Social Contribution（DE＆I / Human Rights）
Support for the Vitalization of Sports Activities
Support for GoalBall
SMBC Trust Bank has supported the Japan Goalball Association since August 2016, and has become the official top partner since April 2022. SMBC Trust Bank supports the expansion and further development of goalball and sports for people with disabilities by hosting trial sessions, sending employee volunteer staff to tournaments, and other efforts.
Support for Blind Soccer
SMBC Nikko is supporting blind soccer as part of its support for parasports. The Japan Blind Football Association envisions realizing a society through blind soccer in which people with and without visual impairments interact with each other as a matter of course, and this aspiration matches SMBC Nikko's management philosophy of respect for diversity and its stance towards diversity. SMBC Nikko and the Japan Blind Football Association have concluded a partnership agreement, and company executives and employees volunteer as staff at tournaments and at kids' training events.
Support for Para Sports through ESG Fund
In June 2016, SMBC Nikko launched a mutual fund “Schroder Asia Pacific ESG Focus Fund” *that invests in Asia Pacific region stocks focusing on ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance).
Since 2017, SMBC Nikko has been donating a portion of its profit obtained through the fund to support sport developments and para-sports. As of July 2022, SMBC Nikko had donated 1,587,418 yen in total to the Japan Sport Association and Japanese Para Sports Association.
*This fund was the first ESG fund investing in Asia-Pacific stocks and it has received two awards in the past - the Outstanding Fund Award in both “Morningstar Award Fund of the Year 2017” domestic equity (global) category and “Morningstar Award Fund of the Year 2019” ESG category.
In-company Charity Sales Event
Vocational program products sale to support people with disabilities
SMFL has held special sales of vocational program products produced by the Setagaya Community Workshop and Cookie Studio Orange house for a total of 16 times since FY 2015, and each time many employees have purchased their products.
Vocational program products are produced as a part of work training programs at local community centers and facilities for people with disabilities. A portion of the sales proceeds from the products are used to pay the wages of the people with disabilities who make them, and help the workers establish independence. Through purchases of vocational training products by employees, SMFL will continue this effort to help build a society where everyone can live together safely and securely.
Donations
Received Letters of Appreciation for Donations Made for the 2023 Turkey-Syria Earthquake
SMBC made a monetary contribution for the purpose of supporting victims of the Turkey-Syria Earthquake that occurred in February 2023 and in addition to donations from officers and employees at group companies, a total of approximately 18 million yen was donated to the Japan Committee for UNICEF, Japan for UNHCR, an NPO, and the Japan Association for the World Food Programme, also an NPO. Each of these groups presented SMBC with a letter of appreciation.
Japan for UNHCR
Japan Association for the World Food Programme
Japan Committee for UNICEF
The donations will go to support the lives and safety of people, including the establishment of shelters, the distribution of relief supplies and food, and emotional care for children. We once again send our prayers for the speedy restoration and reconstruction of the disaster-stricken areas in these two countries.
UNHCR
UNHCR stands for the UN Refugee Agency, previously known as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. This organization was established in 1950 and provides support to refugees. The UNHCR provides international protection and support to refugees and displaced people forced to flee conflict and persecution. The agency is also lobbying for a resolution to the refugee issue.
The Japan for UNHCR is the official support window for the UNHCR, to back the activities of the organization.
World Food Programme
The World Food Programme (UN WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, sustainability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
The UN WFP is an authorized NPO provides assistance to the WFP which is committed to eliminating hunger and poverty. Japan Association for the World Food Programme is official support window for the WFP in Japan.
UNICEF
UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) works in around 190 countries and territories. Its priority is to reach the most disadvantaged children to protect the lives and rights of all children. The fund is implementing activities to assist in a variety of areas, health, nutrition, water, hygiene, education, protection from violence and exploitation, HIV/AIDS, emergency assistance and advocacy.
The Japan Committee for UNICEF is the official window in Japan and is one of the UNICEF Associations in 33 developed countries and territories.