ASIDE from its College Scholarship Program, SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI) also supports students pursuing technical-vocational courses. This program began accepting scholars in 2007 and has supported over 4,000 tech-voc scholars to date.
With a strong belief in the power of education, SMFI builds school buildings by actively collaborating with the Department of Education and other organizations – donating its first building in 2002. Through this, SMFI has successfully built over 100 school buildings throughout the country.
SMFI’s Health and Wellness Program is also being carried out through various medical missions, the upgrade of local health centers, as well as the establishment and renovation of Felicidad T. Sy Wellness Centers. The first medical mission was conducted in 2001 while the first Felicidad T. Sy Wellness Center was refurbished the following year. Since then, over 1.2 million patients have been served while over 180 health facilities have been refurbished by SMFI.
SMFI also strives to provide aid to disaster- and calamity-stricken communities through its Operation Tulong Express, such as Typhoon “Yolanda” in 2013. Mr. Sy Sr. initiated the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan on Sustainable Agriculture Program (KSK-SAP) in 2007 to help in ensuring food sufficiency among marginalized farmers, equipping them with modern farming techniques and entrepreneurial skills.
The said farmers’ training program began in Bacolod City and was replicated in other parts of the country. With its success, over 28,000 farmers have graduated, helping them become agri-entrepreneurs. SMFI has supported these farmers by providing market opportunities through SM Supermalls.
Its affiliate organization joins SMFI in undertaking philanthropic activities. One is the Felicidad T. Sy Foundation, which focuses on promoting Catholic living and spiritual development in the community. It supports the renovation of places of worship and sponsors mass weddings for SM employees. Another is the Henry Sy Foundation, which recognizes the role of higher education in development. It has provided support for academic infrastructures in various institutions of learning, including the UP Medical Alumni Foundation for the construction of the Medical Arts Building at the Philippine General Hospital compound. It has also partnered with the UST Research and Endowment Foundation for the construction of the Henry Sy Hall.
Four decades in, the SMFI and its affiliate foundations will continue to banner its founding principle of people helping people until we live our vision: a Philippines where everyone has the opportunity for self-improvement and the environment is sustained for future generations./PN
