HanesBrands has earned the CSR Footprint social impact award for supporting at-risk youth in El Salvador. The CSR Footprint award is sponsored by the Grupo Cerca Publishing, and FUNDEMAS, a nonprofit promoting corporate social responsibility to advance the economic and social development of El Salvador. Hanesbrands participates in the promotional products industry as suppliers Hanes/Champion/ComfortWash (PPAI 191138) and Alternative Apparel (PPAI 217134).
In its 10-year partnership with nonprofit Glasswing International, the Winston-Salem, North Carolina-headquartered company has donated more than $1.2 million to help upgrade schools’ infrastructure and aesthetics, offer afterschool educational, athletic and artistic activities, and provide continuing training and development opportunities for teachers. More than 200 Hanes volunteers support the effort, which has benefited more than 5,000 Salvadorian children.
“Earning the CSR Footprint award for our work in El Salvador schools is an incredible honor for our company and our employees who help make it possible,” says Teddy Mendoza, HanesBrands’ regional manager of corporate social responsibility. “Reducing the student dropout rate is critical to improving the quality of life in El Salvador, and we’re very proud that the initiative is playing an important role in keeping at-risk youth safe and engaged in school.”
The effort is part of HanesBrands’ Hanes for Good corporate social responsibility program that focuses on workplace quality, philanthropy, community building and environmental stewardship. The company supports a variety of Glasswing programs in El Salvador, Honduras and the Dominican Republic.
“HanesBrands was one of the first companies to support Glasswing International, which has now served more than one million people in 16 countries,” Mendoza adds. “Our program in El Salvador’s schools is successful in large part due to our strong partnership with the organization.”
Glasswing was founded with the goal of addressing the root causes of poverty and violence through education, health and community empowerment. The organization’s research indicates that children who participate in its programs report improved grades (86 percent), an increase in self-esteem (85 percent) and better relationships with their families and others (92 percent).
