During the recent holidays, Bank of Cyprus (BoC) supported local communities, placing a special focus on children in need across the island.

SupportCY’s JOEY app, Santa Claus deliver gifts to kids

Throughout the Christmas campaign of JOEY, the new app for children, the Bank provided over 700 gifts to needy kids, distributed during the holidays by BoC’s SupportCY Santa Claus, riding in the network’s festively decorated fire engine.

Christmas gifts were handed out:

  • To children’s shelters all over the country, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Welfare
  • To children’s homes supported by the “One Dream One Wish” Pancyprian Association for children with cancer and related diseases and the “Fundraising” Foundation.
  • At the Archbishop Makarios III Hospital
  • At the Accident and Emergency (AED) Services of Nicosia General Hospital’s Paediatric Department
  • The Paediatric Department of the Limassol General Hospital
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities
  • To Polis Chrysochous Primary School pupils as part of the “Sophia for Children” Foundation’s “Cooking and Giving” programme. Students visited the Bank’s HQ to sing carols, and offered lunch at a shopping mall in the capital thereafter.

BoC’s SupportCY Santa Claus also participated in Nicosia and Strovolos Municipality Christmas events and parades, while distributing smiles, love and sweet treats to schools. Additionally, he made appearances at the Fire Service’s Christmas event for children, and the Lefkara, Kiti, Fikardou, Agros and Kyperounda Christmas Villages.

Volunteering and giving by BoC staff

In the context of Corporate Volunteering, Bank of Cyprus staff also gave back to others in a range of ways.

The Bank’s Limassol District team supported Limassol General Hospital’s Paediatric Department for the 13th year running, to hand over equipment for young patients’ treatment. Bank staff, accompanied by Santa Claus also delivered gifts to hospitalised children. Also, the Larnaca-Famagusta district team made its annual donation to the Larnaca Community Soup Kitchen.

Volunteers from BoC’s Risk Management and Treasury Services, as well as from the Bank’s Legal Department, organised bazaars in support of the Pancyprian Coordinating Body of Volunteers, the “Sophia for Children” Foundation and the Pancyprian Association for People with Autism.

In addition, supermarket vouchers were purchased and distributed to schools to be given to needy students, while choirs from various schools graced the Bank’s HQ with their beautiful voices.

“Bank of Cyprus continues to emphasise actions that support people and society,” noted BoC Corporate Social Responsibility Manager Elli Ioannidou. “Supporting citizens in need is our main priority, while, in cooperation with SupportCY member companies and organisations, the importance of solidarity, and the value of all cooperation and mutual support, are highlighted daily.”

Ioannidou thanked SupportCY members Smart Supermarkets, Burger King/PHC Franchised Restaurants and Petrolina, for once again contributing to the success of the holiday period’s activities.