Ayala Foundation recognized for arts and culture, disaster resilience programs at LCF CSR Guild Awards

Ayala Foundation, the social development arm of the Ayala group, was recognized in two major categories at the CSR Guild Awards given by the League of Corporate Foundations last July 9.

The disaster relief project #BuyAni won the Disaster Resilience category, while Ayala Museum Virtual, which harnesses the digital space for fresh ways to experience Filipino culture, won the Art and Culture category.

buyani 2 — Project #BuyAni integrated support for local food producers and artisans with relief efforts during the height of the COVID-19 quarantines in 2020. This initiative provided food for over 10,000 families nationwide.

Project #BuyAni was implemented during the height of the COVID-19 quarantine restrictions, when many families had limited access to nutritious food, while the access of local farmers and artisans was significantly reduced. Recognizing this, Ayala Foundation saw the opportunity to make the food produced by farmers an essential part of its relief operations. Highlighting the fact that farmers and food producers are community heroes, Project #BuyAni was able to provide food assistance for at least 10,000 families in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, while also allowing local agricultural workers the chance to access markets. Project #BuyAni is supported by a grant from Macquarie Group Foundation.

Meanwhile, Ayala Museum Virtual was Ayala Foundation’s way of bringing the experience of Filipino art and culture wherever audiences are, even with existing travel restrictions. For years both the Ayala Museum and Filipinas Heritage Library have been at the forefront of harnessing technology to provide fresh ways to understand and appreciate the Philippines’ rich culture and history. Using various digital holdings Ayala Museum Virtual recreates a seamless digital version of its resources—from exhibitions, to concerts, to lectures, as well as access to educational materials.

Ayala Museum Virtual is one of the major components of the Ayala Museum’s “omnichannel” approach, as it offers audiences new ways to experience Filipino art and culture, whether onsite, offsite, or online. The Ayala Museum and Filipinas Heritage Library are also gearing up for the reopening of their doors later this year, as Ayala Foundation celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2021.

The LCF CSR Guild Awards serve as “a seal of excellence in corporate citizenship given to the most reputable and premier organizations implementing social good initiatives with meaningful and sustainable impact to the communities and institutions they serve.” In addition, the awards acknowledge “outstanding CSR projects and collaborations within a given period, as collectively decided by the 96-strong member organizations of LCF.”

LCF is a network of the largest operating and grant-making corporate foundations and corporations in the Philippines. Founded in 1991, LCF actively promotes the practice of corporate social responsibility among its members as well as the business community.

This year’s CSR Guild Awards were part of the celebration of the LCF’s 25th founding anniversary. Aside from recognizing best practices in the field of CSR, this year’s celebrations also featured various lectures and discussion panels. LCF also handed out awards to its longstanding members. Ayala Foundation, which was one of the seven founding members of the LCF, was given a 25-year award.

About Ayala Foundation

As the social development arm of the Ayala group of companies, Ayala Foundation envisions communities where people are creative, productive, self-reliant, and proud to be Filipino. Ayala Foundation is committed to community development, working closely with communities in identifying compelling developmental needs and providing suitable solutions with measurable outcomes. It implements programs under the following themes: Education, Sustainable Livelihood, and Love of Country.

In 2021, Ayala Foundation celebrates its 60th year, affirming its Faith in the Filipino through partnerships and programs for community development.