SM @60 distributed 60,000 pairs of shoes nationwide

October 8, 2018 Community Billboard

BAGUIO CITY – As part of its #AweSM 60th anniversary, SM malls in the country launched the project ”Change a life, Shoe some love”, a nationwide shoe drive where SM North Luzon malls and all other 71 malls distributed 60,000 pairs of sturdy shoes to selected public schools nationwide on October 1, 2018.
SM Baguio donated a total of 1,000 pairs of shoes to the elementary schools of Bakakeng, San Carlos Heights, Irisan (dumpsite), Sto. Tomas, Piminggan, San Pascual, Taloy Norte and Tuba.
A total of 2,000 pairs of shoes were given by SM Cabanatuan and SM Megacenter to Lazaro Francisco Integrated School, San Josef Elementary School, ACA Elementary School and Sumacab Elementary School.
In Pangasinan, 20 employees from SM Rosales volunteered to distribute 1,000 pairs of shoes to 12 schools, namely the elementary schools of Cabalaoangan, Camangaan, Carmen, Guiling-Coliling, Palakipak, Pangaoan, Rabago, San Bartolome, San Isidro, Sitio Baong and Tomana; Rosales South Central School; and SPED Center.
In SM Tarlac, a total of 17 Shopping Center Management Corporation (SCMC) employees extended their help in the distribution of 1,000 pairs of shoes to Asturias Elementary School, Mapalacsiao Elementary School and Carangian Elementary School.
One school prepared a drum and lyre band performance to show their warm welcome to SM Tarlac volunteers, while another school performed “Good Job Clap” for SM Tarlac and for Henry Sy Sr.
Students printed out “Agyaman Kami” (Nagpapasalamat kami) to show their deep gratefulness to SM for graciously donating shoes.
Meanwhile, 32 volunteers from SM Urdaneta also donated 1,000 pairs of school shoes to the students of Tabuyoc Elementary School, Don Amadeo Perez Sr. Central School-East, Trinidad Perez Elementary School, Don Amadeo Perez Sr. Central School-Main and Don Amadeo Perez Sr. Central School-West.
Another 1,000 pairs of shoes were given by SM Cauayan with 25 volunteers from SCMC employees. School beneficiaries were Minante 2 Elementary School in Cauayan City, Naguilian-Baculod Elementary School, Tubo Elementary School and San Ignacio Elementary School in Ilagan City, Isabela.
Up North, SM Tuguegarao, with 17 SCMC employees, joined the turnover of 200 sponsored pairs of shoes at Balzain Elementary school. The student beneficiaries received their pairs of shoes with so much joy as they also read the dedication cards the SM volunteers themselves have written for them. It was indeed a fun-filled and memorable Monday not only for SM North Luzon malls but also for those whose hearts have been touched by this nationwide shoe drive.
Mark Carlo Herrera reminisce the humble beginning in 1958, wherein shoemaker Henry Sy Sr. opened the country’s first Shoemart branch in Manila.
In 60 years, Sy’s SM has evolved into a giant conglomerate that operates 71 malls in the Philippines and several more in China, BDO, the Philippines’ largest bank, and a property arm in its business portfolio that includes residences, commercial buildings, resorts, hotels, and convention centers.
“Now after 60 years, SM would like to give back to the community by giving out 60,000 shoes to different public schools nationwide accumulated by a collaborative efforts of the company, the employees, agency personnel’s, tenants and other partners as our way of saying thank you to everyone,” Herrera said. ZALDY COMANDA / ABN