"Adopt-a-School" Receives Award from ARC and AmCham

The 7^th annual People for People Gala on March 11 recognized Ovidiu Rom’s Adopt-a-School program for its innovative approach to fundraising.

The People for People (Oameni pentru Oameni) Gala is organized by Asociatia pentru Relatii Comunitare and the American Chamber of Commerce in Romania with major support from BRD. Its goal is to promote Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by publicizing the best CSR practices in  Romania and strengthening the bonds between corporations and non-governmental organizations.

Adopt-a-School was launched at Ovidiu Rom’s Halloween Charity Ball in October 2009.  The purpose of the program is to link people and companies that care about education for children who are severely impoverished and at high risk of dropping out of school at an early age.

Companies and individuals that adopt a school or sponsor a summer school are recognized by a plaque in the school acknowledging their contribution.  Companies can “customize” their “adoption” through various volunteer activities (including mentoring, environmental projects, community involvement and in-kind donations based on the needs of the specific situation).

For more information on this initiative and how you can Adopt a School, Sponsor a Summer School, Equip a Classroom, or Equip a Poor Child for School, please link to: Adopt-a-School.

At the first People for People Gala in 2003, Leslie Hawke received the Special Jury Award for designing the program that led to the Fiecare Copil in Scoala initiative.