Dell Philippines Commits to Making a Difference in the Community

Pledges long-term support for four local charities in aid of children’s causes

Dell Philippines has pledged support for four local charitable organisations promoting children’s welfare and education, further extending the company’s strategic global giving efforts to make a meaningful impact to communities around the world. The identified organizations are Tahanang Walang Hagdan, Inc., Childhope Asia Philippines, Inc., Children's Joy Foundation, Inc., and Haven for Children.

With an aim to address pressing social issues, Dell will work with these charities to provide assistance through technology, know-how and volunteer support. “We find that these four organizations have many needs, donations being just one of them,” Richard Teo, president for Dell Philippines said. “The activities that they need to roll out require volunteers and additional manpower, so I see our Make a Difference program as the best way to connect our team members and the communities that can benefit from our collective giving efforts.

“Our team members have always been passionate about wanting to help different communities, but in the past, they did not know how and where to go. By formalizing our strategic giving partners, we now encourage team members to devote their time to these worthy causes,” added Teo.

“We chose our current partners because they regularly need volunteers and team support. The programs may evolve, but the need for help is always there,” he said. “Dell Philippines will strive to sustain these charitable activities and lend our time year-on-year. The ultimate goal is to spread volunteerism among our people, and to see our efforts grow and benefit the community.”

Tahanang Walang Hagdan, Inc.

Dell has been supporting Tahanang Walang Hagdan, Inc.—a rehabilitation and skills training center dedicated to helping people with disabilities become productive and self-sufficient members of society—through mentoring, donations and volunteering at the center. Tess Lloren, resource mobilization director of Tahanang Walang Hagdan Inc., said “Dell really has compassion towards marginalized sectors; not all companies will stay with you throughout the years. They have been very supportive with our outreach programs and services and have really helped us in every way.

“Dell also donated several laptops which we use in the offices making our work faster and more efficient and also use them during our community visits in places where we undertake the community-based rehabilitation program,” she added.

The two organizations have also teamed up for a sustainable recycling program, another indication of the deep partnership between the two entities. According to Lloren, recyclable materials from the Dell Philippines offices will be sent to the center to be re-purposed. Items such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles can be reused by the foundation's staff, while newspapers are woven into other products, and non-recyclable items are sold to buyers of scrap materials. “The efforts of the volunteers and the proceeds really help us in sustaining our educational program for the young and with disabilities,” Lloren said.

Childhope Asia Philippines, Inc.

Advocating the cause to protect and defend the rights of street children and turn them into productive citizens, Childhope Asia Philippines, Inc. has also benefited from donations and time expended by Dell volunteers. “We need volunteers very badly because of the wide area we cover. We need a lot of support from willing and able people to teach in the areas where we operate, to engage with the children in educational and extra-curricular activities such as sports, singing and dancing, mathematics, reading and writing tutorials, physical exercises, handicrafts, computer literacy and values formation,” explained Teresita Silva, Childhope Asia Philippines’ president and executive director.

Dell’s Teo said “Dell's partnership with Childhope is part of our commitment to actively support children’s issues which are very close to the hearts of many Dell team members. There are mothers in our organization with children of their own whom we wish to see grow up and become productive members of our communities.” At present, Dell has supported Childhope Asia Philippines with footwear donations and feeding programs.

Children's Joy Foundation, Inc.

Dell team members have also been volunteering time, offering community classes for the abandoned and neglected children sheltered at the Children's Joy Foundation, Inc.

“The Dell Philippines team has been a very good partner of the Children’s Joy Foundation in achieving our advocacy to give a brighter future to destitute children across the country by providing quality education and empowerment of computer literacy program. We believe that the true measure of our success as an institution that helps children is seeing a lesser number of computer illiterate youths and more brilliant Filipino IT professionals who are inspired by good people like the Dell team,” said Rosemarie Dimagnaong, executive director of Children's Joy Foundation, Inc.

“The Dell team also spent an evening with the children during last year’s Christmas season. They made the kids very happy, giving them a reprieve from the rigors of daily life through a night of laughter and love,” she added.

Haven for Children

Haven for Children, a government institution working with more than a hundred former street children and substance abuse victims aged seven to 13, is another primary partner of Dell Philippines. Last year, Dell provided the organization and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with new desktop computers for the institution’s educational component. “We are very grateful to Dell for the computers they donated,” said Nieve Gentelizo, officer-in-charge of Haven for Children. “The children are now starting to learn computer basics, so Dell's donation really helped us a lot.”

Apart from donating clothing, medicine and other basic provisions, Dell team members can also volunteer for Haven for Children's computer literacy program to bolster the efforts of the five teachers in charge of the kids.

“More work can be done. Dell recognizes these concerns and our people from all levels and departments will continue to work with the four giving partners. The little things we can contribute can make a big difference,” Teo said. “If everyone of our over 1,600 team members contributes even two to three hours a month, the impact we can make in the communities and the lives of the underprivileged will be significant.”

About Dell

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services that give them the power to do more. Powering the Possible is Dell’s commitment to put technology and expertise to work where it can do the most good for people and the planet. Dell works with nonprofits to address pressing social issues by donating a combination of Dell technologies and solutions, funding, expertise and volunteer support. In 2011, Dell gave more