VKF_FRAE_2017

89 VakıfBank Annual Report 2017 VakıfBank focused on investments to further education of special needs children; volleyball and the youth sports academies; and promote traditional Turkish art forms in support of culture and the arts. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY In 2017, VakıfBank also involved in important social responsibility activities, continuing its efforts that contribute to all sectors of the society. Having set its social responsibility framework as education, culture and sports, VakıfBank focused on investments to further education of special needs children; volleyball and the youth sports academies; and promote traditional Turkish art forms in support of culture and the arts. Supported by the Bank for over 30 years, VakıfBank Women’s Volleyball Team became the Europe and world champions in 2017, thus once again carrying the VakıfBank brand to the global summit. The yellow-blacks have thus won the European Champions’ League for the third time and the Clubs’ World Championship for the second time, both undefeated, and confirmed their position as “Turkey’s most successful team on the international arena”. The team has thus increased the number of international trophies in its museum to seven, continuing to inspire pride and happiness across the country and demonstrating the strength of Turkish women. VakıfBank Women’s Volleyball Team closed the year 2017 as Europe and World Champion, and won the Turkish Cup (Volley Cup) and Turkish Super Cup (Champions’ Cup), thus capping the year with a total of four trophies. Shaping its activities with a view towards “Raising good people for the society and successful athletes for Turkish volleyball” through the sports club, VakıfBank inaugurated sports schools in 2017 in Ankara and İzmir. With the vision of extend the sports infrastructure activities to more provinces in the following period, the Bank continued to support Turkish volleyball with a sustainable model at all age groups and maintained its sponsorship efforts, which set an example across the world. Having integrated sustainability and environmental responsibility into its corporate strategy, VakıfBank planted more than 50 thousand saplings in 2017 with the mediation of TEMA, thereby supporting the forestation efforts across the country. The Bank donates saplings on behalf of its customers taking out Eco-Friendly Mortgage Loans, thus extending the public benefit it creates. During the year, the Bank also obtained the ISO 14001 -2015 Environment Management Certificate. As a result of its partnerships with universities, VakıfBank continued to contribute to the society by helping organize the social spaces of students, rewarding successful students, helping with the education of special children, and supporting athletes in 2017. The brand also sponsored various organizations participated by the finance and business community and came together with its shareholders in this field. VakıfBank Women’s Volleyball Team capped the year 2017 as Europe and World Champion, and won the Turkish Cup and Turkish Super Cup, thus closing the year with a total of four trophies.