Gandang Kalikasan, Inc. wins Social Entrepreneur 2011

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Ms. Anna Meloto-Wilk, President, and Ms. Camille D. Meloto, Creative Director of Gandang Kalikasan,Inc., were named the Social Entrepreneur in the recent Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2011 awards banquet. In photo with Ms. Meloto-Wilk and Ms. Meloto are Ms. Vivian Gee (right), Asia Head of Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, and Mr. Antonio Meloto (second from right), Social Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010. Ms. Meloto-Wilk and Ms. Meloto are chosen for building an organization that champions social transformation for the marginalized and the poor. Tapping the residents of Gawad Kalinga (GK) communities for their workforce and farming communities for raw materials, the sisters began manufacturing and marketing a full line of world-class organic products that also provided vital livelihood to marginalized communities.

The Entrepreneur Of The Year was founded in the United States by professional services firm Ernst & Young in 1986 to recognize the achievements of the most successful and innovative entrepreneurs worldwide. In 2001, Ernst & Young expanded the program and launched the World Entrepreneur Of The Year awards. In the Philippines, the SGV Foundation, Inc. established the Entrepreneur Of The Year in 2003. Supporting the program as co-presenters are, De La Salle University, Department of Trade and Industry, Development Bank of the Philippines, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Philippine Stock Exchange, and the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.

Program sponsor is SAP Philippines. Official airline is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, operating on behalf of the Air France-KLM Group in the Philippines. Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN News Channel. Banquet sponsors are Alaska Milk Corporation, Bounty Fresh Food Inc., CDO Foodsphere, Fiori Di M Food and Floralscapes, Generika Drugstore, JG Summit Holdings, Inc., National Bookstore, Planters Development Bank, and Victorinox Travel Gear.