The complex process by which all coins collected through the L-Istrina BOV Piggy Bank Campaign are sorted and counted was witnessed today by President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca and Mr Edgar Preca.
The President was accompanied by Mr Preca on her visit to the bank's offices in Santa Venera, where they were welcomed by the Chairman John Cassar White and the bank's new CEO Mario Mallia. They visited the BOV employees and volunteers from the Malta Community Chest Fund who are conducting the laborious exercise of sorting the hundreds of thousands of coins collected from schools during the L-Istrina BOV Piggy Bank Campaign.
"This is the final phase in the process that will enable the bank to present the donation during the live broadcast of L-Istrina," said the BOV Chairman. "This is the 12th consecutive year that the bank is collaborating with the Malta Community Chest Fund in organising the l-Istrina BOV Piggy Bank Campaign. The bank will add its contribution to the money collected to go towards the overall l-Istrina effort."
"Today's visit opens a window on the incredible effort and dedication put in by hundreds of people in the lead up towards the L-Istrina broadcast," said the President. "It is heart-warming to watch BOV employees and MCCF volunteers working together, making such a daunting process of counting all these coins seem simple." She also took the opportunity to thank the Armed Forces of Malta for their invaluable input in this process.
Referring to his visits to schools during the last three months, Mr Preca explained that, "The significance of this campaign goes beyond its monetary value. It delivers two strong messages to the younger generation - the importance of cultivating a culture for saving and of being altruistic."
The L-Istrina BOV Piggy Bank Campaign sees thousands of piggy banks distributed across all schools in Malta and Gozo. All funds collected through this campaign are sorted and counted, and the final sum together with a donation by Bank of Valletta is presented to the President during the live broadcast of L-Istrina being held at Kottonera Sports Complex on the 26th December.