ASKI Foundation, Inc.
Spreading seeds of hope
When hope turned scarce like oil and gold during the COVID-19 global pandemic, one non-profit organization distributed seeds to keep hope alive.
ASKI Foundation, Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of the ASKI Group of Companies, Inc., develops and implements various community projects on education, health, environment, community development services, and spiritual transformation to promote socio-economic development through client-focused financial and non-financial services anchored on Christian principles.
During the pandemic, the Foundation focused on addressing the struggles and challenges brought about by the public health emergency and community quarantines in the country. It mobilized its resources and development partnerships to distribute groceries, food packs, cash assistance, and personal protective equipment (PPE) such as facemasks and face shields to various families and frontliners in Luzon. So poor families can cope after losing their livelihood due to the economic slowdown, the Foundation also provided various vegetable seeds that can be grown in backyards.
In 2020, the Foundation was able to distribute more than 2,000 packs of various seeds (mustard, okra, eggplant, pechay, pepper, string beans); 50 kilos of corn seeds; 800 food packs consisting of vegetables, dried fish, fresh chicken, eggs, and rice; 800 hygiene kits with facemasks; 50 bags of groceries; and 2,000 facemasks and face shields. To date, its CSR initiative has already benefited more than 750 families with more than P1.4 million raised through donations or grants from various groups. Along with the food aid distribution, various activities such as health and hygiene education and bible study or sharing were also held.
In turn, some beneficiaries from communities in Porac, Pampanga and Laur and Carranglan, Nueva Ecija expressed their gratitude and appreciation by joining the tree planting activities and other community work of the Foundation.
“The subsidies and relief assistance from the national and local government were useful (but were) limited and not enough due to the length of (the) strict community quarantines and inflation in the prices of their basic necessities especially food. The cash and in-kind assistance from the Foundation were a welcome boost to their hope that they can go through another day despite the uncertainty of the current global crisis,” ASKI Foundation said.
During its CSR activities, the Foundation enjoyed the support of its partners such as the Wholistic Transformation Resource Center, East West Seeds, and the local government units of Nueva Ecija and Pampanga. “These built partnerships highlight the significance of collaborated efforts that benefit the communities,” the Foundation said. “The CSR activities of ASKI Foundation during this pandemic demonstrate how to extend help to the needy families by utilizing its network and collaborating with private and public sector whose thrusts corresponds to the same mission of doing their part for the betterment of lives amidst the pandemic. This crisis is an opportunity to spread contagion of good will and ministry.”
In recognition of its initiatives, the Foundation was recognized in the Community Service Category of the ANG SUSI Awards, the first and only search for the best associations and association executives in the Philippines which shines the spotlight on the association sector’s contributions to national sustainable development. The award was bestowed by the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE), the “association of associations” in the country.