THE alumni association of SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI) in Cebu held a special mass to honor the late Henry Sy Sr. on Thursday, Jan. 24, in SM City Cebu in time for his funeral in Manila.
Sy served as chairman of the SM Group of Companies (SMGC) and founder of SMFI, considered as the heart of the SMGC.
SMFI focuses on social inclusion by nurturing and caring for underserved communities where SM is present.
Established in 1983 by Sy and his wife Felicidad, SMFI continues to pursue its mission that is anchored on its founding principle of “people helping people.”
SMFI’s college scholarship program started with 100 scholars on its first year.
To date, it has supported almost 4,000 scholars, covering full tuition and monthly allowances. In Cebu, SMFI has produced over 700 scholars since it started in 1993.
Fr. Joseph de Aquino, who officiated the mass, thanked Sy and his family for all the help they extended for the Cebu scholars. He also mentioned the Sys’ generosity to the Archdiocese of Cebu when the family donated the Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod and the Cross Tower at the Archbishop’s Palace.
Sy, a philanthropist, attended the grand reunion of more than 1,000 alumni of the SMFI’s scholarship program last Jan. 6 in SMX Convention Center.
The Department of Education (DepEd), in a press statement, said SMFI is one of its “pioneer and constant partners in the adopt-a-school program, providing scholarships, teacher training, school supplies, financial literacy, information, communication and technology and multimedia packages. Sy will be fondly remembered as a valuable partner who invested in the education of the country’s future leaders and nation-builders.” (S)