For a second year in a row, on June 11th, 2009 BNP Paribas hosted “Awards for Personal Philanthropy”.

The 2009 “Grand Prix” was awarded to Odon Vallet recognising the work of his foundation, which gives a large number of study grants each year to outstanding students from modest backgrounds.

The Fondation Vallet is one of France’s most generous private student sponsorship organisations.
Every year since 1999, Odon Vallet has given 300 grants of €3,600 to students enrolling to applied arts schools (including École Boulle, Arts Décoratifs, the École Dupérré, the Gobelins, the Femis) in addition to those enrolling in preparatory courses for the prestigious “grandes écoles”. This has been a very worthwhile cause with 88% of the students graduating successfully in previous years.

Operating under the “Fondation de France” name, Vallet has also worked overseas, awarding nearly 2000 grants to Vietnamese students and 800 to students from Benin.

copyright Vincent Bedon-BNP Paribas

The jury’s “Special Prize” was won by Albina du Boisrouvray for her work with the Association François-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB). Established in 1989, this organization is dedicated to combating poverty and helping orphaned children affected by the AIDS pandemic. Operating in 18 countries, the association has more than 450 employees and some 1400 volunteers. It runs over 100 programmes, including 50 FXB Villages (self-sustaining community development programs).

copyright Vincent Bedon-BNP Paribas

At the award ceremony, François Debiesse, CEO of BNP Paribas Wealth Management, said: “Our bank, as strong as it is, is always conscious of the wider world. By promoting dialogue between the business world and its surroundings, the BNP Paribas Philanthropy Awards are a channel to demonstrate our concern for the world around us. It is also a way of translating the bank’s values of boldness and creativity into a different environment”.