Editor’s note: This press release is sponsored by Jollibee Foods Corporation and was handled by BrandRap, the sales and marketing arm of Rappler. No member of the news and editorial team participated in the publishing of this piece.

The Jollibee Group Foundation, Inc. (JGF) recently provided free COVID-19 vaccines to five partner organizations in NCR and certain areas in Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Quezon Province, and Rizal. As of October, over 1,500 partners have received their first dose of the vaccine. 

“The Jollibee Group and Jollibee Group Foundation have exerted much effort to help our partners and communities weather the effects of the pandemic—from our FoodAID Program and now through these free vaccines. Through this, we are able to ensure that they remain safe and healthy to continue their operations, while also safeguarding the health and well-being of the communities they serve,” said JGF Executive Director Gisela Tiongson.  

Smallholder farmers and their families who are part of JGF’s Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) were also among the recipients. Over 1,000 doses were donated through Ahon sa Hirap, Inc. (ASHI) in Laguna and the Local Government of San Jose City, Nueva Ecija. Vaccines, administered through the local government of Sariaya, Quezon, were also provided to Tulay Sa Pag-unlad, Inc. (TSPI).

JGF has also extended support to the Xavier University–Ateneo de Cagayan. The institution is JGF’s partner in conducting the online course, “Agro-entrepreneurship for Inclusive Value Chains”, which paves the way for the transformation of smallholder farmers into entrepreneurs. Almost 60 school staff, including teachers, were vaccinated. 

The company donated over 400 vaccines to the Kabuhayan sa Ganap na Kasarinlan Credit and Savings Cooperative (K-COOP), an organization that JGF assisted in re-establishing the operations of karinderyas from low-income communities in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. The vaccines that were donated benefitted urban poor families in Antipolo City.

The vaccines were administered to JGF’s partners with the help of Reliance United, in coordination with respective local government units.

In July 2021, the Jollibee Group launched its own vaccination program called #JabForJoy.  This covered employees from Jollibee, Chowking, Mang Inasal, Greenwich, Burger King, Red Ribbon, Panda Express, PHO24, commissaries, distribution centers, support functions, and the Jollibee Group Foundation. – Rappler.com