In the recently concluded Kiwanis Night of Kiwanis International Philippine Luzon District held at the Manila Hotel last January 21, 2023, the global organization honored Shawarma Shack with the “CSR Company of the Year Award” for the company’s corporate social responsibility activities done indifferent parts of the country through its program “Shawarma Shack Cares”. Established in 1915, Kiwanis International is a global community of clubs, members and partners dedicated to improving the lives of children one community at a time. Today, they stand with more than 600,000 members in more than 80 countries.
One of Shawarma Shack’s core values is “Commitment” as the company is committed to providing quality products to its consumers and other initiatives that impact lives within and outside the organization. With the leadership of its founder and dubbed as the “Godfather of Shawarma”, President & CEO Walther Uzi Buenavista and his wife, the company’s Vice President and COO Patricia Collantes-Buenavista, they have collaborated with various national and local governments, and organizations to send help to fellow Filipinos especially to those who are in need.
They concluded year 2022 with fun and enjoyment with a gift-giving Christmas program for kids in coordination with Manila Police District. Energies were so high and excitement filled the area that after a very long time, they can be together again with their friends. A true spirit of Christmas was felt during the event with all the gifts and food packs that were distributed to the attendees. Fun games were also done to bring more joy the attendees.
The past years, Shawarma Shack has been extending aid to those who were affected by natural catastrophes. The Philippines is frequented by typhoons annually as it is located along the typhoon belt. Shawarma Shack, in coordination with Philippine Coast Guards and Philippine National Police also engaged in relief initiatives to some places that were badly hit to provide assistance to kababayans. They went to Cagayan Valley and Bicol Regions, and Rizal Province for the Typhoon Ulysses victims in 2020. Shawarma Shack sent trucks to municipalities of Sudipen in La Union, Sta Maria in Ilocos Sur, and Baggaoin, Cagayan carrying relief goods for Typhoon Maring-affected people in October 2021.
Shawarma Shack also sent construction materials to help build back the lives of people of Dinagat Island stirred by Typhoon Odette in December 2021. For year 2022, San Miguel in Bulacan was not spared by Typhoon Karding and Typhoon Paeng which also had a big impact to Noveleta, Cavite and San Pedro, Laguna. These locations were also able to receive help from the company.
Covid-19 had a big effect not just in the Philippines but also globally. Shawarwa Shack distributed food packs to frontliners from the Philippine General Hospital, San Lazaro Hospital, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, National Capital Region Police Office, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Armed Forces of the Philippines, as well as those located at the Mindanao Avenue and Balintawak exit borders, and other nearby areas. This small act of kindness from Shawarma Shack is their way to salute the modern-day heroes for their dedication and hard work.
When Taal Volcano erupted in 2020 and as many houses and livelihoods were destroyed and forced the residents to evacuate, they immediately coordinated with different LGU’s in Batangas and personally distributed food packages and drinking water.
Shawarma Shack will continue to be of service and of help to many as their way of giving back to the community who has been the reason for the growth of the brand . It now has over 700 branches across the country.