Blog BNP Paribas | The bank for a changing world » Solidarity

Special Olympics Belgium, a fusion of sport and solidarity

Freddy Quidousse — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:29:29 +0000

3000 athletes from all corners of Belgium came together from 8 to 11 May, to celebrate the 32^nd edition of the Special Olympics National Games.

Athletes, relatives, educators, and coaches from more than 200 clubs, as well as volunteers, gathered together. The event took place in the Blaarmeersen Sports and Recreation Park, and four other sites of the region around Ghent, in Belgium.

The goal: enable people suffering from mental illness to push their limits and achieve their personal best through sport.

This year’s Games included a new sport, with particular importance to BNP Paribas: tennis!

BNP Paribas Fortis is, once again, a partner for the event. Around thirty members of staff from the bank gave a helping hand with passion and enthusiasm!

Fencing for a greater cause

Claudio Rosa — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:56:27 +0000

As a part of a team-building activity for 25 of its partners, BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions Italy joined forces with Associazione art4sport, a non-profit organization dealing with sport as a tool for physical and psychological recovery in kids and young people with limb prosthesis. Its goal is to provide economic, practical and organizational support to these young athletes and their families.

art4sport got its inspiration from the story of Bebe (Beatrice Vio), a young girl passionate about fencing, among many other things. When she was 11 years old she suffered from a serious illness, requiring the amputation of her four limbs. Despite this unfortunate circumstance, she went back to leading a normal life. One of the factors that made her react with strength and determination was her desire to practice her beloved sport of fencing once again, in spite of the considerable physical setbacks.

The Leasing Solutions partners not only got a lesson in fencing from art4sport; on the first evening of our team-building weekend, Bebe and her parents shared their experience. During the dinner we gave our contribution to the organization to buy a fencing board for wheelchair athletes.

An inspiring collaboration for all involved!

From Good to Great!

Claudio Rosa — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:33:06 +0000

In May 2012, a violent earthquake hit the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. Its impact: 27 victims, 350 people hurt, and no less than 45,000 residents evacuated in the area surrounding Modena.

In the face of this natural catastrophe and the havoc it wreaked, a group of managers from BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions Italy wanted to get involved to help this community. Over the course of a 2-day “Management Meeting”, these people put their knowledge and energy to good use with a group of elementary school students at a school in Mirandola that had been destroyed during the earthquake. Their energy was appreciated by everyone, and represented a welcome contribution to the reconstruction process.

An enriching experience for the participating managers—as well as for the local residents!

Philanthropy Spotlight: Rebuilding Together San Francisco

Lily Ruiz — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:01:34 +0000

Rebuilding Together San Francisco mobilizes teams of volunteers to provide free repairs and renovations for low-income, elderly and disabled San Franciscans, enabling them to live independently.

Rebuilding San Francisco was one of the finalist of the “Team Member Commitment” category at the Bank of the West’s philanthropy awards, honouring the work of a Bank of the West team member whose leadership has significantly advanced the organization’s mission and inspired fellow team members.

Bank of the West’s Wealth Management Group and Community Affairs created the Philanthropy Awards program in 2010 to recognize outstanding examples of organizations and individuals who are making a difference in their communities.

Philanthropy Spotlight: Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Lily Ruiz — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:51:29 +0000

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, based in Omaha, provides pediatric health care services for more than 250,000 children annually in a five-state region.

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center was one of the finalist of the “Team Member Commitment” category at the Bank of the West’s philanthropy awards, honouring the work of a Bank of the West team member whose leadership has significantly advanced the organization’s mission and inspired fellow team members.

Philanthropy Spotlight: Kansas Children’s Service League

Lily Ruiz — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:18:13 +0000

Kansas Children’s Service League helps more than 40,000 families each year with adoption services, foster care, early childhood education and family support services.

The League was the winner of the “Team Member Commitment” category at the Bank of the West’s philanthropy awards, honouring the work of a Bank of the West team member whose leadership has significantly advanced the organization’s mission and inspired fellow team members.

A Race for Mental Health Awareness

Joyce Leung — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:20:20 +0000

More than HK $3.7 million (close to € 365,000) was donated to this year’s “Walk Up Jardine House” in Hong Kong in March.

The event was organized by the Jardine Ambassadors, which has raised more than HK$38 million (over € 3.7 million) for over 360 charitable projects benefiting more than 360,000 people since it was founded in 1982.

Participants run or walk up 49 floors to the building’s penthouse in an effort to raise money for mental health initiatives.

All proceeds from the event go to MINDSET, the Jardine Matheson Group’s philanthropic initiative in Hong Kong and mainland China created in 2002. The organization long-term goal is to change people’s attitudes towards mental health issues by increasing awareness and understanding. It also provides direct assistance for individuals, families and organizations in need of help.

The bank’s team in the relay section included Wenjun Cai, Brahim Boudi, Jackal Lam, Jason Lau and Steven Hui. Emmanuel Fade from Wealth Management took part in the solo competition. All of our team members were generously supported by colleagues in CIB and Wealth Management.

Philanthropy Spotlight: WESST

Lily Ruiz — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:54:28 +0000

As a part of its 2012 philanthropy award program, Bank of the West recognized the work of 9 different organizations and the positive impact they had on their communities. WESST was the second of two finalists in the “Community Impact” category, a prize created to recogniz a nonprofit inspired by a Bank of the West customer with a history of philanthropic activity.

WESST, a New Mexico-based small business development and training organization targets low-income women and minorities who are aspiring or established small business owners.

Nominations for the Community Impact Awards were submitted by Bank of the West employees. The winner and finalists in these two categories were chosen by an independent committee of foundation leaders.

Philanthropy Spotlight: Lutheran Family Services

Lily Ruiz — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:55:24 +0000

As a part of its 2012 philanthropy award program, Bank of the West recognized the work of 9 different organizations and the positive impact they had on their communities. Here’s a glimpse of one of the two finalists in the “Community Impact” category, aimed at recognizing a nonprofit inspired by a Bank of the West customer with a history of philanthropic activity.

Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc. provides prevention and intervention programs to more than 35,000 individuals annually from more than 30 locations in Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas.