Dole plc, a global leader in the production and distribution of fresh fruit, announced that it has was commended again for its corporate social responsibility (CSR) work.
In the 27th year of Costa Rica’s most prestigious social responsibility award, 30 companies from various industries submitted a total of 45 projects that benefit the sustainable development of Costa Rica. The American Chamber of Commerce in Costa Rica (AmCham) named Dole’s Farm Employee Financial Education Program a big winner.
This marks the second consecutive year the company has achieved this milestone.
AmCham representatives believe that the program excels not only in its analysis, planning and execution, but also in its innovative approach and strong commitment to Costa Rica’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The program was nominated for an award in the Staff category and won in that group, subsequently being recognized as the best overall effort at the event.
Launched in 2019, Dole’s comprehensive financial education program is designed to improve the lives of employees by providing the tools they need to manage family finances, reduce debt and alleviate family financial hardship.
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Through an exhaustive 12-week training process called “The Path to Prosperity,” participating employees will develop new ideas and habits about spending moderation and financial control under expert guidance. The goal is to enable participants to reduce debt, increase cash flow, grow assets, and improve their financial health.
The program can be tailored to each participant’s specific needs and includes support groups, training sessions, tool applications, individual consultations, and follow-up through a virtual community. A core aspect of the program is the sustainability of its operations, a large part of which is carried out by a team of volunteers within the company who have contributed more than 15,000 hours of their time to the program.
The Farm Employee Financial Education Program was launched to help close the gaps companies identified in measuring multidimensional poverty among employees and their families; an approach Dole is pioneering in the agriculture industry.
The Business Multidimensional Poverty Index (bMPI) aims to measure poverty, not just by looking at traditional per capita income , but also by including health, education, housing and employment. This way, organizations can identify gaps and focus social programs and efforts to address these issues.
Dole’s financial plan is an excellent example of action consistent with this goal. The impact of the program is unquestionable, with 39% of the 275 graduates closing 63 gaps in the bMPI and improving their financial health index by 7.34%.
“Dole’s leadership in corporate social responsibility demonstrates our unwavering commitment to creating a positive impact in the communities we serve,” said Sandra Lima, Senior Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility. “Being a big winner in the AmCham Social Responsibility in Action Award is a great recognition This is a strong recognition of Dole’s impactful and innovative approach to employee benefits and social empowerment.”
SOURCE : BusinessWire