OVER 150 UPS employees in the Philippines contributed more than 2,235 volunteer hours in 2018.
This is part of a larger effort wherein UPS employees around the world, together with their families and friends, get together throughout the year for the shared goal of creating a positive and lasting impact in their communities.
Instilling a culture of unity and purpose allows UPS to cultivate a workforce that is dedicated not only to professional advancement, but also to personal growth.
“It is our continuous aspiration to reach out to communities in need through UPS’s employee-driven volunteerism. Every year, we strengthen our efforts further by identifying some of the most pressing problems that affect our areas of operation and acting to solve them,” said Chris Buono, managing director of UPS Philippines.
As a member of Impact 2030, the collaboration of the United Nations and the private sector, UPS aligns its volunteer activities with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In the Philippines, UPS collaborated with local non-government organizations (NGOs) for youth development, disaster relief aid, and environmental conservation.
Consistent with the company’s previous engagement with Project Pearls, a local NGO caring for impoverished children, UPS employees worked with the organization to promote two SDGs—“No Poverty” (Goal 1) and “Zero Hunger” (Goal 2).
UPS volunteers conducted a feeding program with the kids of Project Pearls, as part of efforts to decrease the incidence of child malnutrition in one of Metro Manila’s largest slum areas.
Moreover, UPS volunteers pushed for “Quality Education” (Goal 4) by visiting and donating school supplies to the Little Home of Nazareth, which provides young children with housing, education, clothing, food, and medical and dental care. Through these provisions, the organization gives children the opportunity to grow in freedom and independence.
In addition, UPS Philippines also held reading sessions and distributed school supplies to Tulong sa Kapwa Kapatid (2KK), a local NGO that builds sustainable communities by providing underprivileged youth in low-income neighborhoods with financial assistance and mentorship.
To boost Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3) and in support of the Philippine Red Cross, UPSers chose one out of their six major services — Blood Services, Disaster Management Services, Safety Services, Health Services, Social Services, Red Cross Youth and Volunteer Services — and donated blood to the organization, which is one of the major blood suppliers in the country.
To address environmental degradation and support “Climate Action” (Goal 13), UPS employees participated in the Coastal Clean-up Day with the Earth Day Network Philippines Inc. (EDNPI).
UPS volunteers in Cebu also helped in the repacking of goods for distribution to the victims of Typhoon Ompong, which caused heavy damage to agriculture and infrastructure.
This year saw an unprecedented level of engagement, with more than 26,000 UPSers completing over 2,000 community service events across five continents. Collectively, UPS employees devoted over 430,000 volunteer hours globally.
UPS’s initiatives are geared toward fulfilling their commitment to volunteer 20 million community service hours by the end of 2020. To date, they have already reached 80 percent of its goal. (PR)