Joseph Calleja at yesterday’s press conference. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Tenor Joseph Calleja has teamed up with Bank of Valletta to set up a foundation to help children and families in need.

Mr Calleja, 35, said the foundation was “his long-time dream” and explained it will be filling “lacunae” in the area of social needs.

“This has always been one of my dreams – to bring joy to people who are in need and not just through my performance, but through practical help,” said Mr Calleja during a press conference at the BOV headquarters in Sta Venera.

The foundation will be substantially funded by the singer himself and BOV in line with an agreement signed yesterday.

However, the public will also be able to contribute to the foundation, which will be run by an autonomous board made up of five people, to be announced shortly.

“I will be very active and do my very best so that apart from being a cultural ambassador I will also be the foundation’s ambassador,” he said.

We will aim to be the safety net under the safety net for any injustices against children

His role will be to provide the foundation with media exposure and help attract donations from patrons.

“The processing of the social cases and decisions of who will receive help will be completely in the hands of the board,” he said, drawing attention to the fact that the foundation will be transparent and public.

He stressed that the foundation will not be competing with other NGOs that “carry out sterling work” but filling in “any void” in the social needs field.

“When possible we will aim to be the safety net under the safety net for any injustices against children.”

He expressed his heartfelt thanks to BOV for “immediately” taking up the idea of the foundation.

The bank’s CEO Charles Borg said BOV already had “a social pillar” in place, with a vast community programme, and therefore felt it was only natural to twin with Mr Calleja on the project.

“It is in line with our commitment to the people,” he said.

Chairman John Cassar White said: “The BOV Joseph Calleja Foundation will have an important social role within Maltese society”.

The setting up of the foundation is part of an agreement between BOV and Mr Calleja, who will also be endorsing BOV for the next three years with the main tagline being ‘The Maltese Tenor, The Maltese Bank’.

BOV will be the main sponsor of the annual Joseph Calleja concert and its children’s choir for these three years.