Doña Letizia, the celebration of solidarity with Belén Esteban in the City of Banco Santander

Day of surprises and solidarity. “It is impossible not to shed a tear during this very emotional event. We will leave here with a burst of energy and positivity.” This is how it began Angel Expositoby COPE, the presentation of Euros de tu Nómina, the solidarity initiative of Banco Santander that he has chaired Mrs. Letizia and which gives title to the closing ceremony of Social Projects. Along with the Queen, she has been present Ana Botín, president of the entity. The event took place this Tuesday, June 11, at Banco Santander City in Boadilla (Madrid). Attention because Belén Esteban was also present.

The Solaruco auditorium in the financial city was packed with an audience. “Banks have a heart and a soul,” Expósito said about the great solidarity action that this 16th edition has raised 695,788 euros from donations from the bank’s employees in Spain and contributions from the entity that matches the amount donated by the employees to support programs and NGOs that help improve the lives of the most vulnerable.

Ana Botín took the floor, beginning by talking about the olive trees that grow in the gardens of the city of the bank, “more than 1,500 years old” that teach us, she slipped, “to be more resistant.” “We are here to celebrate the projects of 16 winners” and she has clarified that it is important to do the numbers and also “how to do the numbers.” The president has highlighted the role of the collaborators “who decide what to do to allocate the aid. Nearly 3,000 collaborators, godmothers to godfathers, support the causes.”

Among the guests, we have seen Antonio Garamendi, president of the CEOE; Fátima Báñez, Minister of Employment; and Elma Saiz, Minister of Inclusion; and Belén Esteban, who has posed in front of the cameras with her friend and partner María Patiño. Belén has attended to support the work of the Querer Foundation, by the journalist Pilar García de la Granja, who has collected her award from Ana Botín. Before returning to her seat, Pilar embraced Expósito, her professional colleague, in a hug. Querer is an institution, founded in 2016, dedicated to education and social research for children with neurological diseases. The foundation also integrates a special education school, El Cole de Celia y Pepe, which has 100 students between 4 and 18 years old, and which has been one of the winning programs. Also winners, the DalecandELa Association, the Down Galicia Federation and the Multiple Sclerosis Association of Toledo, among others.

6 million in solidarity initiatives

With Euros de tu Nómina, the bank promotes projects that improve society, such as the fight against poverty in Spain in childhood and adolescence. This year the 16 winning social projects will receive a contribution to develop their action; Three winning initiatives from the Banco Santander Foundation’s Santander Ayuda Call have also been recognized. Since this solidarity program was launched, 6 million euros have been distributed among 153 NGO initiatives in Spain and almost 650,000 beneficiaries have been helped.