Emirates NBD Introduces Electronic Donation Solutions To Support Humanitarian Aid Efforts Globally

Emirates NBD, a leading bank in the region, announced today the introduction of new electronic payment solutions to facilitate donations towards relief efforts in crisis-stricken Japan and Egypt. The new service, which is open to all, is available through Emirates NBD’s electronic banking channels (CDM and Banknet). This initiative is in line with Emirates NBD’s commitment to support social and charitable causes and actively promote contributions to humanitarian relief efforts globally.

“We have all been shocked and saddened by the sheer scale of the disaster that has recently befallen Japan,” said Jamal Bin Ghalaita, Group Deputy CEO, Emirates NBD. “Closer to home, we are moved with by the plight of families struggling daily in Egypt. Emirates NBD has made these payment collection provisions for customers, staff and the public at large, which will provide an easier way to make charitable contributions to these urgent humanitarian causes. We ask everyone to give generously to support relief efforts during these crises.”

Last month Japan was struck by the largest earthquakes ever recorded. Many of the survivors have been left with no means to keep warm in freezing temperatures, without water, electricity, fuel or enough food to survive.

Thousands of Kilometers across the globe, many families are still struggling as they come to terms with the volatile situation in Egypt, which has left countless displaced or without money for day to day necessities. Urgent food and medical supplies are needed in both these crisis-hit regions.

Emirates NBD has set up two separate accounts to receive donations for each cause. The money collected for Japan will be transferred to the Embassy of Japan in the United Arab Emirates, who will ensure it goes towards emergency aid to those in need, via the Japanese Red Cross Society. The second fund will go to the Government of Egypt to provide food and medical supplies and help in the task of rebuilding the country.

Customers can make easy donations through Emirates NBD’s BankNet, one of the region’s most advanced online financial services portals. It is the ideal solution for customers who wish to make a donation, without having to step out of their home or office. Alternatively, Emirates NBD has the largest network of ATMs and CDMs in the UAE and donations can be made by customers and non-customers, through any one of 130 CDMs, situated in the most convenient locations nationwide.

Emirates NBD’s community-related initiatives also include raising donations for Dubai Cares, Beit Al Kheir Society, Red Crescent UAE, Awqaf and Minor Affairs.
 

Dubai Airport Freezone Ties Up With Al Wasl Hospital For Successful Blood Donation Campaign

More than 100 employees of companies working at Dubai Airport Freezone, participated in this year’s blood donation campaign led by the Freezone’s ‘Tawasul’ team for humanitarian and social services.

The campaign was held in cooperation with Al Wasl Hospital. Yousuf Behzad, Executive Director of Human Capital & Strategy at Dubai Airport Freezone said, "this blood donation campaign by the "Tawasul" team, links DAFZ, Al Wasl Hospital and members of the community who suffer in hospitals of the country due to lack of adequate blood supplies required for their treatment."

"The Tawasul Team is tasked by DAFZ to carry out activities and events that benefit society as a whole and raise hope and optimism in the community. The team works in line with a strategy to implement the corporate social responsibility policy of the Freezone," he added.

Since its inception, Tawasul has organised several activities such as visiting the homes of the elderly and health centers for people with special needs. Tawasul has also helped them to raise funds by organising auctions to sell the handicrafts and artwork made by people with special needs, to encourage them to interact more with society.

Behzad added that the campaign aims to provide the health authorities across the country, like clinics and hospitals, with the sufficient supplies of blood to meet the needs of their patients.

"Successful cooperation between Al Wasl Hospital and DAFZ has led to great results over the years. A specialised team of four doctors, a nurse and two assistants from Al Wasl Hospital screened the donors for suitability and supervised the donation," Behzad concluded.
 

Lloyds TSB Middle East And The Dubai Health Authoritys Blood Donation Centre Host Dubais Most Successful Mobile Donation Campaign

Lloyds TSB Middle East, part of one of the world’s largest banking groups, joined hands with the Dubai Health Authority’s Blood Donation Centre (DBDC) on Thursday 31st March to host a blood donation drive. According to the DBDC, the event which saw a section of the Bank’s car park transformed into a donation site was the Centre’s most successful mobile donation campaign, attracting donations from sixty-four volunteers.

Richard Musty, Managing Director of Lloyds TSB Middle East said:

“We are thrilled to have been part of a successful campaign to help raise vital donations for a hugely important medical cause. At Lloyds TSB Middle East community is a crucial part of everything that we do. On behalf of both the DBDC and Lloyds TSB Middle East, I would like to extend a warm thank you to everyone who donated”.

Commenting on behalf of the DBDC, Dr. Laila Al Shaer, Head of the Centre said:

“Our coordinated campaign with Lloyds TSB Middle East last Thursday enabled us to attract the highest number of donations that any of our mobile donation drives has seen. On behalf of our patients and staff I would like to thank everyone who visited the units for their support. Their efforts underpin the DBDC’s ability to provide life saving services to our community”.
 

Lloyds TSB Middle East Launches Blood Drive Campaign In Partnership With The Dubai Health Authoritys Blood Donation Centre

Lloyds TSB Middle East, part of one of the world’s largest banking groups, has partnered up with the Dubai Health Authority’s Blood Donation Centre (DBDC) to organise a blood donation drive. The campaign, which will take place on the 31st March between 9am and 2pm, will be held in the car park of the Bank’s Jumeirah branch on Al Wasl Road.

March 31st will see a section of the Bank’s car park transformed into a donation site, with the DBDC providing medical staff and mobile vans stocked up with 4 donation beds, all the required medical equipment, and supplies to facilitate blood donation by Bank staff, customers and the wider public.

Richard Musty, Managing Director of Lloyds TSB Middle East said:

“At Lloyds TSB Middle East we are committed to supporting our wider local community and we are excited to be able to do so through contributing towards a hugely important medical cause. Our ambitions for March 31st are sky high and we hope that this partnership with the DBDC will be the first in a series of coordinated efforts.”

Commenting on behalf of the DBDC, Dr. Laila Al Shaer, Head of the Centre said:

“We welcome Lloyds TSB Middle East’s efforts in helping us to raise the profile of this humane cause. Maintaining the DBDC’s blood supply is our collective responsibility as business leaders, medical professionals and citizens of the Emirate. On behalf of our patients and staff I would like to thank the donors in advance for their support, which is pivotal to the Centre’s ability to provide blood and blood products.”

Lloyds TSB Middle East extends a warm invitation to the blood drive to all those who are fit and able to donate.

 

Successful Blood Donation Drive Held At Deiras Twin Towers

Dubai Investment Properties, one of the leading real estate developers in the UAE, today announced that Rouse, a leading intellectual property (IP) consultancy, held a successful blood donation drive at the Twin Towers in Deira. The fourth annual blood donation drive, which is a part of the company’s global CSR programme ‘Rouse Cares’, was held in association with the Dubai Health Authority to support patients suffering from thalassemia and other life-threatening ailments. Employees, partners and guests voluntarily came forward to donate in large numbers.

“We commend Rouse for organising the blood donation drive and are happy to whole-heartedly support it. Twin Towers was happy to offer them all the facilities and services required to make this blood donation a mega success. Our staff and other tenants at Twin Towers came out in big numbers to support Rouse’s blood donation campaign,” says Mr. Deepak Chawla, Operations Manager at DIP.
 

Donation Banks For Used Cloths And Shoes Installed At aswaaqs Community Centres

Aswaaq, the leading UAE local retail chain with international standards, announced its recent partnership with BCR Global Textiles, a family-run organization for recycling and re-using textiles, to install clothes and shoes bank in aswaaq’s five community centers. Officials at aswaaq confirmed that the revenues generated will be donated to charity works, and revealed that the agreement between the two parties is an opportunity for the Dubai community to come closer together and give a hand in aiding those in need.

Upon the agreement, BCR installed clothes and shoes banks for the public to deposit surplus textiles, clothing, and shoes. The collection banks were installed in aswaaq’s five community centers located in Nad Al Hamar, Mizhir, Umm Suqeim, Al Warqa’a and Mirdif, and are expected to collect tons of used cloth that will be distributed to different countries.

Both parties have expressed their excitement with the initiative that supports their efforts to spread the goodwill to others in society. The new collection banks installed in aswaaq will benefit BCR Global in being a new collection point for its wide plans to send their recycled clothing to Africa and other far-eastern countries that would benefit greatly of the initiative.

“In line with our own CSR initiatives, we are excited to partner with BCR Global in this initiative,” said Yousuf Sharaf, Deputy CEO at aswaaq. “As a contributor to the economy and the society, aswaaq aims to bring smiles to those who need whenever possible. Everyone has something to contribute or to give in order to help those who are in need, and through the collection banks, we call our people in UAE to donate the clothes and shoes which could mean a lot to others in poor areas and countries.”

Commenting on the partnership, Maxine Sault, Managing Director of BCR Global said, “Aswaaq showed great support and was one of the first companies to respond to our activity. We are very proud and content with our agreement with aswaaq since it would be beneficial to the entire society. The installed banks at the community centers are targeted to encourage people to donate used textiles, shoes, or clothing and in turn support poor and less fortunate countries in a simple, yet effective way.”

Aswaaq’s agreement with BCR Global is the latest in a series of Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives launched by Aswaaq at the end of 2009. This year, aswaaq hosted many events and held several events to spread the joy and show support to the community, with events such as The Orphans Day, Food Safety Campaign, and other similar events that are aimed at strengthening community bonds.

It is also worth mentioning that BCR Global Textiles started off as a family run business in 1966 in the UK with aims to recycle and re-use second hand clothing and shoes, which account for up to 3% of the household waste. BCR is now considered the UK’s premier textile re-use & recycling specialist working with many councils and charities, serving thousands of banks nationwide.
 

Dubai Silicon Oasis And General Information Authority Organize Blood Donation Campaign

Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), an integrated free zone technology park, and General Information Authority (GIA), in collaboration with Dubai Health Authority (DHA), organized a one-day blood donation drive at the headquarters of Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA).

Held on 20 June, the initiative witnessed a significant number of DSOA employees and customers volunteering to donate blood in aid of ‘Thalassemia’ patients as well as those in need of blood.

The blood donation drive was organized to mark the World Blood Donor’s Day. Set annually by World Health Organisation (WHO) for 14 June, the day acknowledged the gesture of millions of people around the world who volunteer to donate their blood for saving the lives of others or enhancing the chances of their recovery from various diseases. The 2010 event focused on young blood donors with its slogan ‘New blood for the world’.

Dr Juma Al Matrooshi, Executive Vice President – Corporate Excellence and Support – DSOA said: “DSOA’s participation emphasizes the approach it takes as an integrated community that seeks to enhance the bonds of communication and harmony. We are pleased to co-operate with two of the most significant institutions that are keen to provide services to the society through humanitarian initiatives and activities.”

Salem Al Shaer, Director General of GIA said: “We are pleased to work with DHA and DSOA to fulfill this initiative, which serves the local society and manifests one of the significant concepts of the UAE strategy. We are confident other organizations in the UAE will also come forward for the benefit of the community at large.”

DHA will ensure the delivery of the donated blood units to those with Thalassemia and heart diseases as well as the victims of accidents and other mishaps at all hospitals across the UAE.

The World Blood Donor Day is based on the need to pay tribute to those involved in relevant humanitarian initiatives while encouraging wider participation from the community.