BSP invested K4.2mil in community projects: Official

BANK South Pacific (BSP) last year invested K4.2 million as part of its corporate social responsibility through sponsorships, donations and community projects in PNG, BSP Group retail general-manager Paul Thornton says.
The bank recently supported the 2020 Red Shield Appeal with K30,000.
The donation was presented to Salvation Army Col Gareth Niemand in Port Moresby.
“Bank South Pacific has had a long association with the Red Shield Appeal and we would like to continue that and recognise the hard and exceptional work that the Salvation Army does,” he said.
“We are pleased to support this worthy case because at BSP we believe such programmes fall in line with our core values of people and community.
“Through this support we are happy to bring hope to our community where it is needed the most.”
Red Shield advisory board chairman Mark Baker said funds raised in the appeal would help run Salvation Army’s safe houses – the three Houses of Hope (Ela Beach, Lae and Kainantu), HIV/AIDS programmes, restorative justice programme and the Lae street stall.
“HIV/AIDS is viewed in PNG as a problem that’s gone away but the issue is very much still there and unfortunately funding for HIV/AIDs has dropped and the Red Shield Appeal will ensure that the programme continues.
The restorative justice programme and the Lae street stall are other activities this appeal will support,” Baker said.
Thornton said of the K4.2 million, K800,000 was donated to support charities, hospitals, orphanages and other worthy causes such as the Red Shield Appeal.
The luncheon raised K200,000 from a target of K350,000.