Numico's Milupa teams in Portugal are currently planning a SupportingLives programme with the SOS Children's Village in the Guarda village. A joint effort of Baby, Clinical and Supply Point, the initiative launches on 13 October.
The SOS/Milupa SupportingLives kick-off event aims to create awareness of the programme and engage as many Numico Portugal employees as possible.
A programme presentation will be followed by a visit to the village for an open house, on 11 October 2006. This will be a unique chance for Milupa to meet SOS employees and children who will benefit from SupportingLives.
About Guarda
As the most remote of three SOS Children's Village in Portugal, SupportingLives is focusing its efforts on Guarda. The Village was founded in 1986 and is located in the northern part of the country at a distance of about 15 kms from the city centre of the town of Guarda.
The SOS Children's Village Guarda has a beautiful playground, family houses and an SOS Youth Facility that prepares older children for an independent life. Children from the Village attend public schools in the vicinity. For more information on the village, log on to www.sos-childrensvillages.org.
Why we are SupportingLives
"Business is about more than sales and profit," says Matt Berman, Managing Director and the Baby Project Sponsor. "The community in which we live needs to prosper too. SupportingLives enriches our community and enables us all to give back to children with a whole life ahead of them, but without home, parents, family or community to support them."
"Because it is a link between my personal values and the core values of the company," says Rosa Pena, Managing Director, Clinical.
“Why not support lives as a complement to our day to day challenges?” says Carlos Sobral, Supply Point Director.
"Family is the basis of any modern society," says Nuno Ogando, Customer Service and the Project Ambassador. "We, those who understand the importance of the words care, love and family are responsible to give the orphans the chance of having what they miss. We must support those in need, no with money, but care!"
Creating Awareness
In addition boosting involvement with SupportingLives internally, Milupa and Numico hope to promote a greater consciousness in the general public. Through a product branded charity drive and art exhibition, SupportingLives will not only raise funds, but create a greater awareness of our mission to help the vulnerable and disadvantaged
Fundraising
To raise SupportingLives funds, Milupa has joined with retail partners throughout the country. For every tin of Aptamil 3 (a milk intended for babies after initial breastfeeding) sold in October and November 2006, a certain amount was donated to SOS Children's Village Guarda. This promotion collected a total € 6,000!
Art Competition
Simultaneously, Milupa's Medical team will host an art competition for all Portuguese SOS Children. The competition will be the basis for a 2007 calendar to be distributed to our HCPs, customers and CRM consumers. The calendars will have bios and pictures of the young artists and villages will receive €1000 for every winning entry. The art will also be converted into official Milupa Holiday Greeting cards. The works will then be exhibited in 60 hospital lobbies throughout the country.
Christmas Party
To continue increasing Numico employee engagement, the Milupa team hosted a Christmas party with SOS Children's villages. The themed party -- Pirates of the Caribbean -- took place on 16 December and was another great chance for our people to meet the SOS caretakers and families. The party took place in Lisbon, and all the children had the chance to visit a Caravela (a 16th century ship) and interact with "Pirates."
Christmas card sale
Milupa employees were very enthusiastic when given the opportunity to buy Christmas cards with designs made by SOS Children's Villages kids. This initiative raised € 3,346.