Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) continues to stand as one of the leading corporate foundations in championing education through investments in public school classrooms, comprehensive training for teachers and school principals, as well as scholarships and other support interventions for students.
Under the Build a School, Build a Nation program, SBFI closed 2024 with 845 classrooms donated to 145 schools across 86 cities and municipalities. The Foundation also constructed 62 classrooms with the help of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Local Government Units (LGUs) in Carmona, Cavite; Rosario, Cavite; Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur; Pangantucan, Bukidnon; Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija; Mabalacat, Pampanga; Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte; and Cotabato, Maguindanao del Norte.
SBFI repaired 70 classrooms that were previously donated, making a total of 449 classrooms since 2019. Donated classrooms have benefited over 266,000 students thanks to the stewardship of beneficiary schools.
SBFI’s three-year Mentoring Future Leaders for Nation-Building program trained 53 principals and 90 teachers last year in transformational leadership and innovative teaching methods. This was done in partnership with Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle Philippines, The HEAD Foundation of Singapore, and the University of Bristol in the UK.
Training programs since 2014 have supported 148 principals and over 36,000 teachers, enhancing educational quality nationwide.
The Scholars for Better Communities program provided scholarships to 359 students this year. Some scholarships were managed in partnership with eight universities in Metro Manila, and some were funded through donations from Security Bank employees. More than 2,000 scholars have been supported, with 225 college graduates. Of these graduates, 55 received Latin honors.
Security Bank employees supported SBFI, too. Employee volunteers painted 29 classrooms in Cavite, Zamboanga del Sur, and Pampanga. SBFI also secured a partnership with Ideal Vision Center to provide free vision screening to students in six schools, acknowledging that poor eyesight has become a barrier for students to learn better. Eyeglasses are to be distributed for free for 1,050 students by the first quarter of 2025.
SBFI’s programs have been recognized with several awards, including IABC Philippines’ Quill Award of Excellence for Employee Engagement, the Philippine Red Cross’ Most Outstanding Humanitarian Award, and the Department of Education Adopt a School Partner Award.
“Some of us may feel that the task of addressing the problems of education in our country is so overwhelming, that the efforts we are exerting would hardly make a difference. But I do not agree because I believe in the power of persistent cumulative influence,” said SBFI Chairman Rafael F. Simpao, Jr. “We also believe that it takes a community to properly raise a child. Together, let us be resolved that no matter what challenges we face, we shall not waver in our purpose and be victorious in elevating the learning of our youth,” Simpao added.
To learn more about SBFI’s programs and how you can contribute, visit www.securitybank.com/foundation.