Dubai Duty Free makes major donation to Hand in Hand for Haiti appeal
Published: 15/02/12
Source: ©The Moodie Report
By Matt Willey
DUBAI. Dubai Duty Free’s support for Hand in Hand for Haiti, the travel retail industry-funded educational initiative, went a step further this week as the airport retailer announced a donation by the Dubai Duty Free Foundation of US$500,000 to finance a new Sports Complex at the Lycee Jean Baptiste Point du Sable school in the town of Saint Marc.
The announcement, which was made at the Trinity Forum conference in Seoul by Dubai Duty Free President George Horan, had the full support of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and the Dubai Duty Free Foundation board, which is headed by Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman Colm McLoughlin.
The Hand in Hand for Haiti project was initiated in response to the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti in January 2010 and has received widespread support from the travel retail industry.
In September 2011, the first phase of its education project was launched with the opening of the Lycee, which will eventually provide education to 720 children.
Dubai Duty Free was among the many travel retailers who immediately provided financial support for Hand in Hand for Haiti, making donations from its own Foundation as well as from individual members of staff.
“Dubai Duty Free, through our Foundation and through staff initiatives, responded quickly to the Hand in Hand for Haiti initiative as it struck a chord with us, especially as its aim was to better the lives of children through education, which is one of the objectives of our Foundation,” said McLoughlin.
This latest donation of US$500,000 will provide funding for a Dubai Duty Free Sports Complex at the Lycee, which will offer pupils and the wider community in Saint Marc an outstanding sports and leisure facility. Facilities will include an international regulation football pitch, a six-lane athletic track, a basketball court and a volleyball court.
Commenting on the donation, McLoughlin added: “We are delighted to announce that the Dubai Duty Free Foundation will help in building this fantastic new Sports Complex which will enhance the lives of the pupils as well as the wider community who can avail of its facilities.
“Hand in Hand for Haiti has done a tremendous job in driving forward the completion of the Lycee in such a short space of time and I congratulate [HHH directors] Olivier Bottrie, Ed Brennan and Martin Moodie on their hard work. We are looking forward to seeing the development of the new Sports Complex and see it become a focal point for the community.”
Hand in Hand for Haiti was recently awarded the prestigious Prix Humanitaire Lucienne Deschamps humanitarian award for services to the Haitian people.
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