In the face of the overwhelming challenge to provide immediate relief to a multitude of people affected by super typhoon Yolanda, The Ascott Limited (Ascott) in the Philippines steps forward to do its share. Ascott, with support from CapitaLand Hope Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Ascott’s parent company, CapitaLand, aims to raise PHP1.5 million for the emergency relief response of World Vision.
(TRAVPR.COM) SINGAPORE - January 28th, 2014 - Ascott’s parent company, CapitaLand, launches online donation drive
Manila, Philippines, 26 November 2013 – In the face of the overwhelming challenge to provide immediate relief to a multitude of people affected by super typhoon Yolanda, The Ascott Limited (Ascott) in the Philippines steps forward to do its share. Ascott, with support from CapitaLand Hope Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Ascott’s parent company, CapitaLand, aims to raise PHP1.5 million for the emergency relief response of World Vision.
World Vision’s relief efforts aim to provide food, blankets, mosquito nets, tarps, hygiene kits and emergency shelter to nearly 400,000 typhoon victims. The child-focused humanitarian agency has also started setting up child-friendly spaces in the badly hit provinces to help children recover from the trauma and regain a sense of normalcy following the disaster.
Ascott’s fundraising campaign officially kicked off during its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony held on 21 November in Ascott Makati. Led by Ascott Philippines’s management committee and joined by Mr Jun Godornez, World Vision’s Associate Director for National Resource Development and TV host and model Mr Marc Nelson, a World Vision sponsor, the serviced residence owner-operator rallied for contributions from guests.
From 18 November to 22 December 2013, World Vision will be accepting cash donations from their booths located in the lobby of Ascott’s serviced residences – Ascott Makati in Ayala Center, Somerset Millennium Makati in Legaspi Village and Somerset Olympia Makati along Makati Avenue.
Ascott's local staff have extended support to the typhoon victims through their time and donations. About 40 employees volunteered daily for one week in the packing of relief goods bound for Tacloban and an internal fundraising drive is underway.
In support of the local fundraising efforts, CapitaLand Hope Foundation has launched an online donation drive. For every electronic Christmas greeting card sent from the website www.capitaland.com/cards from 20 November till 31 December 2013, CapitaLand Hope Foundation will donate PHP70 (SGD2) to World Vision.
Mr Arthur Gindap, Ascott’s Regional General Manager for the Philippines and Thailand, said, “The onslaught of typhoon Yolanda has caused tremendous damage and resulted in the loss of thousands of lives. Together with strong support from CapitaLand Hope Foundation, we hope to provide life-saving essentials to affected families through World Vision and at the same time send a strong message that they are not alone. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this trying time.”
Supporting disaster relief efforts is one of the ways Ascott does its part for the communities which it operates in. With the support of CapitaLand Hope Foundation, Ascott has extended emergency relief to victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011, the Sumatra earthquake in Indonesia and typhoon Ondoy (international name Ketsana) in the Philippines in 2009.
About The Ascott Limited
The Ascott Limited is a Singapore company that has grown to be the world's largest international serviced residence owner-operator. It has more than 23,000 operating serviced residence units in key cities of Asia Pacific, Europe and the Gulf region, as well as over 10,000 units which are under development, making a total of more than 34,000 units in over 200 properties.
The company operates three brands – Ascott, Citadines and Somerset. Its portfolio spans 82 cities across more than 20 countries, 21 of which are new cities in Ascott’s portfolio where its serviced residences are being developed.
Ascott, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CapitaLand Limited, pioneered Asia Pacific’s first international-class serviced residence with the opening of The Ascott Singapore in 1984. In 2006, it established the world’s first Pan-Asian serviced residence real estate investment trust, Ascott Residence Trust. Today, the company boasts a 29-year industry track record and award-winning serviced residence brands that enjoy recognition worldwide.
Ascott’s achievements have been recognised internationally. Recent awards include World Travel Awards 2013 for ‘Leading Serviced Apartment Brand’ in Asia and Europe, DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards 2013 for ‘Best Serviced Apartment/Residence Operator’, Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards 2013 for ‘Best Serviced Residence Brand’ and ‘Best Serviced Residence’, Business Traveller China Awards 2013 for ‘Best Serviced Residence Brand’, Business Traveller UK Awards 2013 for ‘Best Serviced Apartment Company’ and TTG China Travel Awards 2013 for ‘Best Serviced Residence Operator in China’.
About CapitaLand Hope Foundation
CapitaLand Hope Foundation, the philanthropic arm of CapitaLand, was established in 2005 to further CapitaLand’s community development commitment to ‘Building People – Building For Tomorrow’, by recognising that the long-term success of the company’s business is closely intertwined with the health and prosperity of the communities in which it operates.
Every year, CapitaLand allocates up to 0.5% of its net profit to the Foundation to promote social growth and development of underprivileged children with respect to their education, healthcare and shelter needs. CapitaLand Hope Foundation is a registered charity in Singapore and strongly believes each child has within them the potential for greatness, which if nurtured and built upon, can bring significant value to future societies.
Going beyond donations associated with charitable giving, the Foundation also focuses on giving time and attention to the children beneficiaries through advocating volunteerism. The strong commitment of volunteers embodies the true spirit of community development at CapitaLand.
About CapitaLand Limited
CapitaLand is one of Asia’s largest real estate companies. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, the company’s businesses in real estate and real estate fund management are focused on its core markets of Singapore and China.
The company’s diversified real estate portfolio primarily includes homes, offices, shopping malls, serviced residences and mixed developments. The company also has one of the largest real estate fund management businesses with assets located in Asia. CapitaLand leverages its significant asset base, real estate domain knowledge, product design and development capabilities, active capital management strategies and extensive market network to develop real estate products and services in its markets.
The listed entities of the CapitaLand Group include Australand, CapitaMalls Asia, Ascott Residence Trust, CapitaCommercial Trust, CapitaMall Trust, CapitaMalls Malaysia Trust, CapitaRetail China Trust and Quill Capita Trust.
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