Benfica Foundation wins Social Responsibility Award by the Fundação do Futebol – Liga Portugal
For the second time, Benfica Foundation was awarded with the Fundação do Futebol – Liga Portugal Social Responsibility Award with the initiative “Factory of Smiles”. An initiative that brought followers, collaborators and athletes together!
The Benfica Foundation saw its work with society and the most needy recognised by the Football Foundation – Liga Portugal and received the Social Responsibility Award for the month of December for the Fábrica dos Sorrisos project, which helped dozens of institutions and hundreds of people, including several children and families.
Carlos Moia, executive president of the Benfica Foundation, was happy for the award received, “for the support” given to the institution and assumed that it is the culmination of “a great partnership” between two foundations.
“The Benfica Foundation has this social responsibility, and not just at Christmas as it happened, and it was something we felt very strongly about. For us, it’s Christmas all year round. This is a project that has been going on for years and it is an award that honours us a lot, given by a foundation with whom we have a great partnership, where there is a lot of openness on both sides. Sometimes you don’t need awards, but incentives, and that incentive has been given, not only by these awards, but also by the support we feel is given to the Benfica Foundation.”
Carlos Moia, Executive President of the Benfica Foundation
For Carlos Moia it is clear that the award was only possible because the Benfica Foundation and its recognised project counted on “the help of the athletes, employees and many supporters”.
“This award was given due to the Fábrica dos Sorrisos project, which counts on the help of the athletes, employees and many supporters, and we were able to buy toys, clothes and food that were given to 17 institutions, 500 children, 100 homeless people and hampers to 50 families. It was a beautiful project, with a great impact on people in need.”
Carlos Moia, Executive President of the Benfica Foundation
The Social Responsibility Prize was delivered by Alberto Santos, member of the board of directors, who was representing the Football Foundation – Liga Portugal. To BTV he explained the reasons that lead to awarding the prize to sports societies or foundations linked to sports societies, as is the case of the Benfica Foundation.
“The Social Responsibility Award is given by the Football Foundation – Liga Portugal and aims, above all, to recognise the work of the foundations linked to sports societies or of the sports societies done beyond football. Football has a great impact on society, it is aggregating, it generates emotions and mobilises. We believe that football, beyond sporting competition, should have another mission, which is to reach out to social causes and mobilise beyond the sporting phenomenon and football itself. There is nothing better than using football to appeal to society for these causes or even for fair play.”
Alberto Santos, Member of the Board of Directors
“It is an award that honours us greatly, delivered by a foundation with whom we have a great partnership”
Carlos Moia, Executive President of the Benfica Foundation
“Every month, the Football Foundation – Liga Portugal awards a prize to a sports society or a foundation linked to a sports society that in the previous month distinguished itself by one or several initiatives that managed to carry this message of social responsibility. Last month [December], the Benfica Foundation elaborated and executed a very relevant action, which was the Fábrica dos Sorrisos (Smile Factory), that touched the hearts and emotions of many children and needy families, showing its concern for society as a whole.”
Alberto Santos, Member of the Board of Directors
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