Puttinu Cares and Service Dogs (Malta) Foundation are the two NGOs that benefitted from this year's Together for Charity campaign launched by Bank of Valletta in May.

Mario Mallia, the bank's CEO presented the monetary donations to Dr Victor Calvagna, Chairperson of Puttinu Cares and Joseph Stafrace Vice-President of Service Dogs (Malta) Foundation. Present for the event were Ivo Camilleri, Executive Electronic Banking and Charles Azzopardi Head PR and Marketing.

This was the second time that the Together for Charity campaign was organised to benefit two NGOs concurrently. Through the campaign, which ran during the month of May, the bank was automatically making a donation on behalf of its cardholders, for every purchase effected with BOV credit and debit cards.

As Mr Mallia explained, "Bank of Valletta is delighted with the keen response of our cardholders to this campaign, which provides us with another means through which we marry our business goals with our Corporate Social Responsibility. Whilst enticing our cardholders to use their cards even more, and enjoy the benefits linked to using this efficient method of payment, the bank makes a contribution towards two organisations that work very hard, towards different niches within our society."

Ivo Camilleri expressed his satisfaction with the running of the campaign. "Year on year, more people are recognising the benefits of using alternative banking channels to cash and cheques. From our end, we reiterate our commitment to remain at the forefront in harnessing technology, so as to enable our customers to have easy and seamless access to their funds, from wherever they are."

Thanking Bank of Valletta for the initiative, Joseph Stafrace explained, "It has been proven that service dogs can help improve the life of a broad spectrum of individuals, from the hearing impaired to people on the autistic spectrum and individuals suffering from conditions such as diabetes and seizures."

He explained that the Foundation has a qualified trainer who follows these dogs from the time they are puppies until they are certified service dogs and able to work with their young owners. The Foundation also uses these dogs as therapy dogs to work with children in schools.

In addition to the donation raised through the BOV Cards for Charity campaign, Dr Victor Calvagna was presented with another donation of €5,000 that was raised by BOV employees during a dress down that was organized across the Bank on a Friday during the month of May.

Thanking the bank and its employees for their show of solidarity and altruism, Dr Calvagna said, "Last year the number of patients seeking treatment in the UK was 823, nearly double the amount that was registered for 2010. In order to alleviate the burden of these families during this difficult times, Puttinu Cares already owns 19 apartments and rents another six in Sutton UK to offer accommodation, primarily to patients receiving treatment at the Royal Marsden Hospital.

Now, ahead of this year's 60-hour football and volleyball marathon, planned between the 22^nd to the 24^th September, Puttinu Cares is seeking to acquire additional property, closer to London's centre."

Mr Mallia concluded the brief meeting by thanking BOV cardholders for their participation, and applauding the 'BOV family' for "truly being a micro community within the community". Praising the NGOs for their invaluable role that is so critical to the very fibre of the Maltese society, he urged them to remain true to their mission.