Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/451763
Events 29 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 25 JANUARY 2015 As part of its corporate social responsibility, GSD Marketing Ltd made a donation of €26,000 to L-Istrina 2014, in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund. After volunteering to take phone calls from the public for one hour during L-Istrina event, members of staff and top management, including Chief Operating Officer Maria Micallef, presented the donation to Mr Edgar Preca. New executive chef for The Villa Brasserie Over €3,000 has been raised through Banif Bank's monthly Casual Fridays initiative by enthusiastic staff who dress down every last Friday of the month, and in return donate money for charitable causes. The usual formal ties and heels get a day off as instead of suiting up, em- ployees take the opportunity to don comfy jeans and polos. Besides be- ing great for motivation, the day also serves another purpose as a different cause is chosen each month to be the beneficiary of the sum collected. The initiative kicked off in the summer months and the first three causes were immediately lined up as the search didn't have to go any fur- ther than the Bank's own walls. The first donation went to a team mem- ber who was all packed and ready for Naples where she spent two weeks helping the Sisters of Mother Theresa in their work with under- privileged children. The money was spent on stationery for craft work. Next up was another employee who together who, together with ten oth- er volunteers from 'Right to Smile', helped carry out maintenance works on a school in the village of Olasiti, Kenya. Yet another team member rallied for Puttinu Cares as her young nephew organised a little 'pay back' fundraiser. In the following months Banif reached out to a variety of groups where a small but tangible difference could be made. This ranged from buying a laptop for the children of St. Angela's House to play and study on, to getting new water heaters for the Ursuline Crèche in Sliema ahead of the cold winter months. Christmas time saw the Bank team up with childrensdreams.org to make several wishes come true, including sending two girls to sing- ing and dancing lessons and buying bicycle helmets for five young boys, to name a few. Rounding off the year was a cause that hit close to home, as the Millen- nium Chapel just up the road from Banif 's St. Julian's branch was the target of a robbery and was exten- sively vandalised. Employees pitched in to help fund the repairing of the shop windows, which were damaged during the unfortunate break-in. Award-winning chef Mark Gauci has joined The Villa Brasserie in Balluta as executive chef, marking an exciting new phase for this pop- ular venue. Mark, who has over 20 years' ex- perience, spent some time working there a year ago and there was such an immediate synergy between him and chef-patron Chris Hammett that his eventual return was the obvious solution as the workload increased. Both Mark and Chris have worked in top restaurants abroad – most notably Marco Pierre White's The Restaurant and the Galvin Brothers' – Galvins Bistrot De Luxe respec- tively – and have the same passion for top ingredients with a careful blend of flavours, as well as respect for the importance of personalized service, unforgettable ambiance and excellent value for money. In the four years since Chris took over The Villa as chef patron, the restaurant - housed in a 19th cen- tury villa with stunning views - has moved steadily up the rankings and has made a name for itself as an in- novative and reliable venue for eve- rything from corporate launches and cutting-edge parties to themed dinners and romantic weddings. "During the time I spent with Chris last year, I was impressed by The Villa's potential and its loyal clientele. Although still with great influence in the kitchen - Chris will leave the kitchen in my hands so that he can concentrate on the rest of the operations of this venue, which offers indoor and outdoor dining, a cocktail lounge and a sep- arate area's for events." "Apart from becoming firm friends, we believed in the same things as professionals. I would not have been able to hand over the kitchen to anyone else. Mark has already come up with our winter menu, keeping the basic concepts of our menu but adding his own per- sonal touch to give them an exciting new twist. There will be more local and organic food and he is already checking out the farmers' markets for the freshest ingredients. He is also preparing a round of training for the staff to explain what he is trying to achieve and to ensure con- sistency our future menu's which we like to keep seasonal and change every three months" Chris said. The signature dishes of the new menu include a twice-baked goat's cheese soufflé, duck breast with a surprising combination of garnish- es, and a chocolate truffle cake. "Our patrons always want a change to tantalise them into trying some- thing new – but they also want to find their familiar favourites. Mark has managed to tweak every dish to make it exciting and different yet still keeping within our concept" Chris said. Check out the new menu on The Villa Brasserie Facebook page and at www.thevillamalta.com For more information you can contact on tel. +356 23112273 or send an email to info@thevillamal- ta.com The GO Cares Employee Fund has donated €4,000 to Dar tal-Providenza. The do- nation is part of the Fund's ongoing work to support various good causes through financial support and practi- cal help. Josephine Grima, Senior Manager – HR Operations at GO, said, "The GO Cares Employee Fund raises funds through voluntary donations from GO staff and with the support of GO. Throughout the year the Fund also organ- ises activities to provide help and support through on-site voluntary work. "This donation to Dar tal- Providenza will continue to help this organisation to as- sist people with special needs and their families to give them the best possible qual- ity of life." At present, Dar tal-Provi- denza hosts approximately one hundred persons who are provided with the necessary support to be able to inte- grate within the community. As part of its support serv- ices, Dar tal-Providenza also offers regular respite services to the residents' families. GO Employees donate €4,000 to Dar tal-Providenza Banif team gives generously through Casual Fridays (from left) Bjorn Vassallo, Gina Vella and Josephine Grima from the GO Cares Employee Fund presenting the €4,000 donation to Dar tal-Providenza to Pierre Cordina during a recent fund raising marathon. Generous donation to l-iStrina fund-raising