Proximus

41 local projects for the disabled and for underprivileged children and young people will benefit from the €500.000 budget allocated by Proximus to the projects selected by the jury members of the Proximus Foundation. Of almost 400 applications received, these projects were selected by an independent jury of Belgian celebrities and experts in the domain, as well as Proximus employees and customers.

The 2007 Proximus Employee Award was presented to the non-profit association KHOCA (Kinder Hemato-Oncologisch Centrum Antwerpen – Centre for Child Hematology & Oncology in Antwerp). The aim of this non-profit organisation is to organise activities and purchase items that make the lives of children suffering from cancer or serious blood disorders more pleasant. Using practice dolls, the young children with cancer can prepare for medical treatment. They also provide support to children in handling the emotional effects they experience during and after their treatment. This project had outstanding results from the Proximus employees’ selection round. Thanks to the donation, this organisation is able to acquire the necessary practice dolls.

The Customers’ Prize

The four non-profit associations voted on by the Proximus customers conducting their projects in various regions: Anvasport from Melle, Cancer et Psychologie from Brussels, La Ferme de la Hulotte from Wavre and Aream from Schaarbeek.

Furthermore, a panel of Belgian celebrities and experts from the social sector selected 36 winning projects. The progress of each will be monitored by the Proximus Foundation throughout the year. To find out more, consult www.proximusfoundation.be.

The names and project descriptions of the non profit associations that were selected are enclosed.

Background of the call for project proposals

In October 2006, the Proximus Foundation, in collaboration with the King Baudouin Foundation, launched a call for projects among non profit associations operating in the Belgian social sector. The associations were given until the end of November 2006 to submit project proposals to the foundation. When the deadline of November 30 arrived, the Proximus Foundation had registered almost 400 applications.

In allocating the total sum of €500,000 and in selecting the winning projects, the Proximus Foundation established three award categories: the Proximus Employee Award (one project – maximum budget - €50,000); the Jury Award (maximum budget - €350,000) and the Customer Award (four projects – maximum budget - €100,000).

The jury met in early January 2007 to make its selection for the Jury Prize, that would reward 36 initiatives. For the Employee Award, they also chose 54 projects to be eligible for the employee vote, which was made possible through the Intranet pages reserved for employees of the Proximus Foundation. Finally, in March 2007, 10 projects were presented to Proximus Customers on their monthly bill and on the website of the Proximus Foundation. Once they had made their choice, customers could vote for their favourite project by sending an SMS message, free of charge.

Wednesday May 9, 2007 saw the Proximus Foundation gather representatives from the winning non-profit associations for the awards ceremony, which was followed by a reception where they had the opportunity to meet Proximus representatives and some of the members of the 2007 jury: Dominique Monami (Olympic tennis champion), Claude Delacroix (leading French-language radio personality), Chris Degheldere (sociologist and coordinator from the Federatie Pleegzorg - Foster Care Federation) and Baudouin Michiels (President of the Management Committee of the Fonds Prince Albert and President of the Belgacom Foundation). The other members of the jury Ingrid Berghmans (Olympic judo champion), Marlène de Wouters (Flemish television presenter) and Benoît De Decker (Director of the NGO Solidarcité) were unable to attend.

According to Michel Georgis, President of the Proximus Board of Directors and Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Proximus Foundation, “It is essential for companies such as Proximus to fulfill their role as a corporate citizen. That’s why the company develops products and services from which everyone, including those who are disadvantaged, can benefit. Other initiatives that the mobile phone operator is involved in include, for example, the development of responsible marketing and products and the development of energy and waste management policies. The Proximus Foundation is an important element in this active citizenship.”

The Proximus Foundation is the outcome of a discussion process within the company that had already fostered initiatives in the social, health and environmental fields. For example, Proximus has been offering preferential SMS rates to the deaf and hard of hearing as part of its promise to be more socially committed. The company also regularly sponsors a variety of initiatives, such as Child Focus and the Cedric Foundation. The PC for Schools project is yet another example of this commitment and involves Proximus donating school computers and printers that have been taken out of service and are no longer part of its computer pool. Since 2006, Proximus also offers structural support to Responsible Young Drivers.

The main objective of the Proximus Foundation is to provide assistance to people residing in Belgium who are disadvantaged by social exclusion, their age or by a handicap and to help them to integrate more fully in society. The Proximus Foundation also seeks to promote volunteer work among its employees.

To achieve these objectives, Proximus allocated the Proximus Foundation a total budget of €500,000 for 2007. Projects that are eligible for an award can either be submitted directly to the Foundation by non-profit associations or NGOs, or by Proximus employees who wish to work in partnership with an association.

More information:
Jean-Luc Van Kerckhoven
02 205 47 19
E-mail: responsibility@proximus.net