THE selfless will, once again, take center stage as The Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Awards (BTCA) has launched its search for its 28th year.
The BTCA is, once again, in search for selfless leaders, who have given back to the community through their own social causes that benefit the marginalized members of the society.
The award-giving body is dedicated to the late Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, the 1979 Nobel Prize winner who is known as “The Living Saint” because of her selfless humanitarian work and ideals.
The search was launched in 1983 and is a joint project of the Alfonso Yuchengco Foundation and the Junior Chamber International Manila. The BTCA aims to encourage the public to refocus on the importance of helping others by recognizing individuals, who have dedicated a portion of their lives serving the “poorest of the poor,” just like Blessed Teresa.
The winner will receive a cash prize of P1 million, at least half of which will be donated to the winner’s charitable institution of choice. Nominees are open to any one, regardless of age, gender, race and religion, who has dedicated himself or herself fully and selflessly to humanitarian work among underprivileged Filipinos for at least 25 years.
In addition, nominees will be likened to the degree in which they follow the example of Blessed Teresa, both in integrity and in the simplicity of their lifestyle.
Those behind BTCA aim to more than just inspire, but inspire enough to be involved in their own social causes. JCI-Manila BTCA Chairman for 2015 Jim Jimenez says, “The main goal this year is to get people involved in community.
“We hope that, through the nominations and the awarding of this year’s winner, more people will see the importance of social causes and reaching out.”
The BTCA encourages anyone who may know an exemplary individual to nominate them by filling out the nomination form found on the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/BTCAward. Only completed nomination forms shall be accepted.
The full list of rules and regulations can be found at the back of the nomination form. The deadline of submission of nomination forms is on August 7.