Ona Carbonell appointed ambassador of CECA’s Social Work and Action

CECA has today signed an agreement with Olympic swimmer Ona Carbonell to highlight the work carried out by its entities in the field of Social Work and Action, contributing to the construction of a more inclusive and equitable society.

In 2018, entities affiliated with CECA allocated more than 800 million euros to Social Work and Action, an increase of 1.6% over the previous year, benefiting nearly 35 million people through the financing of over 120,000 activities.

This work carried out by banks, savings banks, and foundations of CECA constitutes the main private social investment in Spain.

CECA has today signed a collaboration agreement with synchronized swimmer Ona Carbonell. The aim of this commitment is to bring society closer and to make visible the work carried out by the entities affiliated with CECA in the field of Social Work and Action, whose activities represent one of the main sources of support for social, cultural, and economic development.

Ona Carbonell, as a reference in Spanish sports and the most decorated athlete in the history of Spanish swimming, is a clear example of excellence, effort, and overcoming challenges, a series of attributes that resonate with CECA’s Social Work and Action, which seeks to build a more inclusive and equitable society.

Mónica Malo, CECA’s Director of Communication, has stated that it is a source of pride to have Ona Carbonell as an ambassador, since “the foundations, savings banks, and banks of CECA have, since their inception, a purpose aimed at economic development and social well-being. Ona, in her exceptional sports career, has demonstrated that she embodies the values of progress, commitment, and dedication that have always guided our entities that, in 2018, allocated more than 800 million to Social Work.”

In Ona Carbonell’s words, “being an ambassador for this project makes me especially excited because CECA’s Social Work and Action represents a firm commitment to society, contributing to the progress of individuals. Like CECA, I believe that citizens are the true protagonists, from those who benefit from the programs to those who participate in any of them, as volunteers, workers, NGOs, or social entities.”

The Social Work has been at the forefront of private social investment in Spain. Since 2014, the investment in Social Work from savings banks and foundations has steadily increased, reaching a figure of 813.4 million euros in 2018. This gradual growth has been made possible thanks to the efforts of foundations and savings banks that have managed to adapt to new times with more efficient, professionalized, and transparent structures.

5 years of Social Work in Spain

CECA entities have allocated 3,776 million euros over the past five years to promote social impact activities that have benefited 167 million people.

During this period, foundations have enhanced investment in specific groups. To this end, they have allocated 2,185 million euros, nearly 58% of Social Work investment, to activities aimed at children and youth, people at risk of social exclusion, individuals over 65 years old, and those with special needs. In total, over 93 million people from these groups have benefited from activities promoted by Social Work.

On the other hand, assistance programs for groups at risk of social exclusion, health initiatives, volunteering, or those aimed at improving the integration of certain groups into society account for an investment of 1,760 million euros.

These activities represent almost 47% of the entities’ investment, followed by those aimed at Culture and Heritage (19%), Education and Research (15.6%), Local Development and Job Creation (9.5%), Environment (5.7%), and Sports and Leisure (3.3%).

4 million in financial education in 2018

One of the association’s objectives is to improve financial culture. An example of this is the Finance for All award for the trajectory in developing the Financial Education Plan awarded by the Bank of Spain and CNMV received in October 2019. In the last fiscal year, the entities associated with CECA invested more than four million euros in financial education programs, distributed across 2,643 activities that reached over 9.5 million people.