Donation program, Giving Smiles - Magazine La Calle, Valledupar.
Donation program, Giving Smiles - Magazine La Calle, Valledupar.

Bogota, Colombia - ConocoPhillips Colombia (COPC) brought smiles to more than 1300 children from the Cesar Department in communities where it operates during the Christmas holidays. The activity was celebrated in the towns of Pita Limón, Cuatro Bocas, Tisquirama, Morrison, Pueblo Nuevo, Campo Amalia, El Márquez, San Lorenzo, Cruce de Patiño, and Sabana de Buena Vista in the municipalities of San Martín and Aguachica.

During the Christmas celebration, ConocoPhillips supported a program called the “Gifting Smiles” organized by La Calle newspaper in the city of Valledupar, which aimed to positively impact 5,000 children in vulnerable conditions in Cesar. “For us at La Calle newspaper, it is important to continue delivering blessings through these donations to children belonging to different neighborhoods of our city. This is part of our Corporate Social Responsibility program and we have invited ConocoPhillips to participate because we recognize their intention to contribute to the development of our department and its leadership in terms of Social Responsibility,” said Katherine Muñoz, Coordinator of the “Giving Smiles” Program.

Volunteer team including ConocoPhillips Colombia employees and contractors.
Volunteer team including ConocoPhillips Colombia employees and contractors.

For ConocoPhillips workers, Christmas represents an opportunity to share a time of joy with families in the communities where it operates. For this reason, a volunteer fundraiser was organized by ConocoPhillips to buy toys and educational games for the communities. “By sharing the generosity of the season with others, and especially those in need, we hope to express our care and commitment for families in our communities, especially during the holiday season. The holidays offer an opportunity for all of us to remember to put others first and to share generously. Every child deserves a Christmas present and it’s worth it to us to achieve even a smile. There is no better time than Christmas to express community and hope,” commented Victor Hugo Polo, promoter of the ConocoPhillips Colombia Volunteer program.  

On the other hand, parents of the families who benefited from the Christmas activities thanked ConocoPhillips and its workers for gifts, they mentioned it will allow them to have a merry Christmas  with their families and thanks to the company their children’s hearts will be joyful.

Supporting the communities where it operates and leaving a positive mark in Colombian communities, is part of the ConocoPhillips DNA. “Children are the future of the country and we want to generate joy. We know how important it is for a child to receive a toy for Christmas, that’s why we want generate smiles among the community which in turn makes us happy too," said Alex Martinez, General Manager of ConocoPhillips Colombia.  

Christmas Activities Celebration in the communities from Cesar Department.
 Christmas Activities Celebration in the communities from Cesar Department.