Can an act as simple as going on leave from work have a significant impact on another person’s life? Apparently, it can if you choose to forego of it instead to make it count. This Christmas, employees of the various companies under the Lopez Group are making a difference in the lives of public school children across the country by donating some of their leaves to the Knowledge Channel (KCh).

A revived project of the Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI) from 2002 and dubbed “Give Leaves to Knowledge”, this endeavor enables employees of various Lopez-owned companies to give an amount equivalent to a certain number of leaves they wish to donate. They can also opt to contribute an amount equivalent to at least 8 hours worth of work annually or bi-annually. All the proceeds will go the projects of KCFI.

By “giving leaves to knowledge,” employees of the Lopez Group are not only able to help less fortunate children this Christmas, but are also making a commitment to the improvement of the quality of education in the country.

Some 8,000 participants consisting of employees from the Lopez Group companies, celebrities, students, and other volunteers, completed their walk for education in this year′s  "Lakad Mo, Pangarap Ko 2 Nationwide Na!"  last October 8th.

The 15-kilometer walkathon covering the key cities of Metro Manila in Luzon, Cebu City in the Central Visayas, and Davao City in the island of Mindanao, aimed to raise funds to add 30 more beneficiary schools for Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc.

The Metro Manila walk started at 7 A.M. from the San Lorenzo Ruiz Plaza in Luneta Park, led by KCFI Board Chairman Oscar Lopez, KCFI President Ms. Rina Lopez-Bautista and Manila City Mayor Lito Atienza. The walk culminated at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City where an on-site telecast of ABS-CBN′s top-rated noontime show,  "WoWoWee",  was held for the participants. The Department of Tourism also showcased dancers and icons of famous Philippine Festivals like the Sinulog, Gigantes and Masskara that lined-up the boulevard by the bay to the delight of the walkathon participants.

In Cebu City, Cebu Provincial Governor, Ms. Gwendolyn Garcia and ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. President, Mr. Gabby Lopez led the walk that started from Asiatown IT Park all the way to the Ayala Mall in Lahug. In Davao City, the walk started from the old ABS-CBN station in Matina up to Almendras Gym, led by ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. President, Mr. Cito Alejandro.

The events in the three cities were simultaneously aired on Channel 2, Studio 23, Knowledge Channel and ABS-CBN News Channel, or ANC.

The first walkathon, The  "Lakad Mo, Pangarap Ko 2004",  was able to raise funds/support that brought Knowledge Channel to 27 public schools nationwide. The Foundation also received an Award for Excellence from the International Association of Business Communicators Good Quill Awards and an Anvil Award of Merit from the Public Relations Society of the Philippines for the event.