NEW YORK, April 11, 2016 – The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Foundation has recognized Planigrupo, a developer and manager of shopping malls throughout Mexico and Colombia, with the Latin America Community Support Award for their outstanding “909 Heart Steps” campaign. The campaign, which took place at the Paseo Santa Catarina mall in Mexico, helped support a local community in need through a collective effort to donate a basic necessity–new shoes.
“909 Heart Steps” was created to aid the families of Torres of Guadalupe at Garcia Nuevo Leon, who live in ailing conditions. The campaign provided the community with over 700 pairs of shoes and promoted a sense of social responsibility within the center. Mall tenants also participated through donations and bolstered efforts by providing “Rosca de Reyes,” a traditional delicacy, and a children’s show for entertainment.
“The 909 Heart Steps campaign generated a positive impact that was felt across multiple communities,” said Haydeé Moreno, Planigrupo’s marketing manager. “We know that in addition to offering the most basic form of protection, shoes provide a sense of security. This campaign stemmed directly from hearing the needs of the community and ultimately strengthened the link between beneficiary and volunteer.”
To commemorate this award, the ICSC Foundation has donated $5,000 USD to Planigrupo’s partnering charity Aquí Tu Servilleta. The ICSC Foundation presented the award to Planigrupo during a ceremony at RECon Latin America in Cancun, Mexico.
ICSC’s Community Support Awards recognize and promote the most outstanding examples of social responsibility by shopping centers around the world. As a result of winning this award, Planigrupo, along with ICSC’s international Community Support Award winners, is automatically entered into the prestigious Albert Sussman International Community Support Award competition. The winner of the Albert Sussman International Community Support Award will be announced at ICSC RECon 2017 in Las Vegas.
Want to learn more? Join the conversation on Twitter via @ICSC and #ICSCFoundation and use the hashtag #MindfulMalls to recognize shopping centers that share a common vision of making a difference.
The ICSC Foundation is the charitable arm of ICSC. The ICSC Foundation is dedicated to career development through educational endeavors, and to engaging, promoting and recognizing those in the retail real estate industry who contribute to making their communities better. For more information, visit www.icscfoundation.org.
About ICSC
Founded in 1957, ICSC is the global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its more than 70,000 members in over 100 countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, investors, retailers, brokers, academics, and public officials. The shopping center industry is essential to economic development and opportunity. They are a significant job creator, driver of GDP, and critical revenue source for the communities they serve through the generation of sales taxes and the payment of property taxes. These taxes fund important municipal services like firefighters, police officers, school services, and infrastructure like roadways and parks. Shopping centers aren’t only fiscal engines however; they are integral to the social fabric of their communities by providing a central place to congregate with friends and family, discuss community matters, and participate in and encourage philanthropic endeavors. For more information about ICSC visit www.icsc.com and for the latest news from ICSC and the industry go to www.thecenterofshopping.com.