services that give them the power to do
more. Powering the Possible is Dell’s commitment to put technology and
expertise to work where it can do the most good for people and the planet. Dell
works with nonprofits to address pressing social issues by donating a
combination of Dell technologies and solutions, funding, expertise and
volunteer support. In 2011, Dell gave more than $44 million, and Dell team
members volunteered more than 418,000 hours in their communities. Learn more at
www.dell.com/communities
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