CECA awards the best initiatives in Social Work and Financial Education of 2021

Out of a total of 72 initiatives presented in more than ten categories, prizes were awarded to 22 of them at the event held at CECA’s headquarters.

The investment in Social Work by CECA entities reached 778 million euros in 2021, once again becoming the largest private social investor in Spain.

During the period from 2020 to 2021, a total investment in financial education amounted to 4.29 million euros, of which 3.025 million correspond to the ‘Programa Funcas Educa’.

Ona Carbonell presented the award-winning initiatives at the CECA Awards for Social Work and Financial Education 2021, held at the association’s headquarters. Once again, the event gives voice to all those projects that contribute to improving the well-being of society through the work done by the credit entities associated with CECA and their foundations. With a total of 72 candidacies, 22 awards were given in ten categories and two special awards. Notable members of the jury included representatives from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, Banco de España, the National Securities Market Commission, Fundación Lealtad, Spainsif, FUNCAS, and El Confidencial.

In the area of Social Work, the categories for awards included Social Action, Culture and Heritage, Sports and Leisure, Local Development and Job Creation, Education and Research, and Environment. Regarding the area of Financial Education, the available categories were Adults (26-65 years), Entrepreneurs, Seniors over 65, and Children and Youth (0-25 years). Additionally, a special award was presented in each area: Special Jury Award for Social Work and Special Jury Award for Financial Education.

During the event, Ona Carbonell emphasized that: “The work of all these entities and their efforts to launch these projects has a great positive impact on society, and it is an honor to be the Ambassador of Social Work and Financial Education of CECA and to collaborate here in giving visibility and awarding all the people behind these great initiatives.”

For his part, Juan Carlos López, head of Sustainability, Social Work, and Financial Education at CECA, highlighted the importance of the projects presented by the entities in the CECA sector, explaining that “Social Work remains of vital importance as an irreplaceable lever for social, cultural, and economic development, especially for the most vulnerable groups,” and added: “Financial education is a key tool for promoting inclusion, thus enhancing the well-being of society.”

The meeting was attended by Marta Arce, a high-performance athlete, whose visual impairment has not prevented her from competing in her passion for judo and winning medals in three editions of the Paralympic Games. The Paralympic judoka gave an inspiring talk in which she explained her love for sports and life, highlighting the importance of inclusive sports and emphasizing values of adaptation and overcoming.

Awarded initiatives

Social Work Category

Social Action

1^st Prize. Fundación Ibercaja. Project: Cycle of conferences on child and youth mental health.

2^nd Prize. Fundación “la Caixa”. Project: No Home without Food.

Culture and Heritage

1^st Prize. Fundación “la Caixa”. Project: Symphony.

2^nd Prize. Fundación Montemadrid. Project: Restoration of the Alcántara Bridge Tower, Toledo.

Sports and Leisure

1^st Prize. Fundación CajaCanarias. Project: Chess and Athletics Schools Program.

2^nd Prize. Fundación Ávila. Project: Venero Claro Project.

Local Development and Job Creation

1^st Prize. Fundación Caja Extremadura. Project: Social Challenge.

2^nd Prize. Fundación Ibercaja. Project: Dare to Jump.

Education and Research

1^st Prize. Fundación Unicaja. Project: Prevention and early detection of relapse in breast cancer patients using blood samples.

2^nd Prize. Fundación Montemadrid. Project: School enrollment of students from Cañada Real in the Second Cycle of Early Childhood Education. Academic Year 2021/2022.

Environment

1^st Prize. Fundación Mediterráneo. Project: Green employment courses following the “Diagnosis on climate change and employment opportunities in Alicante.”

2^nd Prize. Fundación Caja Extremadura. Project: Environmental Education Center