Greater social cohesion to reduce inequality
Intesa Sanpaolo works each and every day to support the sustainable and longterm growth of Italy’s economy, in the belief that a strong and cohesive society offers the foundation necessary for the whole country to develop.
Improving the socio-economic standing of citizens in an essential part of this goal.
The number of people living in absolute poverty has grown signifi cantly in recent years. In Italy, this currently represents 1.8 million families and a total of 5 million individuals, or 7% of the population. Over the past 10 years, the prevalence of absolute poverty has doubled in terms of the number of households affected (from 3.5% to 6.9%) and nearly tripled at the individual level (from 3 out of every 100 residents in 2007 to 8.4 out of 100 in 2017).
Among children and young people (0 to 17 years), it increased fourfold between 2007 and 2017: minors in absolute poverty represent 12.6% of the population, with an incidence ranging from 10.1% in the Centre to 15.7% in the South.
The scale of this problem drives Intesa Sanpaolo’s commitment to promoting greater social cohesion and reducing inequalities. The Bank’s strong economic performance and the solidity of its balance sheet enable a structured program of activities to support those in need and who struggle to reach the minimum standards of wellbeing and dignity that should be within everyone’s reach.
In 2017, Intesa Sanpaolo set specific, concrete and measurable objectives at the centre of its 2018-2021 Business Plan, including support of charitable bodies and associations. The pursuit of these philanthropic objectives gives meaning to the Group’s daily work to strengthen its role as the engine of sustainable and inclusive growth in Italy.
In 2018, the Bank provided 62 million to community development, a fi gure that makes it one of the leading social enablers in Italy. This marked a major project to redress situations of need, in collaboration with accredited non-profit organisations, public administrations and corporate clients of the Bank.
In order to distribute hot meals (8.7 million provided by the Group in 2018 and 2019) and shelter beds (519,000 spaces provided over the same period), Intesa Sanpaolo concluded agreements with Fondazione Banco Alimentare, the Milan chapter of Associazione Italiana contro le leucemie-linfomi e mieloma, Dynamo Camp, VIDAS, Fondazione TOG, Associazione Diakonia and City Angels Lombardia. The agreement with Fondazione Banco Farmaceutico Onlus enabled the collection and distribution of 131,000 pharmaceutical products in 2018 and 2019. The Golden Links Project, in collaboration with Caritas Italiana and the Comitato Promotore S-Nodi, supported partnerships with Calzedonia, Scarpe & Scarpe, Camomilla Italia and Primadonna, providing 103,000 items of clothing to individuals and families.
Intesa Sanpaolo’s online fundraising platform, For Funding, aimed at supporting social solidarity projects sponsored by non-profi t organisations, collected 25,000 donations for 170 initiatives. Helping children was a focus through regional partnerships and projects.
Some of the most signifi cant projects funded were:
- QU.BI’ programme: combatting child poverty in partnership with Fondazione Cariplo, Fondazione Vismara, Fondazione Fiera Milano, Fondazione Invernizzi and Fondazione SNAM;
- The Intesa Sanpaolo programme for children receiving long-term medical care: nurseries in leading hospitals including Regina Margherita in Turin, San Gerardo in Monza, Hospital of Padua, Istituto Gaslini in Genoa, Sant’Orsola Malpighi in Bologna and Santobono Pausilipon in Naples;
- Una casa per la mia famiglia (“A home for my family”): free accommodations for the families in the partner hospitals of the programme for children receiving long-term medical care. In partnership with Fondazione Gerolamo Gaslini in Genoa, Comitato Maria Letizia Verga in Monza and Fondazione Santobono Pausilipon in Naples;
- Partnership with the Italian Paediatric Hospitals Association (AOPI) for promoting the childcare model developed by the Intesa Sanpaolo programme for children receiving long-term medical care and the Una casa per la mia famiglia programme.
Intesa Sanpaolo’s Charity Fund, under the auspices of the Group’s Chairman, supports projects to combat educational poverty and school abandonment, especially in city suburbs. In 2019, the Charity Fund, through which the Bank allocates a share of its profi ts to philanthropic and solidarity projects, paid out _13.5 million.
The Intesa Sanpaolo Onlus Foundation operates in the fi eld of philanthropy and, in line with its stated aims, allocates funds to canteens and shelters, as well as to employees in diffi culty and people wishing to exercise their right to study.
Intesa Sanpaolo’s commitment to combating fi nancial hardship has also extended to communities and individuals affected by natural disasters and emergencies. More specifi cally, it assisted:
- Families affected by earthquakes and other natural disasters by means of suspension of mortgage payments on damaged properties (0.8 billion as at the end of November 2019) and subsidised loans (approximately 130 million granted as at the end of November 2019 and approximately 330 million since 2018);
- Families/companies affected by the Genoa bridge collapse, for which up to 4.5 million was allocated for the unilateral remission of fi rst-home mortgages on properties declared uninhabitable (0.5 million already granted); 50 million for reconstruction (4.6 million granted); and underwriting of the Vicino a Te insurance policy for children who have lost one or both parents;
- Employees of the former ILVA company and its suppliers who are customers of the Bank granted the possibility to suspend mortgage and personal loan repayments for up to 12 months;
- Families/businesses affected by the severe weather emergency in Venice and surrounding areas for which _100 million has been allocated. Those affected may also request the suspension of loan repayments for 12 months.
Last updated 20 February 2020 at 14:28:33
