CECA Recognizes the Best Social Work and Financial Education Initiatives in 2022

In this event, 22 initiatives have been awarded

For the first time, an honorary award has been given for international social trajectory, which has been granted to Fundación Grupo Social de Colombia

Since 2014, the entities associated with CECA have invested nearly 7 billion euros in Social Work, the largest private social investment in Spain

The CECA association, chaired by Isidro Fainé and composed of CaixaBank, Kutxabank, Cajasur Banco, Abanca, Unicaja Banco, Ibercaja Banco, Caixa Ontinyent, Colonya Pollença, and Cecabank, as well as its associated foundations, today presented the awarded initiatives in the CECA Awards for Social Work and Financial Education 2022, held at its headquarters. The meeting aims to recognize and disseminate projects that stand out for their commitment to society and the improvement of financial culture. With a total of 71 applications, 22 awards were given in ten categories and two special awards. Notable jury members include recognized experts from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, Bank of Spain, National Securities Market Commission, Fundación Lealtad, Spainsif, Complutense University of Madrid, Carlos III Health Institute, Funcas, and El Confidencial.

In the area of Social Work, the categories considered for awards include: Social Action, Culture and Heritage, Sports and Leisure, Local Development and Job Creation, Education and Research, and Environment. Regarding Financial Education, the established categories are: Children and Youth (0-25 years), Adults (26-65 years), Seniors over 65 years, and Entrepreneurs. A special jury award has also been given in each area.
 
Awarded Initiatives
Social Work Category
Social Action
1st. Fundación Caja Navarra. Inolvidables
2nd. Fundación Unicaja. Mayores conectados

Culture and Heritage
1st. Fundación “la Caixa”. Caixaforum
2nd. Fundación Ibercaja. Premio Ibercaja Pintura Joven

Sports and Leisure
1st. Fundación Unicaja. Campus Fundación Unicaja
2nd. Fundación Vital Fundazioa. Programa Deportivity

Local Development and Job Creation
1st. Fundación Ávila. Skylab
2nd. Premio. Fundación La Caja de Canarias. Gastroempleo

Education and Research
1st. Fundación Caja Extremadura. Scellentia. Premios Fundación Caja Extremadura a jóvenes investigadores en ciencias de la vida y la salud
2nd. Fundación Vital Fundazioa. Guía para la promoción de la salud mental y prevención del suicidio adolescente

Environment
1st. Afundación, Obra Social ABANCA. Programa “PLANCTON”
2nd. Fundación Montemadrid. Cultiva la Amistad

Special Jury Award for Social Work
Fundación “la Caixa”. Campaña “Familia necesita Familia”

Financial Education Category
Children and Youth (0-25 years)
1st. CaixaBank. ImaginAcademy
2nd. Fundación Cajasol. Escape Room, el Ahorro

Adults (26-65 years)
1st. CaixaBank. Programa de educación financiera “Mucho por hacer”
2nd. Fundación Cajasol. Los Lunes Financieros

Seniors over 65
1st. Proyecto Edufinet (Unicaja Banco y Fundación Bancaria Unicaja). Talleres de educación financiera y digital para mayores
2nd. ABANCA, Afundación Obra Social ABANCA. Programa de formación y digitalización financiera en el rural

Entrepreneurs
1st. Fundación Ibercaja. Premios de Emprendimiento Rural
2nd. Fundación Caja Extremadura. SamaraCamp

Special Jury Award in Financial Education
Fundación Ibercaja. Aprendiendo a Emprender
 
Promotion of Socially Responsible Banking at the International Level

CECA is an active member of the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI) and the European Savings and Retail Banking Group (ESBG), international associations with a profound sense of social responsibility and a business model prioritizing financial inclusion and the development of Social Work initiatives.

In this regard, CECA has promoted an honorary award in collaboration with WSBI that has been awarded for the first time in this edition. The recognition aims to highlight social initiatives with international trajectory developed by entities associated with WSBI. This time, the award has been granted to Fundación Grupo Social de Colombia. The institution, a social development foundation with more than a hundred years of history, stands out for its contribution to overcoming the structural causes of poverty in Colombia and its role in building a just, supportive, productive, and peaceful society.

During the ceremony, Isidro Fainé, president of Fundación “la Caixa”, CECA, and the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI), emphasized in his speech: “I am convinced of the importance and necessity of promoting Social Work worldwide and I believe there is no better channel than to utilize the infrastructure provided by the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute, which represents over 7,000 retail banks and savings banks from more than 60 countries,” and added: “We find it appropriate to recognize in these awards the work being developed socially in other countries, not only as a platform for everyone but also as an exchange of knowledge and best practices.”

Subsequently, José María Méndez, General Director of CECA, presented the international award to Juan Carlos Gómez Villegas, president of Fundación Grupo Social de Colombia, who remarked: “For Fundación Grupo Social, it is an honor to be recognized with this important distinction because since its creation, 112 years ago, this is a foundation that has businesses and not businesses that have a foundation. The companies are social work in themselves and not merely the source of funding for social activity. The social aspect of business management must occur in the management itself and not after it has happened and when dividends are distributed.”

Social Work and Financial Education, Catalysts of Social Inclusion in Spain

The Social Work of the CECA sector has become a fundamental pillar of the welfare state, demonstrating its essential role as a binding element of society. Since the approval of Law 26/2013 on Savings Banks and Banking Foundations, Social Work has invested nearly 7 billion euros in the development of more than 849,000 activities, establishing itself as the largest private social investor in Spain.

During 2022, the investment in Social Work by the entities associated with CECA reached 800 million euros, benefiting over 32 million people, particularly vulnerable groups.

Additionally, the entities associated with CECA develop programs that promote the enhancement of financial culture in society as a key pillar for economic and financial stability and development. Last year, the investment in programs to improve financial culture and digital skills amounted to 2.23 million euros.

In the last five years, the total investment allocated by the CECA sector to financial education has reached 15.37 million euros, of which 10.9 million corresponds to the ‘Funcas Program for Stimulating Financial Education (Funcas Educa)’. These figures reinforce the CECA sector as the largest investor in financial education in Spain.
CECA, as a member of the Global Compact along with its associated entities and foundations, contributes to promoting and driving the Sustainable Development Goals. As a result of this alliance, it fosters quality education, decent work, economic growth, reduction of inequalities, and local development, among others.
The Social Work continues to act as a transformative agent of society through its programs aimed at the most vulnerable groups. Thanks to its reach and ability to adapt to each moment, Social Work can reach all regions where it is present.