AYALA MALLS HONORS ORDINARY PEOPLE DOING EXTRAORDINARY ACTS
Kindness. If there is anything the world needs more of today amid the global pandemic and the ensuing chaos experienced globally, it is this.
Countless heartwarming tales of generosity, selflessness, and benevolence are seen and talked about despite the abundance of dismaying news daily.
There are inspiring accounts of a humble security guard who returned a wallet full of cash when he himself was in dire straits, a janitor who helped deliver gallons of water to his elderly neighbors after what was already an exhausting day’s work, and a hard-up restaurant cook/dishwasher who, despite not having income when restaurants temporarily closed, found it in his heart to volunteer his services for free and cooked meal packs intended for hospital frontliners.
The new normal saw an explosion of altruism among Filipinos. The true spirit of
bayanihan, be it big or small, is seen through ordinary people doing extraordinary things and who have gone the extra mile to help the community.
These are the stories of the Extra Mile Changemakers.
Ayala Malls president Jennylle Tupaz shares, “Ayala Malls has always been the second home of its community and it is a place where memories are formed and stories unfold in the everyday lives of ordinary people who are capable of doing extraordinary things.”
The Extra Mile Changemakers has been an ongoing effort by the Ayala Malls to recognize employees who have shown exemplary acts of altruism. Now in its 16th year, Ayala Malls aims to inspire more individuals and expand the scope of the program by including its merchant partners and communities.
“Our malls have been the venue for such amazing stories, not only through our employees but also through the stakeholders our malls serve,” Tupaz added. “We want to put a spotlight on these ordinary people who do extraordinary things, and hopefully inspire more to do the same in their own little ways.”
Ayala Malls invites the public to share and nominate individuals whose noble deeds are truly worth celebrating. “This effort is a celebration of people,” Tupaz says. “We believe there are hundreds or thousands of souls out there whose random acts of kindness perfectly fit the spirit of the Extra Mile Changemakers philosophy we wish to uphold. We thank and honor them for their positive contributions.”
HOW TO NOMINATE EXTRA MILE CHANGEMAKERS
Go to the Ayala Malls’ website www.ayalamalls.com/extramile from now until Aug. 15, 2020, and share the individual you intend to nominate and his/her compelling story. All participating parties must be at least 13 years old. Complete the information required for both nominee and nominator indicated. The good deed nominated must have occurred from March 16 to Aug. 15, 2020.
SELECTING EXTRA MILE CHANGEMAKERS
A committee specially assembled for this project will verify and review the nominations based on their veracity, aptness, and congruity with the Extra Mile Changemakers mantra.
The committee is composed of notable personalities and leaders in media, business, and public service. They are the Extra Mile Changemakers advocates, who themselves have made outstanding contributions to the community and have dedicated their time and efforts to cultivating a positive outlook while honoring the human spirit.
The committee will deliberate on the nominations based on authenticity of purpose, resonance, and impact on society befitting a modern-day role model who inspires and serves regardless of how big or small the contribution.
Ayala Malls’ marketing director Eunice Velasco emphasizes, “Extra Mile Changemakers is not a competition. We believe there is so much goodness around us, and no one act of kindness is better than the other. We want to share as many of these heartwarming stories that happen in our malls or within the communities of our establishments as we can to give hope and encourage a more positive outlook.”
If you know of an individual who went the extra mile for you or for others, share their stories with Ayala Malls at the website www. ayalamalls.com, Instagram: @iloveayalamalls, Facebook: Ayala Malls and Twitter: @ayalamalls.