Emirates Foundation, the nationwide body set up to facilitate public-private funded initiatives to unite social responsibility across the UAE, broadened the scope of the Takatof Ramadan program which was aimed at supporting frontline heroes during Ramadan, with collaboration from First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and the Frontline Heroes Office.

During the Holy Month of Ramadan, Takatof volunteers carried out a variety of activities in support of frontline workers, with the cooperation of strategic partners the Frontline Heroes Office and FAB, to facilitate the volunteers' mission in providing Ramadan packages and gifts. During the Holy Month, more than 365 volunteers generously donated a total of 1,100 hours of their time, and Takatof extended volunteering activities based on community needs in areas including Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al Quwain, Ras al-Khaimah, Fujairah, Dibba, Khorfakkan and Kalba.

The primary project included providing support to frontline heroes through the distribution of Iftar and Suhoor meals during Ramadan across the UAE.

Emirates Foundation CEO, Ahmed Talib Al Shamsi, said: "The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many changes to our day-to-day lives that no-one could have foreseen at the start of 2020. Since the start, Emirates Foundation volunteers have been making a huge difference to how the UAE has been able to face these challenges by helping out in COVID screening and quarantine centers, shopping malls and other public areas. During the Holy Month, we expanded our community services to include support for our brave frontline heroes."

Al Shamsi continued, "We support the concept of adopting volunteering as a way of life, and by recruiting members of the community to take part in these acts of selfless generosity during Ramadan, Emirates Foundation is helping to prepare them for a long-term commitment to social responsibility and public service within the community."

H.E. Professor Maha Barakat, Director General of the Frontline Heroes Office, said: "Throughout the pandemic, so many of our residents and citizens have sought out ways to provide support for our frontline heroes. Emirates Foundation has played such an important role in creating a wide range of volunteerism opportunities, organising and mobilising volunteers across the Emirates to support our frontline heroes. Expanding the Takatof programme in partnership with the Foundation and First Abu Dhabi Bank enabled us to work with these volunteers to further support our frontline heroes throughout the Holy Month of Ramadan and show them how much the people of the UAE value and appreciate their service."

Hana Al Rostamani, Group CEO of First Abu Dhabi Bank, said:  "We are inspired by the work of Emirates Foundation and the Frontline Heroes Office, and were humbled to join them during the Holy Month of Ramadan in their support of frontline workers and their families. We have all faced so many challenges in this past year, and being united in our sense of community gives us the strength to keep moving towards a brighter future. Supporting others is especially important in difficult times, and we are pleased to have brought to life the values of Ramadan during the Holy Month."                                                                                                          

Those wishing to join the volunteering projects should visit the official website at https://www.volunteers.ae/ where registration information is available.

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