Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria with two awards for workplace volunteering and donations

The company's team earned recognition among dozens of nominations in the annual awards of TimeHeroes and BCause Foundaion

The family of Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria was once again awarded for its volunteer and donation activities – this time by the largest volunteering platform in Bulgaria – TimeHeroes, as well as by the BCause Foundation, the Bulgarian Public Relations Association, the Bulgarian Association for People Management and the Bulgarian Association of CSR Professionals.

The company's volunteers earned recognition at the annual TimeHeroes Volunteer Awards – “THE HEROES”, in the "Companies" category – for their sustainable participation in the #YouthEmpowered program, which aims to provide full training to thousands of young people for a successful career start. The focus of the efforts is on the development of skills that will help the young people to have a smooth start, when entering the labor market.

In the program’s heart are its mentors, including a number of Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria experts who support the development of personal skills and business competencies in young people. Since 2017, more than 300 professionals have dedicated nearly 4,000 hours to volunteering under the program, thanks to which they have trained more than 16,000 young people across the country.

The program covers young people aged 16-26 and focuses on three main target groups: primary education students from schools with a high dropout rate, final stage of secondary education students (in order to prevent future dropouts) and college students (with a focus on increasing motivation and qualifications for a successful career start).

A few days ago Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria was also awarded with the BCause Foundation’s annual honorary donation badge for 2021 – “Responsible company – responsible employees”, which was given for the development of a program to promote regular donations among employees in the workplace.

“All of us who are part of the Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria family believe that every step is important for the common good and that personal example is at the basis of volunteering and giving. We will continue to donate our time, knowledge and experience willingly, because we sincerely believe in the causes we stand for. Thank you on behalf of our entire team for these recognitions and let us multiply the good deeds together – both with our hearts and our actions”, said Maya Ivanova, Corporate Partnerships and Social Responsibility Manager at Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria.

The annual awards "Responsible Company – Responsible Employees" are presented to Bulgarian companies that promote and develop workplace donations, for the seventh consecutive year. All candidates for the Annual Badge have a total of 117 different projects included in their applications, in which nearly 37,000 employees had the opportunity to participate in 2021. As a result of these efforts, BGN 1,150,000 were donated to various causes, as well tens of thousands volunteer hours.

The largest volunteer platform in Bulgaria – TimeHeroes.org, recognizes the strong examples that have contributed to the development of volunteer culture in the country, with the award “THE HEROES” for the fifth time in a row. Under the "See the heroes" motto this year the jury, composed of individuals with active citizenship, focused the spotlight on those volunteer stories, events and practices that are inspiring, bold and innovative, and are an expression of active community service or an example of significant positive impact on a cause or community.

Photos:

* Radina Gantcheva for TimeHeroes

** Georgi Merdzhanov for Because