Metrobankers pay it forward to different communities with the Shoebox Project
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Metrobank has always been an active participant in philanthropic efforts that benefit various communities. This is rooted from the Bank’s culture of malasakit and value of Heart for the Community that are imbibed by its employees—the Metrobankers.
“At Metrobank, malasakit and care for our clients are innate to all employees. We always aim to keep them in good hands and this extends to the communities we are a part of,” said Metrobank People Management Division Head Melizza Doris Guiao.
Back in 2008, when Guiao then heading Metrobank Del Monte Avenue Branch in Quezon City, was invited by a church minister to participate in a gift-giving project for orphaned children, she immediately said yes and enjoined her team to be part of this worthy cause.
“Every Christmas season, Metrobankers receive tokens of gratitude and gifts from colleagues and loved ones. The Shoebox Project paved the way for us to give back after all the blessings we received throughout the year. It was our channel to pay it forward and spread kindness during the holiday season, particularly to the less fortunate,” said Guiao.
This was the beginning of the Metrobank Shoebox Project, an annual voluntary gift-giving activity of Metrobankers to their chosen beneficiary during the holiday season.
From a one-branch team with about 10 employees participating in the Metrobank Shoebox Project, the number of participants grew exponentially. And on the Bank’s 60th anniversary this year, Metrobank’s strong force of 14,000 employees have once again shared their blessings through the annual #MeaningfulAnniversaryChallenge.
Today, the Metrobank Shoebox Project is the most actively participated employee-initiated activity in the Bank.
Since then, Metrobankers have distributed nearly 71,000 shoeboxes every Christmas season to their chosen beneficiaries nationwide.
Each box includes healthy snacks, hygiene kits, and school supplies. During the pandemic, the content of the shoeboxes expanded to include alcohols and facemasks as an added protection for the recipients against the virus.
“These are the times when you realize that those little acts of kindness not only add up but multiply by a thousandfold,” Guiao said.
Recently named by The Asian Banker as the “Most Helpful Bank During COVID-19 in the Philippines,” Metrobank has always taken pride in its philanthropic thrusts. For Metrobankers, the vision of its late Founder, Dr. George S.K. Ty remains to be a part of their principles today, and in the decades to come: “We are not here solely for business. The Bank is here to do good, to help other people, and to help the country. It is our responsibility to give back to society and to contribute to nation-building.”
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