UOB Vietnam raises close to VND 700 million for disadvantaged communities in Vietnam through 2024 UOB Heartbeat Run
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 19 October 2024 – About 1,500 UOB Vietnam colleagues, together with their family members, customers and business partners, rallied together for the Bank’s annual UOB Heartbeat Run event, raising a record of nearly VND 700 million under the UOB Heartbeat Fund. The funds will be used to enhance digital learning conditions for disadvantaged children in the Mekong Delta and to support communities affected by recent storms and floods in northern Vietnam.
Mr Victor Ngo, CEO of UOB Vietnam led colleagues, customers, partners, and their family members at the start line, ready for the 10km run of the 2024 UOB Heartbeat Run Event
The UOB Heartbeat Run is an annual flagship volunteering and fundraising programme held globally across 18 markets where UOB has a presence. The funds raised will be donated to charities around the world to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and vulnerable communities. Since 2007, the programme has raised more than S$20 million to help improve the lives of communities in need and support causes that are aligned to the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility focus areas of art, children and education.
This year, the physical UOB Heartbeat Run was held in Singapore and six other markets, namely China, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
More than 1,500 people participated in the 7th UOB Heartbeat Run in Vietnam
In Vietnam, the physical run event took place on Saturday, 19 October 2024, with more than 1,500 participants participating in either a 3km, a 5km or a 10km run at P2 Park, Phu My Hung, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City. Participants were also invited to join fun games and activities catered to both children and adults, including music performances and a charity fair.
More than 1,500 UOB Vietnam employees, along with their families, customers, and business partners rallied together at the 2024 UOB Global Heartbeat Run event in Vietnam
Building on the successful virtual editions in the past four years, this year’s programme also comprised a virtual component opened to UOB colleagues and their families for a period of more than two months since 19 July 2024. In total, the virtual challenge and the physical run event saw participants running or walking more than 12,000 kilometres. For every kilometre achieved, UOB Vietnam pledged to donate VND 20,000 to the UOB Heartbeat Fund in Vietnam.
In addition to the Bank’s donation, numerous fundraising activities were organised by UOB Vietnam colleagues over the past three months, including a talent singing show, sales of UOB Heartbeat T-shirts and crossbody bags, and a charity fair run by UOB Vietnam colleagues and partners at the physical run event.
This year’s UOB Heartbeat Run also highlighted UOB’s commitment to building a sustainable future through several eco-friendly initiatives:
- Participants were encouraged to reuse their previous UOB Heartbeat T-shirts, reducing the production of new shirts to minimise waste.
- Newly-produced UOB Heartbeat T-shirts were made from 100 per cent recycled plastic.
- The charity fair featured eco-friendly booths selling zero-waste products such as organic soap, dish washing liquids, essential oils, scented candles and sedge bags.
Record fundraising of nearly VND 700 million.
This year, the UOB Heartbeat Run event in Vietnam raised close to VND 600 million. In line with the Bank’s brand promise to do right by its communities, part of the funds raised in Vietnam will be channelled to Saigon Children’s Charity CIO to equip a much-needed computer room for 640 students at Nguyen Binh Khiem Secondary School in An Giang province. This is part of a five-year project by UOB, in partnership with Saigon Children's Charity, to equip five computer rooms across schools in the Mekong Delta area. Additionally, part of the funds will be donated to the Vietnamese Fatherland Front to support people affected by recent storms and floods in northern Vietnam.
UOB Vietnam raises a record of VND 700 million for disadvantaged communities in Vietnam through the 2024 UOB Heartbeat Run
Mr Victor Ngo, CEO of UOB Vietnam, shared, “Over the past three decades in Vietnam, we have stood together with the community through various challenges, supporting the lives of the disadvantaged people. Through the annual UOB Heartbeat Run, we are delighted to have our partners, customers, social enterprises and colleagues’ families join us in creating lasting positive impact through many meaningful initiatives. These include a 5-years project to uplift the digital education for children in the Mekong Delta and provide timely support to those affected by the recent disasters in the North. Through our collective efforts, we aim to make a meaningful contribution to improving the lives of those in need across the country. That is how we demonstrate our long-term commitment of doing right by the communities where we operate.”
Last year, with the funds raised through the UOB Heartbeat Run, UOB Vietnam partnered with Saigon Children’s Charity CIO to equip two computer rooms for 450 students at Tri Ton Primary School in An Giang province, to provide them better access to a digital learning environment.
Mr Damien Roberts - Executive Director of Saigon Children’s Charity CIO, said: “I am grateful that UOB continues its passionate commitment to transform the lives of poor children in Vietnam through its long-term partnership with Saigon Children’s Charity. The enthusiasm of UOB Vietnam again ensures the success of the Heartbeat Run and guarantees that another generation of children will receive the support and skills they need to build a brighter future for themselves.”
The UOB Heartbeat Run is a key part of UOB’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, which seeks to create lasting good through corporate philanthropy, stakeholder partnerships and employee engagement. Over the years, UOB Heartbeat Run has demonstrated its commitment to creating a more caring and inclusive society across the region. Underpinned by the Bank’s values of being Honourable, Enterprising, United and Committed, UOB brings together its employees, customers and business partners to make a positive difference to our communities.