26 July, 2024
H.E. Dr Myriam Spiteri Debono, officially inaugurated the 14th edition of the BOV Volleyball Marathon in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza. Forty players, selected from a total of seventy applicants, started the challenge of fifty-three hours of non-stop volleyball for a noble cause.
Present for the inauguration ceremony were Hon. Julia Farrugia Portelli, Minister for Inclusion and Volunteering, Hon. Keith Azzopardi Tanti, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research and Innovation, Hon. David Agius, Deputy Speaker and Shadow Minister for Sports, Hon. Graziella Galea, spokeswoman of the Opposition for the Inclusion of the Voluntary sector, Mr Kenneth Farrugia, the CEO of the Bank of Valletta the main sponsor of the marathon, and Siġġiewi Mayor Julian Borg.
In his welcome speech, Fr Martin Micallef while greeting the President of Malta, on her first visit to Id-Dar tal-Providenza, said that the commitment of the players and volunteers sends a beautiful message to Maltese society that it is rewarding to give. He added that it is wonderful to see young people filled with a great sense of generosity and altruism, who are ready to commit themselves in favour of initiatives in favour of people who need some kind of support, solidarity, or help. He reminded that Dar tal-Providenza, which this year is on the threshold of its 60th anniversary, needs a lot of funds to continue offering the residential services it offers to people with disabilities. “The help that the Maltese and Gozitan people will be giving through this marathon will continue to fill us with the courage to continue this work in the years to come.”
In her brief address at the opening of the marathon, the President of Malta H.E. Myriam Spiteri Debono mentioned that “by opening the Dar tal-Providenza nearly sixty years ago, Mgr Mikiel Azzopardi filled a significant gap, that existed at the time, in society by providing care and support for people with disabilities and their families.” She said that this started to raise public awareness about the importance of providing the necessary help to these people so that they have an opportunity to reach their full potential. Above all, so that they avoid unnecessary suffering. President Myriam Spiteri Debono explained that the costs are substantial and constantly increasing and appealed to the generosity of the people of Malta and Gozo.
Mr. Kenneth Farrugia, BOV’s Chief Executive Officer, stated that the Bank’s relationship with id-Dar tal-Providenza goes back years, with over 10 years of collaboration, and this year, as part of our Bank’s 50th anniversary, BOV is proud to continue building on this relationship. “As the leading bank in Malta, we are constantly committed in nurturing such partnerships that help the most vulnerable, also as it is one of our main strategic objectives to be more present in our community.
“The BOV Volleyball Marathon is a clear representation of what makes us Maltese, being there for one another through sport. This marathon also represents the power of volunteering, something which we at BOV are also encouraging with the introduction of the Volunteering Leave for all our employees.”
Mr. Farrugia continued that “Id-Dar tal-Providenza provides a vital service to our community and as BOV we want to continue expanding our work with the community to help all our citizens achieve a better quality of life. We truly hope that this relationship can grow further in the coming years and decades to come, and BOV will keep enhancing its CSR programme through such initiatives for the benefit of the local community.”
Mr. Ernest Agius, the Bank’s Chief Operations Officer, commented that “we are incredibly proud to support the BOV Dar tal-Providenza Volleyball Marathon, a remarkable event we have been backing for over a decade. Supporting this Marathon showcases our commitment to the community in which we operate. Continuously we are growing our presence so that we are truly a bank which is made by the people and for the people. This marathon is not just a testament to our community engagement but also demonstrates our ethos, which emphasizes playing an active role in the communities we serve. The work that Fr. Martin and his team do is invaluable, and we are proud to support such organisations. It is heartening to see our people actively participating as players and volunteers, embodying the spirit of solidarity and service that infuse our CSR efforts and embody our Bank’s culture.”
In the evening during the three days of the marathon there will be live music on the main stage. On Friday evening from 9:00 pm to midnight, the band Zone 5 will be invited, on Saturday the band Kantera, while on Sunday, the Spiteri Lucas Band.
The marathon will be broadcast on the local TV channels. The public can help by calling the numbers below, using BOV Mobile Banking or PayPal and Revolut or donating online to Dar’s bank accounts. For more information about this activity you can visit the site: www.sabihlitaghti.org or call one of the numbers below:
€10 5160 2011
€15 5170 2012
€25 5180 2013
€50 5190 2070
€100 5130 2044
Pledge Line: 2146 3686
BOV Mobile 7932 4834
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