Corporate volunteering awards
Recognising Iberdrola most engaged employees with the International Volunteer Awards 2024
Social action Volunteering Corporate social responsibility
The second International Volunteer Awards was held this year 2024 at Scottish Power's headquarters in Glasgow. This event is part of International Volunteer Week, which we celebrate at the same time in the main countries where we do business.
At Iberdrola, we have created annual awards that publicly recognise the dedication and solidarity of our most active volunteers, in order to make visible and promote our international Iberdrola corporate volunteer programme. A new way of highlighting the unstoppable global community that we have been bringing together since 2006, dedicated to social action projects aimed at integrating vulnerable groups, improving the environment, and sustainable development.
At this second edition of the ceremony, Ignacio Galán, Executive Chairman of Iberdrola, highlighted the fact that through their selfless work these volunteers make it clear that positive social impact is an essential element of the company's corporate identity.
"With our volunteers, we help build stronger, more resilient communities, fostering a sense of unity and common purpose. Your efforts have made a difference in safeguarding the health and happiness of diverse people around the world. You perfectly exemplify the heart and culture of Iberdrola. Your dedication is a testament to the transformative power of volunteering, a force that changes lives, revitalises communities and sends a ripple of positivity through the world."
Ignacio S. Galán
Executive Chairman of Iberdrola
International Volunteer Awards 2024
This recognition of dedication and collaboration went to our employees at ScottishPower, Avangrid, Neoenergia and Iberdrola, Pola Michalska, John Schenck, Layla Rebeca Gomes Costa and David Aldazábal, respectively. They all received their awards at a moving ceremony attended by Iberdrola's Executive Chairman, Ignacio Galán, the mayor of Glasgow, Jacqueline McLaren, and representatives of the charities the Group works with.
The second corporate volunteering awards is part of our International Volunteering Week, which we organise every year at the same time in the main countries where we operate.
This year it is being held between 28 September and 6 October with the slogan 'I believe in create a better world' , and we are organising multiple activities related to the environment and community action. Our International Corporate Volunteering Programme already benefits 13 million people in 24 countries.
Occupational Health and Safety Award
Pola Michalska won the Occupational Health and Safety Award for her dedication to the fight against cancer, a cause very close to her heart because of her own personal experiences. The ScottishPower employee shaved her head and donated her hair to The Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for children and young patients affected by the disease. She has also raised funds for Cancer Research UK.
Commitment and Promotion Award
John Schenck received the Commitment and Promotion Award for his outstanding involvement in Iberdrola's corporate volunteering activities in the United States, which he also publicised widely. Schenck, who was highlighted at the ceremony as having inspired a culture of giving back, has dedicated some 1,330 hours to volunteering and helped get 157 people to join Avangrid's volunteer programme.
Education Award
Layla Rebeca Gomes Costa won the Education Award in recognition of her amazing work spreading information on the risks of fraudulent use of the electricity grid in Brazil, a task in which she has been deeply involved to reach the youngest age groups. She has participated in elaborating educational books and training courses for schoolchildren on the efficient and safe use of electricity.
Environment Award
Last but not least, David Aldazábal's contribution to a project to recover the forest mass of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve won the Environment Award. Thanks to the work of many volunteers like David, some 10,000 trees of 25 different native species have been replanted in that area. In addition to his involvement in this initiative, the distinguishing factor of this Iberdrola employee has been his ability to involve numerous friends, family members and colleagues in this and other reforestation, clean-up and biodiversity conservation actions.
How was the 1st International Volunteer Awards 2023?
In 2023, we held our first International Volunteer of the Year Awards as a tool to highlight the major impact of the corporate volunteering activities carried out by thousands of Iberdrola employees around the world.
Four Iberdrola professionals in Spain, Brazil, Mexico and Greece were selected for this first celebration of the corporate volunteering awards: Marina Paredes, Michel Fuzzi, Nuvia Acebedo and Maria Samarkou. Recognition for their active participation in environmental volunteering programmes, training and integration of vulnerable groups, promoting sustainable development and encouraging the safe and healthy use of electricity.