Maples Group - Cayman Islands Corporate Social Responsibility Report - 2022

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CAYMAN ISLANDS CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 2022 REPORT


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CONTENTS Total Lifetime Investment in the Cayman Islands Community....................4 2022 Highlights.........................................................................................................6 Influencing the Next Generation..........................................................................8 Arts & Culture...........................................................................................................10 Community Outreach.............................................................................................11 Environment.............................................................................................................18 Healthcare................................................................................................................20 Sports.........................................................................................................................22 Youth & Education..................................................................................................24


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We are very pleased to present our Cayman Islands 2022 Corporate Social Responsibility (“CSR”) Report. Our purpose is to make an impact that matters for our clients, our people, our community and our environment. You will see from this report the contribution we are making across each of these areas.


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The Maples Group is committed to being an active member of the Cayman Islands community. Launched in 2020, our Cayman Islands Corporate Social Responsibility (“CSR”) Report spotlights our CSR activities and charitable donations in the Cayman Islands community. By reporting on our initiatives and activities, we hope to highlight (i) the important work of these Cayman Islands’ charities and organisations, (ii) the various ways we support the community, and (iii) the education and career advancement opportunities that we offer Caymanians. As a corporate citizen, we are passionate about supporting and developing the local community. We believe through strong values, altruism and compassion we can make a difference and encourage others to do the same. To all our team members, a heartfelt thank you for your continued generosity and efforts to help support these incredible organisations within our community. Through our long-standing sponsorship programmes, funding and volunteer initiatives, we support local causes and organisations that focus on the development, improvement and benefit of the following six pillars: •

Arts & Culture

Community Outreach

Environment

Healthcare

Sports

Youth & Education

Throughout this report you will see a range of initiatives we undertake, the ways we collaborate and interact with our local community, and the meaningful impact we hope to achieve by working together. Read on to find out more about the community initiatives that we supported in 2022.


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Cayman Islands CSR Committee Members

Jonathan Green Global Managing Partner

Matthew Gardner Cayman Islands Managing Partner

Christina Bodden Partner

Scott Somerville Chief Executive Officer

Laura Chisholm Senior Vice President


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TOTAL LIFETIME INVESTMENT IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS COMMUNITY: US$17M+ FINANCIAL DONATIONS

CHARITABLE DONATIONS SINCE 2008

US$10M+

SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS DONATED SINCE 1994

US$7M+

COMMUNITY COMMITMENTS

TOTAL ARTICLED CLERKS ADMITTED AS ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

49

INTERNSHIP INTERNSHIP PLACEMENTS PLACEMENTS SINCE 2008 SINCE 2008

400

+ +

SCHOLARSHIPS SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDEDSINCE SINCE1994 1994 AWARDED

130 130


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2022 TOTAL ANNUAL INVESTMENT IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS COMMUNITY: US$1M+

49 49

FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS

TOTAL PHILANTHROPIC DONATIONS

US$680K

+

SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS DONATED DONATED

12

++ US$350K US$350K

NUMBER OF CHARITIES AND ORGANISATIONS SUPPORTED

ARTICLED CLERKS ARTICLED CLERKS CURRENTLY CURRENTLY ININ PROGRAMME PROGRAMME

49

COMMUNITY COMMITMENTS

ARTICLED CLERKS ADMITTED AS ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

3

60+

44


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INFLUENCING THE NEXT GENERATION As one of the largest employers in the Cayman Islands, and the largest in financial services, we create a work environment where current and future team members can learn, thrive and excel. With a 64% Caymanian workforce, we are committed to investing in the next generation through our internships and educational assistance programmes, cultivating exciting and rewarding careers. Our scholarship, articles of clerkship and internship programmes attract the most outstanding and driven students. Articles of Clerkship

Internships

Our articles of clerkship programme provides graduates the opportunity to train and qualify as an attorney-at-law in the Cayman Islands without having to train in the UK or elsewhere.

Each year, we invite applications from young Caymanians who are in their final years of secondary education or beginning their tertiary education to work during the summer months within our various practice groups and business teams. Since 2008, we have welcomed over 400 Caymanian students as part of our internship programme, allowing them to sharpen their skills and cement their interest in any of the fields we support, including law, fiduciary services, fund administration, accounting, marketing, compliance, information technology, office administration, human resources and information services.

In 2022, three articled clerks completed the articles of clerkship programme: Anastassia Webster, Annika Brown and Alexandra Jennings. Since the programme launched in 2005, we have supported 49 Caymanians to qualify as attorneys-at-law and we are proud of their achievements. Secondments As a global organisation, we are pleased to offer our team members the unique opportunity to share knowledge and experience by working alongside industry leaders across multiple jurisdictions. In addition to increasing their professional network and fulfilling career goals, secondments encourage employees to develop a global mind-set, returning with enhanced skills to support career progression. Our lawyer secondment programme is offered at all levels and is one of the many benefits of working for a truly international organisation that is committed to investing in the training and development of its people.

Scholarships Since 1994, we have offered legal and non-legal scholarships to outstanding Caymanian students to help offset the cost of tuition, accommodation and study materials. We are delighted to have awarded more than 130 scholarships to date totalling just over US$7 million. For the 2022 academic year, we were pleased to provide over US$350K across seven legal scholarships and five non-legal scholarships.


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During my secondment in our Dubai office, I worked on complex transactions with our exceptional lawyers helping enrich my legal acumen and expand my horizons, all of which will continue to benefit my legal career. This opportunity has left an indelible mark on my professional identity and I am grateful to the Maples Group for providing me with this opportunity. Renee Lindo, Finance Associate, seconded to Dubai office in 2022

I am grateful to the Maples Group for the in-depth training I received in their robust articled clerk programme. My experience in the articled clerk programme was positive and the partners and associates I worked with really took their time to train me and answer any questions I had. Anastassia Webster, Articled Clerk 2021 – 2022

Renee Lindo Finance Associate


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ARTS & CULTURE

The arts are a vital outlet for expression, inspiration and growth in the Cayman Islands and our culture’s rich, creative tapestry of heritage is undoubtedly the soul of our community. However, the arts rely on constant community support to thrive and we are committed to the preservation of cultural practices and supporting the work of local artists in the Cayman Islands, ensuring that current and future generations have artefacts, representative of their cultural identity, to enjoy and learn from for many years to come. We seek out sponsorship opportunities in this area that: • • • • •

Promote the positive development and preservation of culture in the Cayman Islands Bring together community members in a positive way Support and share talents of diverse groups Enrich the development of individual artists Provide the public with a greater appreciation of different cultural perspectives around them

Cayman National Cultural Foundation Last year, we were pleased to continue our support of the Cayman National Cultural Foundation (“CNCF”) and their efforts to promote and protect arts and culture in the Cayman Islands. Our latest donation supplemented the CNCF’s school resources initiative, which is being expanded due to demand. Cayman Islands National Museum Through dynamic programmes, exhibits and collections, the Cayman Islands National Museum is the living connection to our past and helps to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to experience the Cayman Islands’ unique natural and cultural heritage. We are honoured to help support this important organisation and its dedication toward Caymanian history. Cayman Catboat and Maritime Heritage Foundation The Cayman Catboat Club and Maritime Foundation is a non-profit organisation formed with the hope of keeping the beloved Caymanian tradition of building, maintaining and sailing catboats alive.

We were pleased to support the Cayman Catboat Club and Maritime Foundation in 2022, and hope our donation helps to keep this historic piece of Cayman Islands heritage alive for future generations. National Gallery of the Cayman Islands The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands’ (“NGCI”) outreach programmes seek to engage with our diverse community, including those alienated from mainstream social experiences, education and employment. We proudly sponsored NGCI’s latest outreach programme, Community Connections, which was developed to fulfil a need in our community. Following a successful pilot programme with Bonaventure Boys Home (“BBH”) in 2019 and regular requests from community organisations for support, art activities and tours, in 2022 the Community Connections programme facilitated weekly art lessons at the BBH, monthly lessons at the Frances Bodden Children’s Home and quarterly exhibition tours and studio workshops for clients of Sunrise Adult Training Centre. Additional Arts & Culture organisations and initiatives supported in 2022 •

National Trust for the Cayman Islands

"It was a wonderful way to start back the programme. The room was filled with laughter and fun for the entire class." Joseph Betty, Outreach Instructor, National Gallery of the Cayman Islands


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COMMUNITY OUTREACH We firmly believe that local investment is not only the right thing to do but also has a profound impact on those in our community. Our outreach programmes strengthen our relationships with the local community and are representative of our commitment to acting responsibly and for the greater good. We seek out sponsorship opportunities in this area that: • • • •

Make a positive difference in the lives of others Bring together community members in a positive way Enrich the development of others Benefit the overall good of the Cayman Islands

Cayman Connection In 2022, we formed a three-year partnership with the non-profit organisation, Cayman Connection. The partnership is part of Cayman Connection’s Corporate Supporter programme, which provides funding for programmes and services that benefit a global community of over 1,500 Caymanians, friends and associates of the Cayman Islands. Some of the services and programmes provided by Cayman Connection include networking events, bi-monthly virtual events on a variety of topics, the annual Cayman Day overseas celebration and the inaugural Making Waves Awards in 2022, with the Maples Group as the Financial, Legal & Professional Services award sponsor. Read more about this partnership. Cayman Islands Red Cross Shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine, the Cayman Islands Red Cross (“CIRC”) launched an appeal to support the residents of Ukraine impacted by the conflict. As a global organisation, with colleagues from the Ukraine, the cause remains close to our hearts; we were happy to support the CIRC and global Ukraine Crisis Appeal, and to show solidarity with our team members who may have family and friends affected by ongoing fighting in their country.

GOVERNOR ROPER, TRACEY FORBES, PARTNER CHRISTINA BODDEN AND KATE KANDIAH

Maples Group have been supportive on a number of initiatives with us over the years, including sponsoring their UK scholarship students to attend Cayman Day last year. Supporting Caymanians overseas, particularly students, is clearly a priority for the Maples Group and we are delighted that we can work with them to ensure a successful experience for all of our Caymanian students overseas Kate Kandiah, Founder & Cayman Islands NOP Board Director, UK CIC Director


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TEAM MAPLES AT CAYMAN PRIDE PARADE

Cayman’s Acts of Random Kindness Foundation Following on from the success of Cayman’s Acts of Random Kindness’ (“ARK”) CASA programme, ARK are now focusing on their Tiny Home project; building small but functional homes for those who find themselves without suitable housing. We were honoured to contribute to the building of ARK’s second tiny house, for an elderly Caymanian woman who lost her home in a fire. Sunrise Adult Training Centre

in June, with staff also taking part in the parade in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. We believe in diversity and inclusion, and hope that as Cayman Pride continues we can take steps towards achieving equality and acceptance for all persons. Funds from the Pride Parade were used to begin fundraising in earnest for an LGBTQ+ support centre and shelter, especially for younger members of the community who feel ostracised.

Sunrise Adult Training Centre (“Sunrise”) provides training, support and services for the empowerment, employment and independence of adults with disabilities through a team of dedicated and caring staff. In 2022, we were delighted to assist Sunrise in sponsoring two cinema and pizza socials for their clients.

Deputy Governor’s Annual 5K Challenge

The summer social movie of choice was the actionpacked Top Gun: Maverick, and the winter social movie of choice was Christmas comedy classic, Elf. As ever, it was a real pleasure to spend time with our friends at Sunrise. Cayman Pride Parade - Cayman LGBTQ+ Foundation

In 2022, the DG5K recipients were the Cayman Islands Cancer Society, the MS Foundation of the Cayman Islands and the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association of the Cayman Islands. In addition to our corporate sponsorship and 70 Team Maples participants, we were pleased to support with an additional donation to help the DG5K meet its fundraising goal.

Team Maples were proud to show our colours and sponsor the second annual Cayman Pride Parade

A huge thank you to the Deputy Governor, the event organisers, participants and to the charities.

An always well-attended and beloved event, the Deputy Governor’s 5K Challenge (“DG5K”) is an important community fundraiser for charities within the Cayman Islands and one that we have participated in and sponsored since inception.


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PARTICIPANTS OF THE JINGLE BELL WALK RUN

MORE PARTICIPANTS OF THE JINGLE BELL WALK RUN

SUNRISE ADULT TRAINING CENTRE SUMMER SOCIAL

Thank you so much for this contribution – Miss Marva will be so happy to know we are getting support so we can give her the gift of a home Tara Nielson, Director, Cayman’s ARK Foundation CAYMAN FOOD BANK DONATION


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TEAM MAPLES AND THE DEPUTY GOVERNER FRANZ MANDERSON AT THE 2022 DEPUTY GOVERNER 5K RACE.

I wish to offer sincere thanks to the Maples Group for their generous donation. The numbers of persons who registered for this year’s DG5K was down from 2019. The donation from the Maples Group has made up some of the shortfall and will allow us to once again make a sizeable donation to our charities. Franz Manderson, Deputy Governor of the Cayman Islands


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Additional Community Outreach organisations and initiatives supported in 2022 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Cayman Islands Crisis Centre Hedge Funds Care – Signature Benefit Open Your Heart to the Children Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman Meals on Wheels Family Resource Centre Cayman Islands Veterans Association Maples Group - Back to School Programme Bridge Foundation Department of Children and Family Services School Shoes Drive Cayman Islands Motorcycle Riders Association – Toys for Tots Holiday Toy Drive YMCA – Flowers Sea Swim 30th Anniversary Gala Cayman Food Bank – Holiday Food Drive Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts Cayman Islands Humane Society One Dog at a Time

2022 COLOUR ME PURPLE RUN WITH FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE

CIMRA TOYS FOR TOTS HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE

SUNRISE ADULT TRAINING CENTRE WINTER SOCIAL


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THE MAPLES GROUP’S DRESS FOR YOUR DAY PROGRAMME US$118,723

The Maples Group Dress for Your Day Programme, is an important component of our Cayman Islands CSR efforts. As part of this initiative, staff member elects to contribute CI$10 from their monthly salaries towards local organisations and charities in need. The more staff we have participate, the greater the impact we have on our community. Our total Dress for Your Day Programme donations for 2022 amounted to US$118,723. The following organisations and charities were the recipients

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Alex Panton Foundation Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Cayman Islands Bridge Foundation Cayman’s Acts of Random Kindness Cayman AIDS Foundation Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts Cayman Catboat Club and Maritime Heritage Foundation 9. Cayman Eco Divers Foundation 10. Cayman Food Bank 11. Cayman Heart Fund 12. Cayman Islands Cancer Society 13. Cayman Islands Crisis Centre 14. Cayman Islands Humane Society 15. Cayman Islands National Museum 16. Cayman Islands Veterans Association

17. Cayman National Cultural Foundation 18. Cayman National Youth Culinary Programme 19. Childhood Cancer Society 20. Children and Youth Services Foundation 21. Department of Children and Family Services 22. Family Resource Centre 23. Inclusion Cayman 24. Jasmine 25. Kiwanis Club of Grand Cayman 26. Mangrove Education Project 27. Maple House 28. Meals on Wheels 29. MS Foundation of the Cayman Islands 30. National Trust for the Cayman Islands 31. National Council of Voluntary Organisations 32. Plastic Free Cayman 33. Sunrise Adult Learning Centre


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TEAM MAPLES SUPPORTS DCFS SCHOOL SHOE PROGRAMME

TEAM MAPLES AT THE “STUFF THE BUS” SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE

THE MAPLES GROUP IS THE OFFICIAL SPONSOR FOR A MOBILE SERVICE VEHICLE FOR APF’S ADOLESCENT AND CHILDREN EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH HUB


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ENVIRONMENT

We are committed to making the world a greener place to live and proudly support organisations that work hard to restore, sustain and protect the environment for future generations. We also strive to minimise our own negative impact and move towards more environmentally-friendly operations. We seek out sponsorship opportunities in this area that: • •

Bring together community members to assist in the restoration and protection of their natural surroundings in the Cayman Islands Support future-proofing initiatives (such as accessible, alternative energy sources) that will result in a cleaner, safer and healthier natural environment Educate people on the environmental impact of humans, seek to improve consumer habits and provide the public with a greater appreciation of the natural world Promote and fund conservation of native wildlife and critical ecosystems of the Cayman Islands

National Trust for the Cayman Islands National Trust for the Cayman Islands (“NTCI”) Land Reserve Fund provides the NTCI with financial support to procure ecologically significant parcels of land across the Cayman Islands. Currently, the NTCI protects 6% of the Cayman Islands’ natural environment, with a goal of safeguarding 11% of our vital ecosystems. We were happy to support the Land Reserve Fund in 2022, bringing the NTCI one step closer to their goal. The Mastic Trail is one of several natural heritage sites already managed by the NTCI and contains some of the last remaining untouched, old-growth forests of the Caribbean. Our dress down donations will go towards the installation of educational signage along the trail allowing hikers to better understand its ecosystem and history.

Additional Environmental organisations and initiatives supported in 2022 • • • •

TEAM MAPLES AT THE ANNUAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2022 EARTH DAY CLEAN UP

Central Caribbean Marine Institute Cayman Eco Divers Foundation Mangrove Education Project Earth Day Clean Up


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In December of 2022, we hosted our annual Land Reserve Fund Cocktail Party and would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Maples Group for their generous donation towards the Land Reserve Fund. We greatly appreciate the continued and valued support of the Maples Group. The Land Reserve Fund allows the Trust to quickly act on desired properties as they become available. The National Trust is currently in negotiations to purchase an ecologically sensitive parcel of land in the Mastic Reserve. This environmentally significant parcel of land is vital to the survival of our native and endemic wildlife, supporting biodiversity, and ensuring a positive future for generations to come. Frank Roulstone, Executive Director, National Trust for the Cayman Islands


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HEALTHCARE

Raising awareness on the various diseases and health issues in the community is an initiative that we eagerly support. We sponsor organisations that counsel, demystify and promote education on the wide range of health-related topics affecting all demographics in our community. We seek out sponsorship opportunities in this area that: • • •

Support and encourage healthy lifestyles and the well-being of others Have a direct, positive impact on patient care Raise awareness of today’s health issues and help to combat various diseases and health disparities

Alex Panton Foundation In 2022, the Alex Panton Foundation (“APF”) took over management of the Kids Helpline from the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, continuing to provide this essential service for children in our community. The helpline takes calls from children pertaining to relationship issues, child abuse, bullying and any other issues where they need support, in addition to calls relating to suicidal thoughts and mental health in general. We were happy to support the initiative and assist with setup and running costs.

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association of the Cayman Islands

Cupcakes for a Cause certainly puts the ‘fun’ into fundraising and it’s safe to say that our team enjoyed baking, fundraising (and eating) in the name of the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association of the Cayman Islands. The timing of the 2022 Cupcakes for a Cause overlapped nicely with Halloween, where many spooky treats were devoured in support of this fantastic cause. Cayman Breast Cancer Foundation Members of our Cayman Islands team were thrilled to attend the annual Cayman Breast Cancer Foundation (“BCF”) Gala in October 2022, where Vinnie Jones was the guest speaker sharing the moving story of his wife’s battle with cancer. The BCF Gala is their biggest fundraiser of the year and funds from the gala enable the BCF to continue to offer physical, financial and emotional support to not only breast cancer patients but also their immediate family members.

We were also pleased to once again sponsor the APF’s 5th Annual Youth Mental Health Symposium, which centred on the theme of Thriving in Uncertain Times.

Another popular 5K on island, Team Maples helped Light Up the Night to raise funds for the BCF services and programmes and a show of solidarity for those affected by breast cancer.

Cayman Islands Cancer Society – STRIDE Against Cancer

Jasmine

At the start of 2022, COVID-19 restrictions led to the Cayman Islands Cancer Society’s annual STRIDE event going virtual. Participants of the ever-popular race were encouraged to Walk Your Own Stride: participate in your own way while still helping to raise funds. Regardless of public participation, our support for the Cayman Islands Cancer Society’s fight against cancer was unwavering and we maintained our annual sponsorship of the event.

As a long-time supporter of Jasmine, we are always delighted to support this organisation and their pertinent services offered to anyone in need in the Cayman Islands. In 2022, Team Maples joined the 22nd annual Flag Day coin collection drive, attended the Big Bash gala and participated in the annual Giant Holiday Card. Through these initiatives, critical funds were raised to help Jasmine continue to enhance and improve the lives of people living with life-limiting illnesses and provide long-term support for patients and their loved ones.


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Additional Healthcare organisations and initiatives supported in 2022 • • • • •

Cayman Heart Fund Cayman AIDS Foundation MS Foundation Maple House Hannah’s Heroes - St Baldrick’s Foundation

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: JASMINE’S FLAG DAY 2022, HANNAH’S HEROES 2022, BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION’S LIGHT UP THE NIGHT 2022, HANNAH’S HEROES 2022, BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION GALA 2022.


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SPORTS

We believe in the ability of sports to develop focus, commitment, leadership and discipline in our youth, enhance self-confidence and self-esteem, and bring our community together. We actively promote sports initiatives in the Cayman Islands and work with a variety of organisations to develop appropriate instructional, developmental and competitive programmes for their needs. Cayman Islands Little League We seek out sponsorship opportunities in this area that: • • •

Provide a healthy and active lifestyle Help to develop focus, confidence, teamwork, commitment and discipline in the youth of the Cayman Islands Provide a safe environment to engage in extracurricular activities to develop a more productive and responsible adulthood

Cayman Islands Little League (“CILL”) was established in 1990 and provides children from all socioeconomic backgrounds with the opportunity to spend the summer months participating in organised baseball and softball activities. In 2022, we made our third contribution toward the renovation of the Field of Dreams as part of our partnership with CILL and the YMCA.

Special Olympics Cayman Islands For over 30 years, Special Olympics Cayman Islands (“SOCI”) has ensured that children and adults with physical or learning disabilities within our community have access to year-round training and competition opportunities in various Olympic sports. These opportunities are vital in developing physical fitness; providing athletes with potential and purpose on and off the field; and establishing all-important social and communication skills, teamwork and independence. These opportunities, in turn, create a sense of joy and fulfilment amongst the athletes, their families and our wider Cayman Islands community. As a Corporate Partner, we are honoured to help SOCI support 140 athletes across the Cayman Islands including the team of athletes participating in the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Congratulations to the Cayman Islands team and their efforts in the prestigious global event in Berlin, Germany.

RENOVATION OF THE FIELD OF DREAMS

We also continued our long-standing support of CILL’s youth baseball and softball leagues with a donation that enabled nearly 500 Little Leaguers to enjoy playing baseball and softball between January and June 2022. Cayman Rugby Football Club The Cayman Rugby Football Club (“CRFC”) is a non-profit organisation responsible for developing and promoting the sport of rugby for young persons within the Cayman Islands. As a major partner of the CRFC, we are proud to be the main


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sponsor of the National Rugby Outreach Programme since 2009, known as the Maples Group Junior Rugby and the Maples Group Community Development programmes. The programmes aim to introduce rugby to school children across the various Cayman Islands, enabling them to learn the game and focus on a sporting activity outside of school. Since its inception, the popularity of the programme has grown considerably and continues to be offered on Saturdays between October and May for children 3-16 years old. Youth Flag Football League Each year, the Cayman Islands Flag Football Association hosts the Youth Flag Football League for children to get active in a fun and safe environment and we were happy to continue our team sponsorship of the youth league in both the spring and fall of 2022. We also want to extend a hearty congratulations to our own Coach Shawn Pitterson and the Maples Dolphins team on winning the championship in the senior division! Cayman Islands Aquatic Swimming Association For more than nine years, we have been a title sponsor of the Cayman Islands Aquatic Swimming Association (“CIASA”), providing an annual contribution to help CIASA swimmers achieve their goals. Our ongoing partnership with CIASA translates both to the individual success of their athletes and to the continued development of competitive and artistic swimming in the Cayman Islands. Additional Sports organisations and initiatives supported in 2022 • •

FC International Summer Football Camps JGHS Swim Team

“Special Olympics Cayman Islands relies heavily on its volunteers and partners in order to serve and support our athletes. Without the generous funding and support from partners such as Maples Group, SOCI wouldn’t be where it is today” Nick Freeland, Fundraising Director, Special Olympics Cayman Islands


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YOUTH & EDUCATION

As an organisation, it is our inherent obligation to underscore the importance of education and invest in the next generation of leaders. We focus on education assistance, skills development and support organisations and initiatives providing educationfocused programmes that prepare individuals for a productive and bright future. Our commitment to education is a fundamental principle and philosophy of the Maples Group. In addition to our own education efforts, we are proud to support exemplary education-oriented organisations and seek out sponsorship opportunities that: • • •

Support and enrich the development and aspirations of young people Help to open a world of learning opportunities and advancements to individuals Equip, train, mould and shape youth toward a more productive and responsible adulthood

Alicia Thompson Award In 2019, the Alicia Thompson Award was established by George Town Primary School and is bestowed upon one exemplary student in Year 6 at the school’s annual graduation ceremony. The award was created in honour of the school’s past-pupil Alicia Thompson, who is now an Associate with the Maples Group in the Cayman Islands. The student selected for the award will have demonstrated both academic and extra-curricular excellence despite challenging personal circumstances. The award includes a honourary plaque and a Kirk Office gift certificate. We were delighted to once again sponsor the award as well as the monetary gift certificate to purchase school supplies for the upcoming school term. Congratulations to the 2022 recipient. United World College Cayman Islands Since 2006, we have been an annual donor to United World College (“UWC”) Cayman Islands Foundation and have supported over 80 Caymanians attending United World Colleges around the world. Our annual donation helps UWC Cayman provide financial

assistance to Caymanian UWC scholars, covering essential costs such as tuition and accommodation. Congratulations to the 2022 UWC scholarship recipients, Stephanie Menko and Isalbella McGeough.

Having two additional employees (one full-time, one part-time) join the LIFE Team has made a noticeable difference to what we are accomplishing. As always, we are deeply grateful to Maples Group for supporting LIFE’s mission to significantly increase literacy levels in the Cayman Islands Erica Dell’Oglio, Volunteer & Programmes Coordinator, LIFE

Literacy is for Everyone Literacy is for Everyone (“LIFE”) is an independent charitable organisation committed to improving the education and literacy of over 2,700 primary school children in the Cayman Islands. In 2022, we made our second contribution towards our three-year partnership LIFE. These funds assisted the LIFE team in resuming their Paired Reading programme at John Gray High School, launching their new Baby & Me project for vulnerable mothers, providing scholarships to Early Childhood educators for additional professional development, and in hiring a new Programme Manager to help implement all parts of LIFE’s Early Years literacy programme. Read more about this partnership.


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Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Cayman Islands Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Cayman Islands (“BBBS”) provides invaluable community-based and teen parenting mentorship opportunities. An impact study of BBBS showed that Little Brothers and Little Sisters of the programme were more confident in school, got along better with their families, were 52% less likely to skip school, 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs and 25% less likely to begin using alcohol. We were able to support BBBS with a contribution towards hiring a new Case Manager to manage Big and Little matches, including regularly checking in with both parties to ensure the health and safety of the match over the long term.

bag filled with school supplies and gift cards to cover school uniforms and shoes. To add a personal touch, jumbo-sized chocolate bars and a hand-written note of encouragement for the school year were added to each school bag. The school supply shopping trip ends with lunch as a great way to get to the know families better. Additional Youth & Education organisations and initiatives supported in 2022 • • •

Boyz2Men

In conjunction with the Leadership Cayman Class of 2022, we were happy to donate and support Boyz2Men’s annual programme activities. The young men in the programme face a number of life challenges but through conflict resolution training, public speaking practice, social etiquette training, community project participation and other Boyz2Men activities, the aim is to help transform these young men into gentlemen who will make positive contributions to our community.

• • • • •

Lighthouse School – Autism Acceptance Month Truman Bodden Law Society Gala Sir John A Cumber Primary School – Year 6 Graduation Edna M. Moyle Primary School – Teacher Appreciation Dinner and Awards Chamber of Commerce – Mentoring Cayman 100WF Investing in the Next Generation initiative via the Annual Barefoot Beach Gala NCVO Inclusion Cayman Cayman National Youth Culinary Programme

Department of Children and Family Services The Department of Children and Family Services, launched their Put Your Best Foot Forward initiative in 2015 to help provide local children with school shoes. In 2022, we were pleased to sponsor the programme in full to help purchase shoes for over 140 children in need. Maples Group - Back to School Support Programme The Maples Group’s Back to School Support Programme has been coordinated by a group of our team members for nearly 12 years. The programme seeks to equip students with the supplies they need to make them both excited and ready to return to school. In 2022, working directly with DCFS and the Department of Education Services, 13 children from five families most in need were recommended for assistance with full back-to-school gear. The full back-to-school gear included a new school

Thank you most sincerely to the Maples Group for supporting us in this way. Our commitment is to put these funds directly into pragmatic efforts supporting our youths L. Angela Martins, Executive Director BBBS Cayman Islands


The Maples Group welcomes requests for assistance from a wide range of community groups. If you would like to submit a proposal, please email caymansponsorships@maples.com. To keep up to date with all Maples Group news and activities, visit www.maples.com/csr and follow us on Maples Group Facebook and Instagram pages.


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