Helping others has long been part of how the Ian Darcy Group of Companies sees its role, with the belief that a growing business also has more opportunities to give back. That spirit recently reached four schools in Tagkawayan, Quezon, where hundreds of students received school supplies through the company’s revived Camp Darcy initiative.
The donations went to Sta. Monica Elementary School, Aliji Elementary School, Katimo Elementary School and Kinatakutan Elementary School, bringing school bags and other learning essentials to children who could use them in their everyday schoolwork.
At Aliji Elementary School, 284 packs were given to Kindergarten to Grade 6 pupils, as well as Day Care learners from Aliji and Colong-Colong. Kinatakutan Elementary School received more than 300 school supplies, while Katimo Elementary School distributed supplies to all its students.
The effort may have reached the schools through boxes of supplies, but its roots go deeper. Ian Darcy Fragrance, a proudly Filipino perfume brand with more than 200 locations nationwide, has built a culture of giving alongside its growth, with assistance starting as small, personal acts of generosity.
“Even when we were just starting, we were already helping,” Allan Lainez, general manager of Ian Darcy Fragrance, said, recalling how the company responded to individual needs with donations such as vacuum cleaners, televisions and electric fans. There were also occasions when it provided supplies for hospitals.
Much of that early giving happened informally, often through a company group chat. As more people began asking for assistance, the company saw an opportunity to turn those individual acts into a wider effort involving its employees.
That became Camp Darcy, an umbrella for the company’s giving initiatives. After a pause, the program has now been revived with a more organized approach to reaching communities and schools.
“This is really a continuation of Camp Darcy,” Lainez said. “We wanted to build it up so we could reach more schools and help more people.”
The school outreach has since grown into an ongoing effort rather than a one-time campaign. The team has completed five school visits so far, with two more already planned, while working toward reaching 12 schools before the end of the year.
Another visit in Quezon province brought a similar response, with community members thanking the team through locally made products, including coconut-based delicacies such as latik.
Those encounters gave the team a closer look at the realities faced by many schools and communities. They had initially wondered why so many organizations in the Philippines continue to focus on supporting education. Visiting schools firsthand provided an answer.
“When we started visiting these schools, we realized why so many organizations continue to support education,” Ian Darcy, president of Ian Darcy Fragrance, said. “There are still many schools that need even the most basic learning resources, especially in communities that are difficult to reach.”
The experience reinforced the company’s belief that support for education needs to be sustained, particularly in geographically isolated and underserved communities.
Employees have also become part of the outreach itself. Those familiar with a particular area can help coordinate visits, especially when reaching communities that may be difficult for Manila-based staff to navigate. Employees can also suggest schools they believe could benefit from assistance.
The current school donation drive took about two years to develop, with last year focused on planning and research before the larger rollout this year. The company also began supporting five scholars last year, providing assistance for students pursuing education-related courses, including tuition and living expenses.
For Allan Lainez and his husband, Ian Darcy, the entrepreneur couple behind the brand, giving also carries a personal dimension rooted in their faith. They see their blessings as something they can share with others, especially as the business continues to grow and gives them more opportunities to help.
“As a company, we don’t want to be selfish,” Lainez said.
That belief has taken the company from individual acts of assistance to school visits that reach entire communities. The bags, notebooks and other supplies may be practical items, but the visits have also given Ian Darcy employees a closer look at the realities many Filipino schools face.
With more communities on the list, the effort is set to continue beyond the four schools in Tagkawayan. Ian Darcy Fragrance is targeting a total of 12 schools before the year ends, bringing learning essentials and a helping hand to more children who need them.
