The sun has just set on the top floor of the Arab World Institute where the grand prize for philanthropy is being held. Paris shines brightly and the room is full. Enough to delight Gaël Chervet, president of the Ficade Group, who is delighted with an event that has become “essential to highlight the private sector which manages to generate a positive impact to respond to the major challenges of our time with a medium and long term vision”. The Fondation de France, associated with the event and represented by Sabine de Soyres, head of the philanthropy center, congratulated all the winners and candidates: “You are helping to build a fairer, more peaceful, more beautiful world.”
But this construction is often done in silence. Contrary to popular belief, philanthropists communicate little and remain modest, which Guy Cohen, one of the key figures of the event, underlined on stage. It is to highlight discreet actors that this ceremony is held. Proof of its importance, the editorial teams of the Ficade Group mobilized to award the prizes and distinguish the winners. May they emulate!
Hope category. Remake Foundation
Jean-Baptiste Marcy, editor-in-chief of Wealth management, presented the first trophy of the evening to the Remake foundation represented by Maxime Cabrolier. Recent since created in December 2023, it can already boast of a real impact and has all the cards in hand to become essential in the coming years. The foundation supports projects of general interest working for more inclusive cities by promoting dignified housing, access to education and care for vulnerable people. In 2024, five projects were supported for a total amount of 180,000 euros.
Category Art. AG2R La Mondiale, foundation for artistic vitality
Since its creation in 2017, the AG2R La Mondiale corporate foundation for artistic vitality has stood out for its mission of supporting art and culture in France. In 2023, it was associated with 27 projects for a total budget of €740,000: restoration of works, artist residencies, support for artistic professions or festivals. Pierre Martin, president of the foundation, and Mathilde Lerosier, director of sponsorship, were present on stage to receive the trophy from Sibylle Aoudjhane, presenter of the Art & Marché show on BSmart. Pierre Martin took the opportunity to announce the latest news from the foundation: “The Perdurare program designed with the Institute for French Know-How in order to bring rare artistic crafts to life and persist.”
Housing category. Qualitel endowment fund
Philippe Estingoy, president of the Qualitel endowment fund, and Lisa Sullerot, delegate of the fund, received the trophy presented by Emmanuel Caille, editor-in-chief of d’a. Since 2011, the structure has been involved in emblematic and innovative initiatives in favor of housing for the most disadvantaged. Its impact is considerable: 230 projects supported and assistance provided to around 200,000 people.
Education category. LBP AM Group Foundation
The foundation awarded in this category is very young since it was born in January 2024. It operates in the fields of education, socio-professional integration and health, in particular mental health. Apart from financial support for associative projects, it supports young talent centers via an equal opportunities program. Objective: to accommodate and support scholarship students during their two years of preparatory class so that they pass the entrance exams to major business and engineering schools. Enough to excite Arnaud Ardoin, former teacher and now presenter of Smart Job on B Smart.
Childhood category. Eleva Foundation Limited
Eleva Capital is committed to donating 9.9% of its profits to help Unicef act in favor of the most vulnerable children. This places the group as UNICEF’s second largest donor in Europe. This partnership is an example for the financial industry because it allows significant results to be obtained. Major achievements include the creation of schools in Madagascar, support for vaccination campaigns and plastic recycling. Arnaud Ardoin insisted on one point which convinced the jury: the employees are part of the initiative and vote each year for the projects to be supported.
Category Protection of diversity. Maisons du monde Foundation
And the winner is : the Maisons du monde foundation. “This prize rewards our ten years of existence”, underlines with emotion Hélène Guiet, quality and supply director responsible for the French furniture group. Since its birth, the structure has contributed to the preservation of forests and trees in France and internationally. Financial support is largely provided through the collection of micro-donations at store checkouts (a now widespread practice that the company was one of the first to introduce in France). 9 million euros have already been raised to finance 68 projects in 21 countries. The trophy was distributed by Fabrice Cousté, presenter of Smart Immo on BSmart.
Justice and Peace category. Audit-Duprey-Fekl endowment fund
Arnaud Dumourier, editorial director of Le Monde du Droit, was keen to point out: the Audit-Duprey-Fekl firm has, since its creation in 2021, “a pioneer, a company with a mission from the outset with a reason for being, namely the reduction of social and environmental inequalities”. The jury crowned him for his association with the Pause program of the Collège de France, which aims to support researchers and artists forced into exile and unable to freely exercise their profession, so that they can continue their work.
Category fight against global warming
To face global warming, companies are acting by limiting their environmental impact as much as possible, but also through philanthropy. Thomas Hugues, presenter of Smart Impact on BSmart, presented the trophy to Christophe Salmon, general delegate of the Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale foundation. The jury was keen to salute the action carried out in partnership with Sylv’ACCTES for sustainable management of France’s forests in order to preserve biodiversity and initiate an ecological transition thanks to annual support of 100,000 euros. Note that the company allocates 15% of its net profit to ecological and solidarity projects.
Environmental and social impact category
Thomas Hugues remained on stage to reward the winner of the Environmental and Social Impact category. This is the Philgood Foundation by Neuflize OBC. This endowment fund is intended to facilitate the philanthropic commitment of private clients and corporate clients of the Neuflize OBC bank.
Innovation Prize.
To close the evening, the innovation prize was presented by Grégoire Favet, presenter of the Smart Bourse show on BSmart. The trophy was won by the 29 Haussmann Foundation, which acts as an incubator based on the venture philanthropy model by supporting associations for three years through a structural donation that is not allocated to a specific project and through extra-financial support ( strategic coaching, fundraising, impact measurement, etc.).
Lucas Jakubowicz
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