In the middle of October 2022, more than 800 participants who are employees of UOB Vietnam, their families, together with customers and business partners gathered in Phu My Hung town in HCMC’s District 7 in a special running event named 2022 UOB Global Heartbeat Run/Walk to raise funds for the community.
The UOB Heartbeat Run/Walk, allowing participants to choose either a 10-km run, a 5-km run or a 3-km run/walk, is part of the bank’s ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, which aims to create sustainable, caring and inclusive societies through corporate philanthropy, stakeholder partnerships and employee participation.
This event marked the 16th edition of the flagship volunteering and fundraising event held by UOB globally across 18 markets, and the 5th time it was organized in Vietnam.
The total amount of more than VND350 million raised from the program will be channelled primarily to the Saigon Children’s Charity, the key beneficiary of the UOB Heartbeat event in Vietnam this year, to provide food security and bridging the digital divide.
The fund will also be used to set up a computer room at the Nui Cam Secondary School in An Giang province, and to provide food support for disadvantaged children in Can Gio and HCMC.
Victor Ngo, Chief Executive Officer of UOB Vietnam, said, “We do right by our communities by continuously supporting the social development of the local community. Each year, UOB Vietnam employees show their giving nature through the annual UOB Heartbeat Run/Walk event. The amount that we raised will hopefully make a meaningful difference to the lives of disadvantaged children, by helping them meet their daily living needs, and equipping them with tools to meet the demands of a digital future.”
Damien Roberts, executive director of the Saigon Children’s Charity, said, “These funds will change the lives of the beneficiaries, and the impact will last for many years to come. We are thankful that UOB Heartbeat this year continues to provide essential support for the children we look after.”
Last year, the money raised through the UOB Heartbeat Fund was used to donate canned food to the Red Cross of HCMC to benefit 1,500 vulnerable families in 15 districts across the city that were hit hard by the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreak. The funds also provided frontline medical staff working in the COVID-19 treatment unit at the University Medical Center HCMC with essential daily protection gear such as protection suits, surgical masks and gloves.
Recently, UOB Vietnam also contributed VND100 million to the “Fund for poor people” through the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee with the aim to leave no one behind in support of the country’s long-term poverty alleviation campaign.
These are among collective efforts of the bank to support local community since its presence in Vietnam nearly three decades ago.
“UOB will celebrate our 30th year in Vietnam in 2023. This demonstrates our long-term commitment to the country as we continue to do right by our customers, colleagues and local communities while driving the franchise to the next chapter of sustainable growth. We believe in being a responsible financial services provider and we are committed to making a difference in the lives of our stakeholders and in the communities in which we operate,” said Victor Ngo.
Nowadays, UOB Vietnam operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Overseas Bank Limited (UOB), a leading bank in Asia with a global network of around 500 offices in 19 countries and territories in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America, offering a range of personal and institutional financial services to both Vietnamese and overseas customers across the country.
