Community

The Company is focused on generating social responsibility initiatives that have measurable results and that are related to each one of its business units. A number of projects have been implemented which aim to support community development in the different locations where the Group has operations. Some of the most emblematic programs include10:

• Programa Haciendo Escuela (School Sponsorship): Supports schools which are in the vicinity of Falabella’s department stores by providing infrastructure, technology and classes. The Company sponsors one school per Falabella department store, in the municipality where the store is located. The Company sponsors 91 establishment across the region, which benefits over 81,000 students.
• Programa Buen Vecino (Good Neighbor): The Group’s Home Improvement division’s volunteer program, which consists in providing support and funds to construction, remodeling and quality of life projects that help the community. The projects compete for the program’s funds. Projects have been undertaken in a variety of organizations, such as kindergartens, community centers, schools, foundations and fire departments, among others. In 2014, 73 projects were carried out, in which 1,973 employees participated, benefitting 10,130 people.
• Programa de Educación en Alimentación Saludable (Healthy Eating Educational Program): Promotes healthy eating habits among children, professors and parents who attend schools near the Group’s supermarkets in lower income neighborhoods. The program began its “Qué rico es crecer sano con Tottus” (“It is delicious to grow in a healthy manner with Tottus”) pilot project this year with 200 children.
• Regional Alliance with América Solidaria: Supported by the financial services division, this initiative supports projects that aim to improve the quality of life of the communities in the countries in which the Group operates.
• Programa de Educación Financiera (Financial Education Program): Aims to educate clients, employees and the community in general on how to properly manage their finances and budgets. In 2014, the Group taught 57 financial education courses in 17 schools that are part of the Haciendo Escuela Program. 2,100 students attended the classes and 134 employees volunteered.
• Fondos Concursables Comuna Viva (Live Municipality Competitive Funds): This program aims to support projects, created in conjunction with members of the community, which seek to improve the quality of life of the neighborhoods in which the Group’s shopping centers are located. The group began a pilot program in 2014 that benefited approximately 1,380 people.

Corporate volunteer work constitutes one of the main tenets in building positive relationships with the communities with which the Group interacts, by impacting employees and the local environment.

During 2014, the Group’s employees carried out 52,750 hours of volunteer work, which represents a 35.0% increase with regards to the prior year.