A company’s CSR, or corporate social responsibility, initiative only achieves its objectives when, first and foremost, its employees actively participate in its implementation.
City of Dreams Manila sets the bar for CSR initiative participation as more than 4,000 of its employees or approximately 80 percent of its workforce engaged in the luxury resort’s long-term and sustainable programs in 2017.
City of Dreams Manila’s year-round outreach program last year included provisions for basic needs, social and learning activities for orphans and the elderly; refurbishing classrooms through the Department of Education’s “Brigada Eskwela” campaign; annual blood donations for Red Cross; relief goods for those affected by disasters; and mangrove and tree-planting and coastal clean-up drives.
“Volunteerism is ingrained in our employees’ commitment to give back to the community in meaningful and creative ways,” states senior vice president and chief operating officer Kevin Benning.
He continues, “Various CSR activities are held at least twice a month and during these undertakings, employees throughout the ranks in different departments work together to help the less fortunate and conserve the environment.”
Last year, employee-volunteers visited the integrated resort’s adopted orphanage in Parañaque, Bahay Aruga, monthly, providing the children with meals and creative learning activities. They also brought them to DreamPlay during the Christmas season.
Employees also contributed their time to visit the elders, orphans, sick, and abandoned children at the Missionaries of Charity in Tondo, Manila. They did general cleaning and laundry services to help provide the residents a more comfortable living space, as well as prepared and cooked meals for the residents.
In addition, to support the Department of Education’s Brigada Eskwela campaign with the Parañaque City government, volunteers cleaned and refurbished 12 classrooms in San Dionisio Elementary School.
Volunteers from DreamPlay and other departments, together with DreamPlay character Puss in Boots, brought gifts and cheer to children confined at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, upon the invitation of blogger Jane Go.
Through the Purple Center Foundation, one of the resort’s beneficiary institutions, volunteers also gave immediate assistance and relief in the aftermath of a typhoon and fire in two separate incidents in Tondo, Manila. Canned goods, bottled water, and medical supplies were provided to 1,500 families affected by the typhoon. Linens, bed sheets, cutlery, plates, glasses, and other basic items were given to 700 families whose homes were gutted by the fire.
City of Dreams Manila’s team members also reached out to various non-government institutions. Employees also participated in the integrated resort’s semi-annual voluntary blood donation drive. Finally, the Security team spearheaded various CSR activities such as coastal cleanup along Manila Bay, tree-planting in Cavite, thanksgiving tribute to the war veterans in Parañaque’s 16th district, and their own “Drop of Hope” campaign wherein they periodically provide bags of food, water, and basic necessities to street children and families living along the coastline of Metro Manila.
The long-term volunteering efforts of City of Dreams Manila’s employees demonstrate the staff’s commitment to be good corporate citizens and their growing awareness and contributions towards the social and economic needs of local communities—an advocacy they are determined to uphold.