In its fourth year, Project Blue Elf spreads joy to 6,000 children
The BBVA Compass Foundation’s signature holiday initiative, Project Blue Elf, came back in a big way this season, delivering toys to kids in more markets across the country.
Project Blue Elf, part of BBVA Compass’ vision of providing a bright future for everyone, kicked off on December 5, as the bank donated toys to nearly 6,000 elementary students in 29 markets through December 16. The bank focused on schools who serve low-income areas in its footprint.
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1Student Reaction for Project Blue Elf
Students reach to Project Blue Elf volunteers revealing toys at their school.
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2Toys for Project Blue Elf
Students marvel at their toys after BBVA Compass volunteers passed them out as part of Project Blue Elf.
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3Project Blue Elf
Project Blue Elf Volunteers reveal the surprise to students. Each student received one toy each.
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4Project Blue Elf Reveal
Project Blue Elf volunteers reveal toys to unsuspecting students.
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5Project Blue Elf - Mission 3
Project Blue Elf volunteers pass out toys to kids at O'Grady Elementary School in Mission, Texas.
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6Project Blue Elf - Mission 2
Students at O'Grady Elementary School show their new toys after BBVA Compass volunteers passed them out as part of the Project Blue Elf toy donation.
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7Project Blue Elf Mission
BBVA Compass Chairman and CEO Manolo Sanchez poses with bank volunteers during a Project Blue Elf event at O'Grady Elementary School in Mission, Texas.
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8Project Blue Elf Denver
BBVA Compass Denver CEO Cedric Buchanon and a bank volunteer read "Snowmen at Night" as part of the bank's 2016 Project Blue Elf.
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9Project Blue Elf Birmingham
Project Blue Elf Volunteers high five a Birmingham student during BBVA Compass' fourth annual initiative to donate toys.
“BBVA Compass is firmly committed to reaching low- to-moderate income areas, and bringing the age of opportunity to those communities,” said BBVA Compass Director of Corporate Responsibility and Reputation Reymundo Ocanas. “Seeing the smiles on each child’s face as they receive their toys gives our employees a warm feeling you can only find in the rarest of moments. Our volunteers look forward to this initiative every year.”
Seeing the smiles on each child’s face as they receive their toys gives our employees a warm feeling you can only find in the rarest of moments.
At each assembly-like event at a selected school, members of the bank’s local executive team and employee volunteers would read students the short story, “Snowmen at Night”, before surprising them with toys, delivering one to each child. The initiative reached around 200 students per market, on average, with 600 employees volunteering in 2016.
Markets were located from coast to coast, while larger events were held in Birmingham, Houston, Riverside, Calif., Tucson, Ariz., and Mission, Texas. Last year, the initiative brought toys to nearly 5,000 students in 27 markets.