DIFC joins hands with Bank Sarasin-Alpen and Alpen Capital to support Dubai Cares

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), in partnership with Bank Sarasin-Alpen (ME) Limited, a subsidiary of Bank Sarasin & Co. Ltd, a leading Swiss private bank and its investment banking associate Alpen Capital (ME) Limited, organized a charity walk on Friday, 26 March, 2010 to support the children of Haiti through Dubai Cares.

The Charity Walk was open to all members of the DIFC community, family and friends in order to raise funds to support Dubai Cares’ efforts in addressing the post-disaster needs of the primary education sector and, developing and implementing programs that will cater to the long-term educational needs of the children in Haiti and help re-build their lives.

The Walk was the first one of its kind for the DIFC Community and provided an opportunity for all touch points of DIFC to come together in support of a cause. The Walk course of around 2 kms was designed around the DIFC Gate District with the Gate Building acting as the start and finish point.

Participants from different sections of DIFC came together for a fun filled Friday morning. Drummers entertained the participants while the stalls set up by DIFC-based restaurants provided refreshments. One of the main highlights of the walk was the display of art installations around the DIFC Gate Building. All participants of the walk helped to create four canvases focusing on the four elements – Earth, Fire, Wind and Water. The art pieces will be auctioned at a later date to further raise funds to support the children of Haiti through Dubai Cares.

Abdulla Mohammed Al Awar, CEO of DIFC Authority
“DIFC places a very high importance on contributing to social causes as part of our commitment to corporate social responsibility. We are glad to join hands with Sarasin-Alpen and Alpen Capital to support Dubai Cares’ efforts to deliver quality primary education to Haitian children. We are extremely encouraged by the response of the DIFC community to the Charity Walk and hope that the contributions of the community will strengthen the global effort to support the rehabilitation of the victims of the Haitian earthquake.”

Rohit Walia, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, Bank Sarasin Alpen and Alpen Capital Group
“We are delighted to organize this walk in partnership with the DIFC. This is a unique initiative which mobilizes the DIFC community to support a common cause. We have partnered with Dubai Cares in the past and we are happy to play a role in supporting their efforts once again.”

Tariq Al Gurg, CEO,Dubai Cares
“The devastating Haiti earthquake has affected over one million primary school-aged children with Dubai Cares having already pledged its support to 200,000 children. We thank DIFC, Bank Sarasin-Alpen, Alpen Capital Group, and everyone who supported and participated to assist in catering to the educational needs of the children in Haiti. The donations we have received today will be directed towards developing additional education programs to ensure that maximum number of Haitian children return back to the protective environment of school through our existing international partners who are currently on the ground in Haiti.”