OREANDA-NEWS. May 24, 2016. Convergys, the country’s largest private employer, was recently awarded a Silver Anvil for Specialized Public Relations-Advocacy Campaign, as well as a Quill Excellence for Communications Management – CSR category. Both distinctions were in recognition of Convergys’ successful launch and implementation of its nationwide campaign, “Give A Bag of Hope”.  The program saw Convergys employees contributing close to 22,000 backpacks complete with school supplies to Grades 1-3 pupils in 26 public schools and communities nationwide.

From May to July 2015, the three-month campaign was entirely employee driven and generated Php 8.21 Million in donations. Using a grassroots, localized approach, each Convergys Philippines site partnered with a public elementary school, many of which were already previous site partners under the company’s Convergys Community Action Network CSR platform.

“We believe that education is a great equalizer – a means for people to have a chance at realizing their dreams so that inclusive growth can be a Philippine reality. But a lot of students drop out even before finishing elementary education, and one of the main reasons is the lack of school supplies. This challenge is what Give A Bag of Hope aims to address. We are proud that our employees came together to make a difference in the lives of the Filipino youth by empowering their dreams and hope for a brighter future,” said Convergys Philippines Senior VP and Country Manager Ivic Mueco.

Convergys employees also spent 8,450 volunteer hours to visit partner schools in Baguio, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Laguna, Cebu, Bacolod, and Davao to distribute their donated ‘bags of hope’ to schoolchildren.

The Anvil Awards represent the symbol of public relations excellence, conducted annually by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP). Quill Awards are meted for those achieving the highest global standard for business communication practices, given by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines.