Pitmaster Foundation wins Stevie Award for COVID-19 initiatives (Sabong News)
MANILA, Philippines — Pitmaster Foundation, under the leadership of its chairman Charlie “Atong” Ang, won bronze for Most Valuable Non-Profit Response under the COVID-19 Response Category during the 2022 Stevie Awards last Nov. 11 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Ang expressed his gratitude to the Stevie Award organization for recognizing their efforts to help communities during pandemic.
“I am grateful to the Stevie Award for believing in our work. Our energy at the foundation is recharged and we are inspired knowing that our efforts and dedication are acknowledged by a reputable global award giving body like Stevie Award. This is validation of our mission of doing something good to alleviate the lives of Filipinos in times of need,” Ang said.
The Stevie Award aims to honor the contribution of organizations and professionals across the planet. Ang revealed he was forced to think out of the box that gave life to e-sabong after many families and lives in the cockfighting industry in the country were affected during the lockdown.
“The origin of e-sabong was to really help the people who lost their livelihoods because of COVID-19 by giving them employment opportunities and helping families and communities at the same time,” he added.
Ang vowed that Pitmaster Foundation will continue to fulfill its mission of providing assistance to those in need even though e-sabong is no longer around. “We will continue to help others because that’s my personal mission. We hope to revive the on-ground cockfighting industry, given the lifting of restrictions so that we can provide employment and small businesses to the people.”
Since 2020, Pitmaster Foundation has donated almost P1 billion ($17.2 million) in assistance for dialysis and COVID-19, including 31,000 doses of vaccines, 161 ambulances to support health care for remote communities, salaries for frontline staff, vaccine freezers, health care kits, COVID-19 medications, 272,000 antigen test kits and face masks.
The foundation’s most recent venture includes tree planting to promote climate change initiatives and climate justice.
“Our immediate response program keeps the foundation’s employees and 5,230 volunteers and members safe and healthy as they travel around the country to engage in humanitarian work,” Pitmaster Foundation executive director Caroline Cruz said.
