Dh50m raised for Dubai Cares

DUBAI — In major donations to the Dubai Cares campaign, more than Dh50 million was contributed to the fund yesterday. One of the largest donations — Dh25 million — came from by UAE-based Syrian businessman Moafaq Ahmed Al Gaddah. Shaikh Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum received the donation for Dubai Cares from Al Gaddah.

By Zoe Sinclair

Published: Wed 24 Oct 2007, 9:24 AM

Last updated: Sun 5 Apr 2015, 4:53 AM

“Credit should be given to His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for launching the Dubai Cares campaign, which has at its heart the interest of children in poor countries around the world,” Said Al Gaddah. “The campaign’s objective of helping children grow into future contributors to human civilization is a monumental one, and one that should be supported by all who believe in creating a better world,” he added.

Meanwhile, the auction of sports memorabilia for Dubai Cares on Monday night raised nearly Dh26 million. Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum also received a donation of Dh3 million yesterday from Lt General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, on behalf of Dubai Police.

Dhahi Khalfan spoke of the campaign as “making good on the Islamic principle of extending help to needy people.” He pointed|that this was a principle also espoused by Dubai Police.

Also, around Dh4 million was raised for Dubai Cares by students from 17 GEMS schools in Dubai. Students presented the cheque to Shaikh Mayed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at a ceremony held at the Dubai American Academy yesterday.

Students from Dubai Modern High School, who had raised nearly Dh2,43,210 as part of the total Dh4 million, handed the cheque to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) on Monday.

New Indian Model School, Dubai, which had also participated in the campaign, raised Dh558,495 through voucher sales. While Latifa School for Girls collected Dh664,000, the boys’ school collected Dh255,000 for the campaign. The Indian High School, Dubai raised Dh1 million for the initiative and presented the cheque to KHDA. The CEO of Al Maya Group, Deepak Pagarani, and director Kamal Vachani, presented a cheque of Dh1 million to Shaikh Rashid bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

In addition, the Cosmos - ITL Group yesterday announced its contribution of one per cent of retail sales from the group’s Cosmos showrooms across the UAE for a two month period.

Dubai Cares was launched by Shaikh Mohammed on September 19. The campaign aims to raise funds to provide primary education to a million needy children in a number of the world’s poorest countries.