MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Retail giant SM’s loyalty program SM Advantage Card (SMAC) has donated Php 5.5 million to the Hapag Movement gathered over the holidays through vigorous support from its members. The donation to the Globe-led program aims to address involuntary hunger among Filipinos affected by the pandemic and economic challenges.
Under the month-long campaign over the Christmas season, proceeds from every SMAC card sold was donated to the movement and SM Foundation programs.
Additionally, part of SMAC members’ extra points earned through purchasing select items from SM’s partner establishments– SM Store, SM Beauty, SM Appliance, Kultura, Surplus, Our Home, Baby Company, Crate and Barrel, Levi’s, The Body Shop, Forever21, Ecco, and Miniso– were donated to the Hapag Movement from December 15, 2022, until January 15, 2023, making holiday shopping even more meaningful and impactful. This is very empowering as each SMAC member is able to participate in doing a Globe of Good!
SMAC’s donation will support supplementary feeding and livelihood initiatives by the Hapag Movement’s implementing partners: the Ayala Foundation, Inc, Caritas Philippines, Tzu Chi Foundation, and World Vision.
“We are very grateful to SMAC and the SM Group for their generous support for the Hapag Movement. This donation will have a significant impact on the lives of those who are experiencing involuntary hunger, especially as the movement aims to expand its reach this year to help more of our vulnerable kababayans,” said Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer Yoly Crisanto.
“This program is a true demonstration of the heart and generosity of SMAC members as well as the SM brands and its affiliates who came together and supported this campaign. All SMAC membership cards sold and all purchases made with SMAC converted a donation amount that far exceeded our expectations. SMAC became a channel through which members were able to bless our fellowmen who are experiencing involuntary hunger with the Hapag Movement,” said Jay Beltran, SMAC Head of Sales and Marketing.
“Without the help of our members, we would not have been able to raise as much as PHP5.5 million in just one month. We are immensely grateful to our customers for choosing to shop for a cause by using SMAC. Through your support, vulnerable families will get proper meals and livelihood training,” Beltran said. Globe’s Hapag Movement leverages on technology and collaboration to help 100,000 families experiencing involuntary hunger through supplemental feeding and livelihood support.
An estimated 2.7 million Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger in the first quarter of 2023, according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey.
Those who would like to support the Hapag Movement may donate via GCash and credit cards or send their unused Globe Rewards points to the cause via the GlobeOne app. To learn more about Globe, visit its website.
