ONE HOUR FOR THE FILIPINO CHILD

One hour may be all it takes to make a difference in the lives of millions of Filipino youth.

Following its successful millennium campaign in 1999, Children's Hour will once again appeal to every working individual and company to make a donation for the benefit of abused and disadvantaged children. The Ayala Group through its social development arm, Ayala Foundation, Inc., is set to launch the 2002 campaign for the Children's Hour in August.

Children's Hour works on the premise that a tremendous impact can be made if every working individual and company donate at least an hour's worth of their earnings.

In 1999, the Children's Hour Millennium Fund raised a total of P40 million and benefited nearly 100,000 children and youth through organizations such as the Bantay Bata 163, Child Protection Unit of the Philippine General Hospital, Tabang Mindanaw, International Deaf Education Association, and Tuloy sa Don Bosco Street Children Project. Beneficiaries of the campaign are involved in rehabilitation and prevention of child abuse, educational programs, shelter, feeding programs, and health and medical services.

This year, Children's Hour steering committee chairman and Ayala Corporation president and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II is inviting other business leaders to champion the cause of the Filipino child through the continued participation of their companies and employees. The 2002 campaign hopes to repeat the success of the Millennium Fund, nearly half of which was contributed by employees through salary deduction. With the commitment of such organizations, companies, and individuals, Children's Hour will be able to sustain meaningful programs