There is a Christmas ballad that describes the holiday season as the most wonderful time of the year.  CIBC FirstCaribbean is determined to give back to those for whom this sentiment might not be true, and for whom the Christmas spirit may be thwarted by difficult circumstances.

In its on-going Christmas campaign, the Bank has made a pledge to distribute one percent of net retail sales made on its suite of Visa Classic and Visa Gold credit card products to charities in each of 15 countries across the Caribbean.
In the Cayman Islands the Department of Children and Family Services has been adopted as that special charity.  “The Department is truly appreciative to CIBC FirstCaribbean for its generosity and for remembering those in our community who are in need. This donation will indeed make a difference in the lives of some of our needy families,” states Ms. Jen Dixon, Acting Director.

The Department of Children and Family Services is committed to assisting individuals and groups in the community to restore or enhance their ability for social functioning while also creating societal conditions favourable to their goals.  Social workers help people overcome some of life’s most difficult challenges: poverty, discrimination, abuse, addiction, physical illness, divorce, loss, unemployment, educational problems, disability, and mental illness. They help prevent crises and counsel individuals, families, and communities to cope more effectively with the stresses of everyday life and while they always welcome donations from the community, CIBC FirstCaribbean wants to make sure that its pledge is extra special.
“The Department of Children and Family Services is grateful to CIBC FCIB for this kind donation; it comes at such an opportune time with Christmas now upon us and will go a long way with touching many lives in our community this holiday season,” states Mrs. Lynda Mitchell, Disaster Services Coordinator.

According to Managing Director for Retail Banking, Rolf Phillips, the decision was an easy one that is in synch with the Bank’s continued commitment to a wide range of educational, humanitarian, youth development and entrepreneurship programmes that benefit a wide cross-section of people across the region.

Country Head, Tom Crawford – Managing Director Retail, Wealth and Small Business stated that the Bank had a special affiliation with the Cayman Islands Social Services and was always keen on supporting this very important cause.

The Christmas campaign will climax on 31st December, 2011 and thereafter the funds will be transferred.