Dubai, July 1, 2004: A novel community outreach by United Colors of Benetton has raised nearly AED12,000 and collected 1,000 pieces of clothing for the UAE Red Crescent Society.
Customers who contributed clothes in any of its outlets in Dubai were entitled to a 10 per cent discount on Benetton clothing. Five per cent of the total value of all purchases made during this campaign that ran from May 21-28 was donated to the Red Crescent Society to clothe orphans.
A cheque for the proceeds was presented to the Red Crescent by Mrs Raja Easa Al Gurg, Managing Director of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, in a small ceremony held at Benetton's Deira City Centre store.
"We thank our customers for their enthusiastic response. Individual generosity helped us reach people in need. This campaign also reinforces our links with the local community. Both Benetton and the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group believe that an increased commitment to volunteering and civic responsibility builds a stronger society. Businesses need to do well by doing good," she said.
In Dubai, Benetton outlets at Deira City Centre, BurJuman, Jumeirah Centre, Zabeel Road, Al Ghurair City and Lamcy Plaza participated in the campaign. Last month, Benetton opened a new store at Abu Dhabi Mall in the UAE capital.
Benetton's corporate citizenship efforts are considerable. It has campaigned for children's education, racial harmony, world peace and global hunger.
In 2003, it invested $US18 million in over 30 countries for its 'Food for Life' campaign, co-developed by Benetton and the World Food Programme of the UN.
"This is our first tie up with the UAE Red Crescent Society," said Ajai Dayal, General Manager for Retail and Marketing, Easa Saleh Al Gurg. "We chose the charity as we appreciate its efforts and want to assist in its humanitarian goals."
A recent report by the International Federation of the Red Crescent and Red Cross Societies rates the UAE's Red Crescent Society as one of the leading Arab charity organisations, and among the world's best seven societies for providing emergency assistance. In 2000, the Society raised and spent $US34.4 million (AED126.2 million) on relief activities.
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Notes to the editor:
The Benetton Group is present in 120 countries around the world. Its core business is clothing with a strong Italian character. The Group produces over 110 million garments every year, 90 per cent of which are manufactured in Europe. The group's retail network of 5,000 stores around the world, offering high quality customer services, generates an annual turnover of Euros 1.9 billion.
United Colors of Benetton in the UAE has been part of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group since 1989. The network spans six shops in Dubai: Deira City Centre, BurJuman, Jumeirah Centre, Zabeel Road, Al Ghurair, and Lamcy Plaza.
The Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group was founded in 1960 by Chairman HE Easa Saleh Al Gurg. Today, the group is associated with leading names such as Unilever, Siemens, Dunlop, Burmah Castrol, Benetton, Osram, British American Tobacco, and ICI.
Distributed for Benetton in the UAE (Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group) by Polaris Public Relations.
For further information, please contact
Abha Malpani or Rami Halawani.
Tel: (971-4) 3348522,
fax:(971-4) 3341326,
email: abha@polaris-me.com, r.halawani@polaris-me.com
© Press Release 2004
