On March 5, 2009 the sixth edition of the People for People Gala designated its 17 winners. The event was organizaed by AmCham Romania and the Association for Community Relations. This year’s edition was organized in partnership with BRD - Groupe Société Générale, and Vodafone Romania sponsored the event.
Realitatea FM, The Money Channel, TVR, esimplu.ro and stiriong.ro helped to communicate the message of the Gala.
The 118 projects nominated in this edition amounted a total of 27 400 000 EUR, a new record for the Gala. In 2007 we had a total of nearly 11 000 000 EUR.
The 17 winners of the night were:
1. Award for the highest impact in the community of an SME through sponsorship
Johnson Wax for the United Way fundraising campaign
The employees can make a monthly or yearly donation to United Way. The company doubles / increases the amount raised from the employees and in 2007 Johnson Wax contributed with 58 000 euro to the payroll giving program.
2. Award for the best corporate voulunteering program
Genpact for Genpact Volunteers
This project meant more than 100 employees that contribute with time, effort and experience in various activities - from qualified / specialized one to phisical and socializing activities. Genpact launched Genpact Volunteers Portal, an internal portal addressing its’ employees interested in volunteering.
3. Award for the best corporate community program
Realitatea TV for “Romania prinde radacini”
Over 550 000 EUR raised in one month (September 2008) for emergency help and school materials for over 4500 children. The campaign was a partnership with UNICEF. 2 000 volunteers mobilized in the planting campaign in October 2008, a partnership with RNP Romsilva, MaiMultVerde, Petrom.
4. Special Award of the Jury for Microsoft Romania for “Microsoft Unlimited Potential Fund”.
With the grant offered by Microsoft 34 community centers (ecenters) were inaugurated in rural areas, aiming to develop abilities in information technology, which are crucial in getting a job during 2008, almost 2200 people participated to trainings.
5. Award for the donor of 2008
Dinu Patriciu for endowing the nationwide scholarship program in wich 5 000 scholarships of 200 ron/month for highschool students were awarded
each year and 500 scholarships of 300 ron/month for college students.
6. Award for best volunteering campaign
“Pentru Voi” Foundation for “A friend for you”
The life of 35 people with intellectual disabilities has been significantly changed – they discovered new things, met new people or gained a friend that helped them feel appreciated and belonging.
7. Award for best fundraising campaign
Habitat for Humanity
Their campaign “ Home again” raised 884 000 euros, comunicated Habitat’s message about responding to desasters to almost 1400 companies, mobilized corporate volunteers and local authorities who contributed with land and raised resources that helped 110 families.
8. Award for media institutions promoting resource mobilization projects
Mereu Aproape Foundation aims to improve life conditions for children through improving sanitary conditions, promoting life saving activities and sponsorship on child protection actions and promoting children’s rights. Intact Media Trust stars helped the foudation raise over 642 000 euros using a teledon. The funds were used for medical equipement at the Marie Currie Pediatric Hospital.
9. Award for best cause related marketing- P&G for “A chance to life, a chance to new memories”
The program aimed to increase the number of operated malformations to babies if discovered in an early stage. The program involved an information campaign addressing parents, family doctors and specialists, as well as bringing new equipment into two operating rooms in Targu Mures.
10. Award for the highest impact in the community for a corporate sponsorship program
Unicredit Tiriac Bank for Cicloteque
Cicloteque is the first rental center for bikes in Bucharest, and it comes as an alternative for green transportation. As of August 1st, Cicloteque has over 100 bicycles that can be rented.
11. Award for the coherence in the CCI strategy and high impact in the community through their programs for PETROM
PETROM was nominated for very diverse community involvement projects – financing local development strategies in remote rural areas, volunteering projects, planting projects and social programs. Their strategically use of resources, the way they involve their employees, clients, media and other stakeholders motivated the Jury to offer them an award outside and beyond a category.
12. Award for remarkable individual contribution in a resource mobilization program
Elena Dinu for the intervention in the Danube Delta
The Danube Delta is not affected only by pollution, but also forgotten. Elena Dinu mobilized 5 photographers and organized an exhibition. With the money raised she helped the people of Letea to rehabilitate the school. Elena mobilized professionals, companies and the locals and managed to change things where others failed.
13. Special award for the fundraiser of the year- Cristiana Ionescu, SOS Children’s Village Romania
With only 32000 euros spent, Cristiana Ionescu, fundraiser and PR specialist brought the children, teenagers and families in the SOS programs (over 15,000 beneficiaries) funds in the amount of 206000 euros, by approaching companies in Romania.
She managed not just to raise funds, but also supporters and friends for SOS.
14. Special award for public figure fundraiser
Mihaela was chosen as UW Ambassador because “the energy, enthusiasm and passion she puts in this project will do a great deal for the Foundation” (Radu Florescu, president of the UW Romania). Mihaela Radulescu participates actively to public events and uses her image to promote social causes and United Way.
15. The award of the Jury of the Press for a public figure
HRH Princess Margarita of Romania for the way in wich she chosed to use her public image in order to mobilise resources for the communities in Romania.
16. The award of the Jury of the press for a company.
Unicredit Tiriac Bank for “Cicloteque” and the way the company promoted creatively the results of the program.
17. The award of the Jury of the Press for an NGO
TETA Association received this award for the Ideo Ideis Theater festival that they organize in Alexandria with very limited resources and a huge impact.
