Contact:
Rosalynn Salinas
República
rsalinas@republica.net
305-442-0977

MIAMI—Jan 25 2010— Bupa Latin America and the Caribbean—a division of Bupa, a leading international healthcare company—has joined global relief efforts to help disaster victims in Haiti.

Bupa Latin America and the Caribbean has created the Bupa Emergency Relief Fund to help support the crisis:

• Anyone who wishes to donate funds can deposit them in a Wachovia Bank Account in Miami in the form of checks or wire transfers as per instructions below. Funds will be turned over to the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Haiti Appeal.

• Bupa Latin America has pledged to match 100 percent of all donations from staff members.

• The company’s Miami headquarters located at 7001 Southwest 97th Avenue, is serving as a drop site for canned goods, medicines, and other essential items.

• The company has already donated $10,000 and sent 32,000 bottles of drinking water that have been already shipped to Port-Au-Prince. The funding of tents to shelter those in need is currently underway.

Internationally, Bupa Group will donate $16,148 (£10,000) to the Red Cross liaising with the organization to channel further assistance via medical supplies. Bupa International will donate $32, 296 (£20,000) to the MSF Haiti appeal. Bupa Care Services, Bupa Australia, Bupa Scandinavia, Sanitas (Spain), and other Bupa companies worldwide are co-coordinating employee donations for match funding by group and fundraising events.
“Throughout the aftermath of this devastating tragedy, we have mobilized our resources to support the people of Haiti,” said David Maltby, managing director of Bupa Latin America and the Caribbean. “It is our duty as global healthcare leaders and socially responsible citizens to provide all the assistance possible.”
The company has responded swiftly to assist all its policyholders in the region, establishing an emergency task force to respond to emergency claims, and airlifting several evacuation cases, including the Ambassador of Spain in Haiti, Mr. Juan Fernandez-Trigo who was treated at the Jackson Memorial Hospital (JMH) in Miami.

Wachovia Bank (Miami, Florida) Fund Deposit Details
• Check Deposits
ABA:067006432 Account #: 2000048761862
Account Name: Bupa Emergency Relief Funds

• Wire Transfers
ABA:063000021 Account #: 2000048761862

• Incoming International Wire Transfer’s
ABA:063000021 Account #: 2000048761862
Swift#:PNBPUS33

About Bupa and Bupa Latin America and the Caribbean
Bupa Latin America and the Caribbean is a member of Bupa, a leading international healthcare company.

Established in 1947, Bupa has over ten million customers in more than 190 countries and employs over 52,000 people around the world. Its main interests are health insurance, care homes for young disabled and older people, workplace health services, health assessments, and chronic disease management services, including health coaching and healthcare services in the home. Since Bupa has no shareholders, it reinvests funds to provide better healthcare for its customers, helping them to live longer, happier, and healthier lives.

Bupa Latin America and Caribbean’s operations are headquartered in Miami, Florida. It currently operates health insurance companies in Mexico, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic and Bolivia, providing greater personalized attention and service to the region. For more information, visit www.bupalatinamerica.com.

Rosalynn Salinas

rsalinas@republica.net

Social Responsibility milestone made possible after volunteering
of company staff and community workers

Miami—December 8, 2009—Bupa’s Latin America and Caribbean operation—a division of Bupa, a leading international healthcare company—announced today the official opening of a health and education center for a deprived community in Ecuador. The Bupa Community Development Center, built from the ground up by 120 Bupa employees, alongside community workers over the past three months, is the company’s largest staff volunteering challenge ever.

The Center, located in the remote Ecuadorian village of Miraflores, where previously a doctor only visited six times a year, will help transform the lives of families in the poverty-stricken region. In the span of three months, 120 Bupa volunteers from across the globe worked daily to move several tons of rubble to clear an area for the center, lay bricks, build a roof and paint the center inside and out. The center is now equipped to provide essential healthcare services and to offer childcare facilities and opportunities for education and development, with classrooms and an information technology suite on site.

Bupa has wholly funded the development of the health center in Miraflores. Additionally, the 120 volunteers raised more than $196,000.00, which will go toward delivering long-term healthcare programs in the region. Although the international volunteers are now returning to their respective countries, the project’s sustainability is guaranteed by support from Bupa’s Latin American business.

“With Bupa’s help, the people of Miraflores have gained medical and dental facilities, school classrooms and housing for teachers.” said David Maltby, managing director of Bupa Latin America and the Caribbean. “We’re proud to be involved in this project, which we’re certain will make a real difference to the people of Miraflores.”

While in Ecuador, the Bupa volunteers worked alongside the Martha Estrella Foundation, a registered charity based in Ecuador, which helps disadvantaged communities find lasting solutions to improve social and economic conditions. Each volunteer spent a week undertaking tasks ranging from helping with the construction of the center and teaching English, to delivering healthcare programs to the local community. In order to offset the carbon emission from the project, more than 500 trees have been planted in the Andes.

“Our work in Miraflores is a perfect example of what can be achieved with a strong partnership between a global health company like Bupa and a charity like ours,” said Gastón Sandoval, director at Martha Estrella Foundation. “By providing the villagers with the right opportunities, the children of Miraflores can be part of a new generation of brilliant doctors and engineers.”

Truly an international project, the Ecuador Challenge brought together Bupa employees from Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Denmark, Thailand, the USA, Latin America and the UK and is a part of Bupa’s long-term commitment to support the communities in which it operates.

“The Ecuador Challenge is the biggest community volunteering project we have ever undertaken, and it’s very touching to see the emotional bonds between the volunteers and the community,” said Pippa Vowles, head of corporate responsibility at Bupa Group. “We’re certain this project has had a positive impact on all those involved.”

“We thank Bupa for changing the pain we have felt for so long, into a beautiful song,” said Miraflores Community President Jorge Gualotuña.

A rough economy means companies are finding more ways to give back to community organizations — besides just writing checks.

BY BRIDGET CAREY

bcarey@MiamiHerald.com

It’s not as easy these days for City Furniture to lend a hand — or an armchair — to groups needing furniture donations. The Fort Lauderdale firm used to have no problem filling requests to furnish apartments for formerly homeless people. But CEO Keith Koenig said the recession is making the firm get creative in finding ways to give back.“It’s harder to give away as much money and do as much support for the community,” Koenig said. In a recession, jobs get cut and so do donations to nonprofits and charities. But when nonprofits count on the kindness of others to survive, some companies are, at the very least, increasing in-kind donations and volunteer work as they try to answer more requests for help than ever before.

“We have to be more selective in who we donate to, but we’re also asking if they have some budget so we can meet them more than halfway,” Koenig said. “We can’t do everything, but we can do a lot.”

This year, the nonprofit Camillus House used grant money to offset a part of cost of the furniture donated, and City Furniture staff gave of their time to help furnish nearly 50 apartments the needy.

Restaurant chain Pollo Tropical used to be a cash sponsor for the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, but this year gave an in-kind donation of food.

Others are having more events to encourage their customers — and employees — to give more.

Burger King has made efforts to make it part of company culture to get employees involved in charity work. They’ve gotten more requests for monetary help, but they can’t always help.

“We don’t take requests at this point,” said Anne Chwat, executive vice president and general counsel for Burger King. “Our budget is pretty much set at the beginning of the year, which is why volunteerism is so important.”

Chwat runs the Have It Your Way Foundation, Burger King’s philanthropic arm. The amount the company is donating is the same as last year, but there’s been more in-kind work: Staff members have worked on a home for Habitat for Humanity, spent workdays mentoring children for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and taught in Miami-Dade classrooms or assisted groups with their expertises — and all of it donated time. “That’s real money to a company,” Chwat said. “We wanted to make sure what we were doing had an impact.”

Bupa, a global health insurance company with Latin America and the Caribbean headquarters in Miami, is flying its employees from offices worldwide to Ecuador to build health and education facilities in Miraflores. It is sending 10 different employees a week for 12 weeks to work on the building — during company time. “I don’t think the economy is diminishing our activity,” said David Maltby, managing director at Bupa’s Miami office. Rather, the dismal economy is getting more people pumped to give back, he said.

Professional Bank, based in Coral Gables, is using its one-year anniversary to host a silent auction Oct. 2 to benefit the Easter Seals. The bank, along with others in the community, is donating items to be auctioned off to raise money. The bank is also negotiating a long-term relationship with the Easter Seals, both in cash and in-kind donations, said public relations spokesman Alec J. Rosen, president of the firm AJR & Partners.

“We have seen clients cutting back big time on their philanthropy,” Rosen said, adding that the bank is an exception as they are trying to create a unique partnership with the Easter Seals. “It’s not going to cost the bank much money. It’s a very innovative solution.”

And of course there are companies still giving during tight times, like Macy’s, but it beefs up its donations by encouraging customers to give back through various programs. Macy’s launched a new campaign called “Coming Together,” which rallies customers to host dinner parties to raise money for Feeding America, or on Oct. 17 shoppers put $5 of their purchase toward a food bank.

Publix Supermarkets said it is seeing higher-priced sponsorship requests. “For us, our priority is not just writing a check.” said Kim Jaeger, Publix’s South Florida media manager. She said Publix has been seeing more requests for help, but they try to continue working with groups it has previously helped.

Publix has a wide range of campaigns — from volunteering time, donating food for the hungry, or fundraising with help from customers.

The money raised in Publix’s fundraising has been consistent with previous years, Jaeger said. Some campaigns, like an employee giving drive for United Way, actually did better than last year.

“Our founder, George Jenkins, was once asked, `How much do you think you’d be worth today if you hadn’t given away so much?’ ” Jaeger said. “His response, `Probably nothing.’ ”

MIAMI, Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/

– Bupa’s Latin America and Caribbean operation — a division of Bupa, a leading international healthcare company — announced today the launch of the international Ecuador Challenge, which will take place in a deprived community in Ecuador where many families survive on average on just $4 a day. Some 120 Bupa employees from around the globe will travel to Ecuador until November 29 to build essential health and education facilities, which will provide healthcare, childcare, and opportunities for education and development for the small agricultural community of Miraflores.

Due to its remote location and virtually non existent income, a doctor currently visits Miraflores only six times a year, while children as young as four years old work in the fields, and babies less than two years old are left at home alone.

The Bupa volunteers will work alongside the Martha Estrella Foundation — a registered charity based in Ecuador, which helps disadvantaged communities find lasting solutions to improve social and economic conditions.

The Ecuador Challenge is being wholly funded by Bupa, with volunteers aiming to raise $1,600 each, meaning that at least $192,000 will go towards improving the lives of the Miraflores community for the long term. All funds raised will benefit the community by providing a medical and dental facility; childcare services so children of the village can be safely looked after while their parents work; classrooms and education facilities, an Information Technology suite, and bedrooms for teachers to stay during their visits.

Truly an international project, the Ecuador Challenge will bring together Bupa employees from Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Denmark, Thailand, the United States,Latin America, and the United Kingdom, and is part of Bupa’s long-term commitment to support the communities in which it operates.

MIAMI, Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/

– Bupa’s Latin America and Caribbean operation — a division of Bupa, a leading international healthcare company — announced today the launch of the international Ecuador Challenge, which will take place in a deprived community in Ecuador where many families survive on average on just $4 a day. Some 120 Bupa employees from around the globe will travel to Ecuador until November 29 to build essential health and education facilities, which will provide healthcare, childcare, and opportunities for education and development for the small agricultural community of Miraflores.

Due to its remote location and virtually non existent income, a doctor currently visits Miraflores only six times a year, while children as young as four years old work in the fields, and babies less than two years old are left at home alone.

The Bupa volunteers will work alongside the Martha Estrella Foundation — a registered charity based in Ecuador, which helps disadvantaged communities find lasting solutions to improve social and economic conditions.

The Ecuador Challenge is being wholly funded by Bupa, with volunteers aiming to raise $1,600 each, meaning that at least $192,000 will go towards improving the lives of the Miraflores community for the long term. All funds raised will benefit the community by providing a medical and dental facility; childcare services so children of the village can be safely looked after while their parents work; classrooms and education facilities, an Information Technology suite, and bedrooms for teachers to stay during their visits.

Truly an international project, the Ecuador Challenge will bring together Bupa employees from Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Denmark, Thailand, the United States,Latin America, and the United Kingdom, and is part of Bupa’s long-term commitment to support the communities in which it operates.

MIAMI, Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/

– Bupa’s Latin America and Caribbean operation — a division of Bupa, a leading international healthcare company — announced today the launch of the international Ecuador Challenge, which will take place in a deprived community in Ecuador where many families survive on average on just $4 a day. Some 120 Bupa employees from around the globe will travel to Ecuador until November 29 to build essential health and education facilities, which will provide healthcare, childcare, and opportunities for education and development for the small agricultural community of Miraflores.

Due to its remote location and virtually non existent income, a doctor currently visits Miraflores only six times a year, while children as young as four years old work in the fields, and babies less than two years old are left at home alone.

The Bupa volunteers will work alongside the Martha Estrella Foundation — a registered charity based in Ecuador, which helps disadvantaged communities find lasting solutions to improve social and economic conditions.

The Ecuador Challenge is being wholly funded by Bupa, with volunteers aiming to raise $1,600 each, meaning that at least $192,000 will go towards improving the lives of the Miraflores community for the long term. All funds raised will benefit the community by providing a medical and dental facility; childcare services so children of the village can be safely looked after while their parents work; classrooms and education facilities, an Information Technology suite, and bedrooms for teachers to stay during their visits.

Truly an international project, the Ecuador Challenge will bring together Bupa employees from Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Denmark, Thailand, the United States,Latin America, and the United Kingdom, and is part of Bupa’s long-term commitment to support the communities in which it operates.

Miami – September 10, 2009 - Bupa’s Latin America and Caribbean operation—a division of Bupa, a leading international healthcare company— announced today the launch of the international Ecuador Challenge, which will take place in a deprived community in Ecuador where many families survive on average on just $4 a day.

Some 120 Bupa employees from around the globe will travel to Ecuador until November 29 to build essential health and education facilities, which will provide healthcare, childcare, and opportunities for education and development for the small agricultural community of Miraflores.

Due to its remote location and virtually non existent income, a doctor currently visits Miraflores only six times a year, while children as young as four years old work in the fields, and babies less than two years old are left at home alone.

The Bupa volunteers will work alongside the Martha Estrella Foundation–a registered charity based in Ecuador, which helps disadvantaged communities find lasting solutions to improve social and economic conditions.

The Ecuador Challenge is being wholly funded by Bupa, with volunteers aiming to raise $1,600 each, meaning that at least $192,000 will go towards improving the lives of the Miraflores community for the long term. All funds raised will benefit the community by providing a medical and dental facility; childcare services so children of the village can be safely looked after while their parents work; classrooms and education facilities, an Information Technology suite, and bedrooms for teachers to stay during their visits.

Truly an international project, the Ecuador Challenge will bring together Bupa employees from Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Denmark, Thailand, the United States, Latin America, and the United Kingdom, and is part of Bupa’s long-term commitment to support the communities in which it operates.

Each volunteer will spend a week undertaking tasks ranging from helping with the construction of the community and health center and teaching English, to delivering healthcare programs to the local community.

“We’re excited about the project in Ecuador, as it will allow all of us at Bupa to give back to the community and support the lives of the people of Miraflores,” said David Maltby, managing director of Bupa Latin America and the Caribbean. “This challenge highlights Bupa’s values and credentials. It gives our colleagues from around the world a chance to work together, share experiences, and make a difference in one of the countries we serve. The village of Miraflores is an underprivileged community; building and staffing this community complex will allow us to help look after and manage the health and education of the people who live and work there,” he said.

“We’re so fortunate to have Bupa help our community,” said Jorge Gualotuña, president of the Community of Miraflores. “The center will help all of us take better care of our children and our health. We can’t wait to work alongside them to get this project off the ground,” he said.

“Bupa has a long-term commitment to support the communities in which it operates,” said Pippa Vowles, head of corporate responsibility Bupa group. “The Ecuador Challenge is the biggest community project that Bupa has ever undertaken. Once it is completed, Bupa Latin American and the Caribbean’s office will continue to support the clinic and community of Miraflores.”