With the Leones en Vacaciones Summer Baseball Camp Program

Our Tikes Make a Home Run

During school vacation time it becomes a challenge for parents to find activities that are both educational and fun while also motivating their children. That has led the Cisneros Group of Companies to launch a new Corporate Social Responsibility initiative called Con Leones en Vacaciones, a summer baseball camp.

This program was created to the allow children of Cisneros Group (CG) employees to unleash their enthusiasm for the game of baseball by learning from the Leones del Caracas professional baseball players.

The summer camp program is a reality thanks to funding from various companies of the Cisneros Group that cover program costs for the 98 children who participate. Luis Avila, president of Los Leones del Caracas, said: “It is an honor for Leones to have been chosen as the pilot program in this Corporate Responsibility initiative. I am convinced that this is a great project that will be a success.”

Carmen Edith de Ron, Venevision’s Vice President of Human Resources added that: “This activity allowed us to recognize that we have the ability to inspire and positively reinforce the children of our employees. Parents can see that the Cisneros Group is helping turn a child’s summer vacation into a constructive learning experience with leadership and teamwork skills development in a setting that provides valuable social interaction with others. There is also no doubt this program builds and reinforces the bond between our company and our employees.”

“This is an activity that relies upon teamwork within the Cisneros Group, which is very important,” said Maria Teresa Sayol, Executive Director of SAECA, who added: “There are several different CG companies in our building so we are very conveniently located to transport our children and also those of the Paseo las Mercedes office to the camp”. Transportation leaves from Maiquetía where it picks up children whose parents work in SAECA´s office at the airport, offering them the option of participating in the program.  Similarly, Venevision has organized special bus transportation designed to fill the comfort and security needs of the little ones who leave from the La Salle school parking lot, where a special CG team was set up to help.

The program was so well received by employees of the Group, that the size of the program was increased. "We were pleasantly surprised at the response to the initiative, which demonstrates that it was a good idea,” said Luis Avila. “When we initially considered the degree of acceptance for the camp we thought that, optimistically, we would probably only account for half of a full camp session. But the reality was that we needed a full session to accommodate the children of Cisneros Group employees. I have no doubt that the economic contribution of our Cisneros companies has made it possible for many parents to enroll their children in the program,” Avila said.

“The camp has generated great enthusiasm,” said Carmen Edith Ron, “since parents want their children to have an educational experience that is both rewarding and fun, and also want to share that experience at home with them and other relatives. This is relevant not only because baseball is very ingrained in the Venezuelan character, but also because traditionally the Leones has been a winning team with the largest number of fans throughout the country,” she added.

Antonio Diaz Rojas, President of Corporate Security for the Cisneros Group, said the Leones en Vacaciones camp experience is an initiative that fully satisfies several needs such as: recreation for children who are on vacation, the enhancement of baseball as an activity beneficial for childhood development, and the inspiration to become a professional baseball player. "As an all-inclusive activity subsidized by the Cisneros Group the camp program permits constructive interaction with peers, unaffected by social status, while also conveying the inherent optimism we share here.”

Playball Leones en Vacaciones
The Leones en Vacaciones program began on August 12th. This season the camp was aimed exclusively at Cisneros Group employees’ children. Registration for boys included two T-shirts, one baseball cap, a field trip, ID card, certificate of participation, lunches, beverages, snacks, insurance, highly qualified staff in each area, security, accesible paramedic service, ambulance service available, greeters, exclusive welcome and departing gifts designed especially for the program.

Off the field
To share the experiences of the Cisneros Group children who have participated in the Leones en Vacaciones initiative, we invite you to submit your comments and anecdotes for the next Punto por Punto newsletter.