DHL Costa Rica recently donated bikes to 77 poor families in Guanacaste, Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast province, reported the company.

The event was designed to coincide with the recognition of 75 DHL Employee of the Year recipients, who were also featured at the bike ceremony.

“Every year during the Employee of the Year celebration, we organize activities that reinforce the philosophy of the company’s Responsible Living program which is focused on three pillars — GoGreen, GoTeach and GoHelp,” said Mike Parra, executive director of DHL Americas, in a press statement.

 

Students with the highest grades from the elementary schools in Villa Real, El Llanito, La Garita Nueva, Matapalo, and Cartagena were chosen to receive a bike, as well as families living in extreme poverty in the towns of Brasilito, Santa Rosa and Huacas, said CEPIA, the community nonprofit that coordinated the selection process together with local schools.

CEPIA seeks to promote culture, health, sports and education for children and adolescents and their families in Guanacaste. Since 2005 the group has run after-school programs, provided psychological help for victims and educational projects for high-risk youth, and also provides professional trainings, runs a food bank, a library, and hols activities such as movie nights, according to the group’s website.

In total, 105 DHL employees, including the region’s executive managers and three members of global management, participated in the activity. Employee of the Year awards are part of DHL Express’s employee performance evaluation program, said the company.