The Social Work of CECA Entities Continues to Lead Private Social Investment in Spain
The investment in the Social Work of CECA entities reached 772 million euros in 2020. This funding has enabled the launch of 49,000 activities, benefiting more than 24 million people.
In a year marked by the COVID-19 crisis, the Social Work of CECA has played an essential role as a unifying element in society, mitigating the economic and social impact of the pandemic.
CECA held today the Commission of Foundations and Social Work, an annual meeting that brings together the foundations linked to the association and advises the Board of Directors on Social Work matters. The event provided detailed explanations of the 2020 annual report that includes the main figures and activities carried out by the CECA entities in Social Work during the past year. The closing of the event was led by the Minister of Culture and Sport, José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, who was introduced by José María Méndez, General Director of CECA.
The Minister of Culture and Sport, José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, praised the “necessary” work that the Social Work of CECA performs “in the fields of Culture and Heritage, Sport and Leisure, Education and Research, Environment, or Local Development and Job Creation, throughout the Spanish geography,” and highlighted that in 2020 more than 770 million euros had been mobilized for Social and Action initiatives.
It was emphasized during the day that the Social Work of CECA leads private social investment in Spain, one of the main avenues of contribution to development and equal opportunities among the most vulnerable groups.
Considering the particularity of the year 2020, a year marked by the pandemic, the increase in investment in Social Work from 2014 to 2020 is 8.75%, reaching 772 million euros, demonstrating a commitment to society. This funding has allowed the initiation of around 49,000 activities, benefiting a total of 24,688,140 people.
In 2020, Social Action was the area that received the highest percentage of investment, at 42.36%. A total of 327 million euros was dedicated to programs such as food banks and social dining halls. The second place is held by the Education and Research area, which, with an investment of 209 million euros, reached over 8.7 million beneficiaries, having developed more than 350 research projects related to COVID-19. Additionally, the CECA sector invested over 74 million euros in 2020 in Local Development and Job Creation programs to address the health crisis, demonstrating the reach of the entities in their territories.
Initiatives Developed to Mitigate the Economic and Social Impact of the Pandemic
The contribution of CECA entities has been particularly relevant during the delicate context resulting from the pandemic. Since the onset of the health crisis, the initiatives developed have continued to diversify their work, addressing different areas. Among other areas, assistance has been directed towards supplying food banks, enhancing meal scholarship programs, combating child poverty, research, promoting local development and job creation, providing support for at-risk groups and elderly individuals, and measures to facilitate liquidity and financing.
CECA entities have demonstrated their strong commitment to society and the most vulnerable groups, adapting their resources to the needs of the moment, through the digitization of their programs or through the announcement of extraordinary aid in support of their territories. This capacity for resilience and adaptation to change, along with the reach that characterizes the sector, has allowed them to reach every corner of society in times of greatest need.
