Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc.

Established in 1982 as the social arm of the Shell companies in the Philippines (SciP), Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc (PSFI) marks a milestone as it surpasses its 1 millionth beneficiaries mark on its 25th year.

For a quarter of a century, PSFI has been managing social development programs of national and local scales ranging from leadership enhancement and attitude development; technical and vocational skills development, and employment; health, sanitation, and safety; livelihood and entrepreneurship development; educational improvement; and environmental stewardship.  It currently operates in 14 areas nationwide - - Pandacan, Batangas City, Palawan, Oriental Mindoro, Camarines Sur, Tagbilaran City, Muntinlupa City, Tacloban, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Apayao, Quirino, and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao with focus on Sulu, and Tawi-tawi.  The foundation maintains its hub at its head office in Shell House, Makati City.

PSFI’s latest beneficiaries count adds up to more than 1.4 million individuals.  “We are committed to come up with more programs that not only reaches more individuals but, more importantly, empowers people to improve their way of life,” says PSFI Executive Director Edgardo Veron Cruz.

The year was 1982. The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) was on its 10th year of involvement in social development - - now widely known as corporate social responsibility - - as a pioneering effort of the business community.

Having just served as chairman of PBSP at that time, it became evident to me that there was an urgent need to address the growing problem of school dropouts and rising unemployment among the young.  Thus, was established the Pilipinas Shell Foundation. Its primary mission - - to provide training and employment opportunities for this segment of our citizenry.

The initial program focused on industrial skills, harnessing government and private vocational institutions, followed by on-the-job training and employment. A similar program for farm training under the auspices of state agricultural colleges followed shortly.

As we celebrate 25 years of PSFI, we can feel justifiably proud of what our foundation has achieved:

- a vigorous and sustaining program of vocational, industrial, and agricultural

training;

- thriving livelihood, entrepreneurial and microcredit activities in many communities;

- environmental conservation, and sustainable development projects in the countryside;

- initiatives in teacher training for Math, Science, and English profi ciency in public schools; and,

- a coordinated, globally funded “Movement Against Malaria” programme to make the Philippines malaria-free within the foreseeable future.

All in all, PSFI has so far touched the lives of more than one million Filipinos in its various activities.

I would like to thank most sincerely our benefactors, partners, and supporters for their continued trust and confidence.

I salute our beneficiaries who have over the years worked hard, persevered, made something of themselves, and contribute to national progress.

Most of all, I congratulate our PSFI men and women, in particular our “foot soldiers” and their equally hardworking co-workers in government and in the private sector in the far-flung areas of the archipelago, for their selfless dedication to uplift the lives of those less fortunate among us.

May God continue to bless you and keep you in His care.

I am proud to report that Pilipinas Shell Foundation has reached more than 1,400,000 beneficiaries since it was organized on August 19, 1982.

As PSFI celebrates a historical landmark as a corporate foundation, we salute our beneficiaries who are living testaments that, given the opportunity, the Filipino can rise no matter what the odds.

PSFI will always pride of the personal achievements of its beneficiaries, and we are grateful to them for not letting their foundation down. They have proven themselves worthy of carrying with them the reputation of Shell. We hope that their younger counterparts keep that honor as they behold the experiences of their seniors as PSFI beneficiaries and as professionals in their respective fields.

Just as we are proud, we are equally humbled by the realization that 25 years of helping people go further in life would not have been possible without the active involvement of and resources provided by our partners. PSFI’s 25th Year Anniversary is also celebrated to pay tribute to 25 years of purposeful collaborations with our partners from the industry, government, civil society, and academe.

With each step we make in pursuit of our mandate to enable the disadvantaged become productive and responsible members of society, we leave behind a mark of PSFI’s legacy - - one that signifies our small but meaningful share in nation-building; one that stays in the hearts of the lives we touch.