PBSP holds Breakfast Fellowship for new CEOs and non-MCs

The Foundation held a Breakfast fellowship at the President's Room in the Manila Polo Club on April 26, 2007. The fellowship provides a forum for new CEOs and non-PBSP members to know more about the Foundation and the various programs it can engage in.

Several attendees shared their experiences in working with PBSP on CSR and social development projects. Kraft Food (Philippines), Inc. Stakeholder Management Manager Raymund Soberano cited the success of their Healthy and Active Lifestyle Enhancement Project (HALE) while First Philippine Holdings Corporation Vice President for HRMG Rey Sarmenta referred to their partnership with PBSP in implementing the Paliparan Integrated Community Development Program. Monark Equipment President Edmidio Ramos informed the group how PBSP helps their company in institutionalizing their disaster response mechanism.

Several of the attendees expressed interest in becoming involved with the Foundation. Many have cited instances where their efforts on social development have failed due to lack of experience or disappointing involvement with local government units. PBSP Executive Director Gil Salazar informed the group that several MCs have already formed their own foundations yet chose to partner with PBSP because they saw the strengths of the Foundation in the area of CSR and social development. Modern Glass Distributors Inc. President and PBSP Trustee Amb. Bienvenido Tan closed the fellowship by encouraging the participants to get involved in social development and do something for the society.

At the end of the program, Stradcom Corporation and Ang Ating Tinapayan signed the Statement of Commitment, witnessed by Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc Chair Marixi Prieto, Mr. Rey Sarmenta, Mr. Gil Salazar and PBSP Director Michael Camello.

CAFO and IPS holds workshop on venture philanthropy

The Conference of Asian Foundations and Organizations (CAFO) and Institute for Policy Studies-Singapore (IPS) organized a workshop on venture philanthropy entitled, "Incubating Social Innovation" on March 30, 2007 at IPS Conference Room in Heng Mui Keng, Singapore.

The workshop introduced a model in venture philanthropy where donors are actively engaged, as business angels, to the social enterprises that they are trying to incubate. The workshop also introduced a toolkit developed by Social Ventures Partners (SVP) as basis in discussing how to establish and operate a social venture fund. Speakers include SVP Seattle Senior Program Manager Aaron Jacobs and Tokyo Social Ventures Director Ken Ito.

If you want to know more about venture philanthropy, email the CAFO secretariat or call them at (632) 527- 7741 loc. 104. Look for Mercy Rosetes. You may also log on to the CAFO Network for more details.