For the past 14 years, Thomas Smith has placed community support at the head of its operations. The Solidarity Fund, established in 2006, encourages Thomas Smith management and employees to dedicate a small donation from their monthly salary to subsidise this fund.
Staff are requested to vote for their favourite charity organisation or share suggestions of individuals in need, which would ensure that company funding is donated to a good cause.
2019’s Dress Down Friday initiatives at the Thomas Smith offices generated a sum, which was distributed to three different causes.
€2,000 were donated to Owen Mallia, who underwent an amputation following a devastating traffic accident. Whilst managing to regain his walking functionality back through the use of a prosthetic leg, Thomas Smith’s funds will help Owen get closer to his dream of raising money for The Rheo Knee; a fully-functional leg installed with microchips to control his walking pace and offer full flexibility. Following Thomas Smith’s donation, Owen has only €3,000 left to reach his target.
Puttinu Cares has been the backbone of many families in need. Care and support are provided to carers of cancer patients, especially children. EUR1,500 were donated to keep on improving the environment children are treated in and allowing their carers to benefit from free accommodation when they need to travel abroad for treatments.
For more than a century, the Ursuline Sisters at the Creche have improved the lives of many abandoned children and little ones in need. A donation of €1,000 from 2019’s Solidarity Fund will ensure that these children are given the continued care they truly deserve.
During the last 14 years, more than €35,000 were collected through Thomas Smith’s Solidarity Fund and shared between various institutions, including: Hospice Malta, Malta Community Chest Fund, Richmond Foundation, Noah’s Ark Sanctuary, Multiple Sclerosis Society of Malta, Puttinu Cares and the family Theuma who experienced a fire in their residential home in Luqa in November 2018, among staff who also benefitted from this initiative throughout the years.
The company, together with their employees, aims to keep on funding charities and individuals in need for years to come; benefitting from much needed finances to strengthen their support in the community.