Proximus

In October 2004, the Proximus Foundation, created by Proximus in December 2002, launched a call for projects among some 1500 non-profit associations operating in the social sector in Belgium. The goal is to offer these associations financial and human support for a project implemented in 2005. Proximus employees were also invited to submit projects in co-operation with non-profit associations. By 15 November, the closing date for submitting projects, the Proximus Foundation had received 561 application files. Proximus has donated a total of € 500,000 to the Proximus Foundation for its work in 2005.

The independent Proximus Foundation assessment panel, chaired by Baudouin Michiels, Chairman of the Prince Albert Fund, and including Belgian personalities such as Ingrid Berghmans, former judo champion, Dominique Monami, ex Belgian ladies' tennis champion, Marlène de Wouters, star presenter on Flemish TV channels, and Claude Delacroix, a well-known figure on Belgian radio and television, selected the winners of the Panel's Prize.

Proximus staff were then able to vote via the company intranet to choose the winner of the Employees' Prize.

Proximus is now entrusting its customers with the task of selecting the last four projects to benefit from financial support from the Proximus Foundation in 2005. The Proximus Foundation panel also short listed ten projects from which Proximus customers can choose their favourites by voting free of charge by SMS to 2728, throughout March and up to 10 April. Each customer has a single vote. To be valid, the SMS sent to 2728 will simply have to contain the number 1 to 10 indicating the project that the customer wishes to have selected. A free SMS will be returned to confirm the vote.

The ten initiatives will be presented in an enclosure with the March bill as well as on the Proximus Foundation website (www.proximusfoundation.be). The four projects designated by Proximus customers will share a maximum of € 100,000.

The result of the Employees', Panel's and Customers' votes will be published in May.

The Proximus Foundation: three years of activity and € 1 million already given to Belgian non-profit associations

In December 2002, Proximus set up the Proximus Foundation, a public service foundation whose aim is to support Belgian residents who are disadvantaged by social exclusion, youth or disability, and to help these people to integrate into our society. At the same time, the Proximus Foundation endeavours to promote voluntary work among the operator's staff. To pursue these goals, Proximus has granted the Proximus Foundation an annual budget of € 500,000 en 2003, 2004 and 2005.

The Proximus Foundation works via calls to submit projects. Each year in October, non-profit associations recognised by the Ministry of Finance which operate in the fields of social assistance and/or assistance for the disabled are invited to submit a project to the Proximus Foundation assessment panel. Projects can also be submitted by Proximus employees who wish to work in partnership with an association.

Three categories of prize are awarded by the Proximus Foundation: the Employees' Prize (max. € 50,000), the Panel's Prize (max. € 350,000) and the Customers' Prize (max. € 100,000). In 2004, 36 projects were supported by the Proximus Foundation (project descriptions can be found at www.proximusfoundation.be).

The Proximus Foundation is the outcome of civic reflection within the company, which was already in the habit of encouraging initiatives in the social, health and environment sectors (including preferential SMS rates for the deaf and hard of hearing, and support from time to time for various initiatives such as the Flanders Red Cross Duck Race, the Cédric Foundation, Child Focus and PC for Schools, where Proximus offers refurbished computers and printers released from its old IT stock to schools seeking such equipment).