'Give Blood, Gift Life’ campaign to support ‘Thalassemia’
AME INFO - 14.05.08
S.S. Lootah Group conducted their bi-annual blood donation campaign in association with Al Wasl hospital at their headquarters under the theme “Give Blood, gift life” with the aim to support and assist children with ‘Thalassemia’, one of the most common recessive blood diseases in the UAE.

The campaign is part of S.S. Lootah’s CSR initiatives in line with the company’s focus on the importance of private sector participation in fighting such illnesses to build a healthier nation, by spreading awareness about conditions like ‘Thalassemia’ and responsibility of the people by participating in such activities that contribute to humanitarian relief for patients, especially children.

BNP Paribas – GCC embraces and promotes diversity through its inaugural Women & Leadership Conference in Bahrain
AL-BAWABA - 14.05.08
BNP Paribas - GCC, held its inaugural Women and Leadership Conference today, in the presence of prominent guest speakers, including H.E. Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa of Bahrain and HH Sheika Hussa Saad Al-Bdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah of Kuwait.

The Women and Leadership conference is an human resources and social responsibility initiative aimed to: recognize the crucial role that leading women play in the region; reflect the importance of diversity within the workplace, and discuss challenges and recommended solutions of women empowerment in the GCC.

DP World’s UAE region participates actively in blood donation campaign to help Thalassemia patients
ZAWYA - 13.05.08
DP World’s UAE region, the local arm of DP World, marked International Thalassemia Day on May 8 by dedicating the entire day to blood donations to aid Thalassemia patients.

Company employees and workers from its various departments and sections located in Jebel Ali Free Zone took part in the campaign, which was held in cooperation with the Blood Bank in the Ministry of Health’s Al Wasl Hospital and the Thalassemia Centre.

‘One Million Tree Campaign’ joins hands with Zee Network to plant 25 trees at Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Boys
CSR MIDDLE EAST - 12.05.08
The ‘One Million Tree Campaign’ pledge of EEG has increased by 25 more indigenous trees that were donated to Mohammed Bin Rashid School through the effort of Real Media FZ LLC’s programme ‘Habitat – a unique, new prime time property and lifestyle show on Zee TV.

EEG Chairperson, Mrs. Al Marashi, said “EEG’s One Million Tree campaign aims to increase sustainable green spaces in UAE’s rapidly developing urban environment. The simple act of planting trees will not only help offset the carbon emissions but also provide green areas that will ensure a cleaner, greener future for the future generation. EEG is pleased to join hands with the Real Media – Zee Network to promulgate the cause of conservation and environmental responsibility.”

Imperial Palace Hotel honors people with special needs and celebrates Labour Day
ARABIAN BUSINESS - 11.05.08
Believing in its social responsibility towards the different sectors of the society, Imperial Palace Hotel Amman held on 1st May 2008 in cooperation with Aman Centre for Special Education a social activity for people with special needs.

The activity named 'Beyond Boundaries' is an opportunity for people with special needs to get engaged in every day's life activities, express themselves and their hopes as their peers, and contribute to the society in their own way.

DLA Piper pushes green practices for a sustainable environment
DUBAI CITY - 10.05.08
In the race to a greener environment, many companies are taking small steps they hope will contribute to the whole, introducing schemes that encourage employees to change their habits in the workplace. Sometimes done as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility programmes, the aim is to reduce the use of resources such as paper and electricity and promote recycling.

'Global organisations such as ours, with 3,700 lawyers worldwide across 64 offices in 25 countries, need to consider how their actions affect their clients, their employees, the community and the environment,' says Wafaa Tarnowska, Business Executive in DLA Piper’s Dubai office.

RasGas donates QR750,000 to special needs society
GULF TIMES - 09.05.08
As part of RasGas Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, the company has donated QR750,000 to the Qatar Society for the Rehabilitation of Special Needs.

The money was raised through the 2008 RasGas Pro Am Golf Tournament and associated Charity Gala Dinner which was held earlier this year and coordinated by a committee chaired by Tom Mc Hale, RasGas Finance Group manager.

UN secretary-general receives Talal Abu-Ghazaleh half a million computers for schools in developing world by 2010
AME INFO - 09.05.08
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recently received Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, CEO and Chairman of the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAGorg), at the UN headquarters, along with the UN team in charge of the project for dedicating a half million new computers to the schools of developing nations by the year 2010.

The Secretary-General praised Abu-Ghazaleh’s willingness to take on the responsibility for this venture in the Arab region, in addition to his role, efforts and leadership worldwide as the co-chair of the Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID) Steering Committee.

Le Méridien Al Aqah plants 100 coconut palms to highlight environmental focus at ATM 2008
CSR MIDDLE EAST - 08.05.08
As part of its continued efforts to ensure that issues surrounding social and environmental responsibility remain visible throughout the year, Le Méridien Al Aqah is ‘greening up’ this year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM), taking place from May 6 – 9 2008.

To promote a more natural and sustainable beach environment, Le Méridien Al Aqah has replanted 100 new coconut palms along its shoreline in an effort to further promote means of combating global warming.

Dubai Quality Group contributes Dhs20,000 to Al Noor Centre for children with special needs
AME INFO - 07.05.08
Dubai Quality Group (DQG) has contributed Dhs20,000 to Al Noor Centre, a facility for children with special needs, in a special presentation made during the recently concluded 3rd annual Ideas.Arabia International Conference - held under the patronage of H.H Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Department, and the patron of DQG - at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai.

The donation, which was taken from the proceeds of the conference, is in line with DQG's commitment to its corporate social responsibility, while it also provided a humanitarian touch to the international gathering as participants were encouraged to likewise extend their assistance to charitable institutions.

Tatweer joins United Nations Global Compact of Corporate Citizenship
TRADE ARABIA - 07.05.08
Tatweer, a member of Dubai Holding, today joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the world’s largest voluntary corporate citizenship initiative.

On signing the Global Compact, Saeed Al Muntafiq, Executive Chairman of Tatweer said: “Tatweer is proud to be a part of the United Nations Global Compact. This reflects our commitment to being a responsible business operator. The Global Compact provides an excellent forum for Tatweer to share knowledge and best practice with its peers and we look forward to participating in this international initiative and particularly in the local GCC network.”

First series of CSR Leadership Forum 2008 held
CSR MIDDLE EAST - 06.05.08
Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s Centre for Responsible Business launched the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Leadership Forum Series 2008 at the Chamber premises.

This series, dubbed as an interactive thought and experience sharing forum for Board members, Presidents, CEOs, Directors and CSR opinion leaders in Dubai provide a unique opportunity for business leaders to interact with one another, exchange ideas and practices in corporate social responsibility.

'Sorouh Faces' campaign succeeds in raising $1m for UAE charities
AME INFO - 05.05.08
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sorouh Real Estate P.J.S.C announced that it had succeeded in reaching its target of raising $1m through its world record-breaking 'Sorouh Faces' campaign, as it unveiled a poster made up of one million pictures.

The poster, which will replace the current world record-holding poster on the final approaches into Dubai International Airport, will cover an area of 20,000m2. Images were submitted through a dedicated website and via promotions teams who went to schools, universities and some of Sorouh’s major events and exhibitions throughout the Emirates – and for each image submitted, the company committed US$1 to charity.

ADC launches campaign in cooperation with JOHUD to introduce scholarships program to school students
AL-BAWABA - 05.05.08
As part of its corporate social responsibility and commitment to creating sustainable social development projects, the Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) launched a campaign in cooperation with the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD) and the Education Directorate in Aqaba to introduce secondary school students to the benefits, requirements and procedures of joining ADC’s scholarships program.

For its part, JUHOD manages and closely monitors the scholarships, which fall under a four year program after which ADC will perform a comprehensive evaluation of the entire program.

EEG driving leadership in environmental sustainability
ZAWYA - 04.05.08
Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) organized a lecture at the Emarat Atrium’s Auditorium in Dubai on the 29th of April.

The lecture is part of EEG’ ongoing endeavour to inform and educate different stakeholders, as well as the community at large. The free lecture was organized with the help of EEG’s corporate members Emarat and Abela Catering. The organizations were formally recognized for their part in the event. Every year EEG puts together interesting topics in a set of eight lectures for the community. This program has been going on annually since the late 1990s, and close to a hundred lectures have so far been held.

Bonyan Group sponsors 10 aviation students from Dubai Men’s College to visit Deutsche Lufthansa in Germany
EYE OF DUBAI - 03.05.08
Bonyan International Investments Group has announced that it will be sponsoring 10 aviation technology students from the Dubai Men’s College (DMC) to visit Deutsche Lufthansa, the world-renowned European aircraft manufacturer, in its main hub in Hamburg, Germany.

‘Education is a key catalyst that drives the growth and development of nations,” said Eng. Abdullah Atatreh, Chairman, Bonyan International Investments Group. “At Bonyan, we firmly believe that we have a responsibility to provide ample opportunities to groom UAE youth’s talent. This sponsorship will provide necessary support for deserving students to pursue a world class hands-on educational opportunity. We are proud to be associated with such an initiative that will train and develop the next generation of leaders in the country”.

ADTA staff participates in blood donation programme
AME INFO - 02.05.08
Employees of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) participated in a blood donation programme conducted at the ADTA Headquarters recently.

By organizing the campaign, the ADTA aim to cooperate with healthcare organizations and fulfill its commitment to the community in all aspects of life, including the healthcare. The ADTA's vision calls for enriching the lives of the Abu Dhabi community and visitors alike and the blood donation campaign goes in line with its social responsibility commitment.

SNASCO sponsors health lecture for school nurses
ARABIAN BUSINESS - 01.05.08
Leading real estate developer, SNASCO, master developer of the Sharjah Investment Center project, has sponsored a lecture on spinal diseases organised by the Al Manar Model School, as part of the firm’s corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Dr. Omar Al Mushaabi, Managing Director of SNASCO and Development Manager of the SIC, said, “SNASCO is committed to maintaining mutually beneficial relations with the local community through active involvement in all activities and events that support the local society. We at SNASCO aim to contribute to the welfare of our society through our projects – particularly the Sharjah Investment Center - which will be an integrated community that includes all the amenities required for contemporary life.