STAR spearheads support for HERO

Manila, Philippines - Heeding anew the clarion call for corporate heroism, The Philippine STAR, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this July, recently made a donation to support the work of the HERO Foundation.

Headed by Ayala Corp. president and COO Fernando Zobel de Ayala as its chairman, HERO, which stands for Help Educate and Rescue Orphans, assists children of soldiers in the frontlines of battle whose lives are perennially at risk.

Through its president and CEO Miguel Belmonte, The Philippine STAR turned over a P500,000 check to the foundation last Wednesday, thus spearheading support for the foundation in its renewed clamor for business leaders to help raise funds for the benefit of families of afflicted soldiers. Belmonte is also a trustee of the foundation.

“It is a great honor for us to do our share in taking care of the welfare of children left behind by our fighting men in uniform, on account of whose service and bravery we are all able to sleep soundly at night. The financial assistance is the least we can offer for their sacrifices,” Belmonte said.

In providing much-needed support to the foundation, The STAR is also taking a stand against alleged corruption in the higher echelons of the armed forces, which serves to belittle the gallantry of soldiers thrust into the battlefields fighting a war not their own.

A new board of trustees was recently elected to revitalize the foundation, which is targeting to reach a trust fund of at least P100 million by 2015.

To date, HERO Foundation has helped over 2,000 orphans since it was established in 1988. Of this number, more than 700 have already finished college, even as the number of orphans needing support continues to grow.

“It is a significant number, but we know we can do more. After all, if we think about it, ensuring the education of our soldiers’ orphans is a small sacrifice compared with the selfless heroism that comes with offering one’s life for the country,” Zobel said in a previous piece published in The STAR.

Through the HERO Foundation, qualified orphans are provided a stipend for meals, transportation and school supplies, thereby enabling them to sustain their schooling.

Interested parties who wish to share their resources with the HERO Foundation may call tel. 912-0361 or 912-9330 or log on to herofoundationinc.com.