SM Supermalls across Mindanao recently brought joy to less fortunate kids through the “SM Cares Bears of Joy” program. Cuddly bears donated by shoppers were distributed to more than 1,000 chosen beneficiaries.
Last December 30, SM City Davao surprised kids at the House of Hope and the Cancer Pediatric Ward at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). The group led by mall manager Lynette Angala-Lopez and group marketing manager Aron Dalaza distributed more than 50 SM Bears of Joy at SPMC. House of Hope is a temporary home for children with cancer which has served about 5,000 children and caregivers since its inauguration in August 2007. It has decreased treatment abandonment and provided a clean and healing environment for children with cancer.
The mall is set to give out more of the bears in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development. SM Davao sold a total of 1,400 bears, half of which were donated by shoppers and business partners for distribution to children in need.
Meanwhile, SM Lanang Premier delighted kids with SM Bears of Joy at the Tebow Cure Hospital, SOS Children’s Village Davao and Kumihara Learning Center on January 5. Headed by mall manager Therese Lapeña-Manalo, the mall donated 250 of the plush toys to the young patients of Tebow Cure Hospital, a non-profit medical institution providing pediatric orthopedic and surgical care for the less fortunate, physically disabled children. SOS Children’s Village, which provides alternative family care for abandoned or orphaned children, received more than 100 bears. The remaining toys were allocated to young students of Kumihara Learning Center, a day care center located in Brgy. San Antonio in Davao City. All in all, a total of 600 teddy bears were distributed to the said beneficiaries.
In SM City General Santos, more than 400 bears were given to underweight and stunted children identified by the City Population Management Office (CPMO). SM staff led by assistant mall manager Hermon Hernandez surprised the children from 26 barangays in GenSan as they gathered at the Oval Plaza Gymnasium on December 29. “It is our privilege and we are very thankful that SM has chosen us to be this year’s beneficiary. The spirit of Christmas is felt through this initiative. Truly, the bears bring pure joy to the kids,” said Ms. Judith Janiola, CPM Officer.
SM Cares, a division of SM Foundation Inc., is the corporate social responsibility arm of SM Prime. Every holiday season, it spearheads the SM Cares Bears of Joy program, which invites SM shoppers to share their blessings to the needy in the community by buying a pair of cuddly bears – one is his/hers to keep while the other will be donated – for as little as P200. SM Cares then collectively turns over the bears to charitable institutions, orphanages and the needy in the community.
For more information, visit SM Cares website on smcares.com.ph or check out its official Facebook account at www.facebook.com/OfficialSMCares.
