Business charity: stories about help from five Ukrainian companies
Charity is a huge field of activity, where there is a place for everyone. Thousands of people around the world are helping those in need. Some bring clothes or help with food, others give money or buy the necessary medicines, some work as volunteers and help directly on the spot. Nowadays, business representatives are increasingly joining charity. Large companies in different countries are raising huge sums of money to save cancer patients, help children in shelters or cure people with heart disease. We spoke with five Ukrainian business representatives about how they do charity work and how they help the needy.
WOG
WOG is a network of gas stations and shops in Ukraine. For more than ten years, the company has been holding the Road to the Heart campaign, which aims to raise funds for the purchase and repair of medical equipment, as well as the needs of children’s clinics and centers throughout Ukraine.
"Big business cannot operate in isolation from society - it must be socially responsible, respond to people’s problems and, of course, make a significant contribution to their decisions. WOG helps children. Initially, it was a comprehensive assistance to orphanages: repair work, purchase of clothing and toys. As well as targeted assistance in the treatment of young children. Later, the all-Ukrainian large-scale project "Road to the Heart" became a logical continuation of our charity, the company said.
This charity project is held annually at all WOG filling stations and in the WOG CAFE network, and the mechanics of the action are very simple and absolutely everyone can take part in it. All you need to do is buy a coffee drink in a special charity cup at any WOG and WOG CAFE filling station. The cost of a drink in such a glass is two hryvnias more expensive than in a regular one.
"The action has been going on for more than 10 years. Thanks to each of our clients who joined the campaign at one time or another, we raised over UAH 17 million. This allowed to provide expensive repairs of equipment in medical institutions across the country, to buy new modern devices for them, thus saving children’s lives. And, most importantly, we are now doing it systematically, ” WOG commented on the situation.
A new wave of the action started on June 1 this year. This time funds were raised to purchase an ultrasound machine for the Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery. Amosov, thanks to which specialists would be able to diagnose heart disease in children in time, which means - to promptly perform operations and save lives. The cost of the device is 1.33 million hryvnias and a month before the end of the campaign, about 1.4 million hryvnias were accumulated, which allowed to purchase and transfer equipment ahead of schedule.
Fora
The large trade network "Fora" together with the Ukrainian Relief Fund has been holding a charity event "Heart beats thanks to ..." for two years in a row.
"We have been working with the Ukrainian Relief Fund for two years. Our cooperation is a charity event "Heart beats thanks to ...". We are looking for a partner who is ready to take part in the project and then from the sale of certain goods 1 hryvnia is transferred to charity. During this time, we have already had 6 waves of this project, "said Oksana Perekupko, head of the public relations department of the Fora network.
From 1 to 30 September 2019, such an event was held in conjunction with the dairy brand "Yagotynske for children". During this time, from each unit of production of TM "Yagotynske for children", which was sold in chain stores, 1 hryvnia was transferred to charity. All funds raised during September will be used to purchase equipment for endovascular surgery for children with heart defects. In particular, occlusal implants, stents and conduits.
“Now we have already collected over a million hryvnias, 15 operations have been performed, and 3 more operations will be performed soon. This is a very emotional project, because every time we come to the hospital to visit children, meet families, learn their stories, " - say in the trade network " Fora ".
In addition, the stores of the network are installing social shelves, where everyone can put products for people who can not afford to buy them.
"We know that there are really vulnerable people who can’t even afford to buy basic food. And the idea arose to put such social racks. People who have the opportunity, they buy any food, the same cereals, canned food, etc., and just leave them on the shelf. And people who can’t buy these products come and get them from there. In fact, many people want to help, but often do not know how to do it. There are cases that even bring food from home. Who brought and left canning, in the summer, for example, vegetables and fruits, ”the company says.
Dobovo
Dobovo is a Ukrainian online service for daily rent, which has been on the market since 2010. The company has long been involved in charity and cooperates with large foundations.
“Our PR department pre-selects the object of assistance. In each case, we contact the shelter or orphanage, specify what exactly you need to buy. Then we buy the necessary things and goods and go with our employees, ” the company told us.
Dobovo adds that they also help animal shelters, where in addition to food and food, old things, rags, etc. are brought.
In addition, in the spring of 2019, the team of Dobovo service employees took part in the 27th charity run "Chestnut Run 2019". Thus, the funds raised during the run were used to purchase the necessary equipment for the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
Kyivstar
One of the largest Ukrainian mobile operators Kyivstar also does not stay away from the problems of society. Yes, the company has its own charity project within the framework of SMS charity - "Children’s Hope", which began to be implemented in December 2018.
Kyivstar is implementing a project together with the Ukrainian Charitable Exchange (UBB) International Charitable Foundation. As part of the project, we help children with heart disease or cancer who are being treated in Ukrainian medical institutions. "- tell in the company.
Every prepaid subscriber can donate to help children, and these donations can be completely different, both one-time - from UAH 1 to UAH 3,000, and regular - UAH 2, 5, 10, 15 and 20. By the way, regular donations can be made automatically after each top-up of 40 hryvnias.
“As of today, with the help of our subscribers we managed to collect UAH 1,343,628.19. With the money raised, we helped the Institute. M. Amosov and the National Cancer Institute, Odessa Regional Children’s Hospital, Dnipropetrovsk Regional Children’s Hospital, Lviv Okhmatdyt and the East Ukrainian Children’s Medical Center to purchase the necessary equipment and medical supplies, " - explained in the company" Kyivstar ".
Yagotynske
As we have already said, it is the Yagotynske dairy brand, together with the Ukrainian Relief Fund and the Fora retail chain, that is taking part in a charity event aimed at helping children with heart disease. The Yagotynske brand is part of the Dairy Alliance group of companies, which is actively involved in charity.
Charity is an integral part of the corporate social responsibility of the Dairy Alliance. The company annually allocates budgets for charity events, funding of socially significant social events and projects, support for orphanages, charitable foundations, NGOs, volunteers. Moreover, charity budgets are available for both the management company and each company separately. Our charity policy is based primarily on the principles of transparency, legality and integrity, " said Svitlana Hinotska, PR Manager of the Dairy Alliance.
She added that the companies have conducted dozens of different charity projects. Among the large-scale ones, we can single out the project of Yagotynske TM and Tabletochky Charitable Foundation , which is being implemented for the second year in a row. Under this project, part of the money from the sale of "Big" milk for the promotional period is transferred to the purchase of medicines that are vital for children with cancer.
"In addition, we regularly provide products to children undergoing treatment at the Kyiv City Oncology Center, the Navysport project - which develops military-applied sports at the Navy, the children’s camp " Sunlight " and a number of other organizations. I would like to emphasize that in our projects we aim not just to raise money and transfer it to the treatment of a child / children or the purchase of medicines. The main thing for us is to unite our consumers, convey to them the importance of the problem, and unite with them in solving it, "concluded Svitlana Hinotska.
As we can see, big companies do not stay away, but try to help who can. They organize various actions and launch projects in which anyone can take part. And every year such examples in the country become more and more, which can not but rejoice.
Author Anastasia Ishchenko
Photo sources WOG, Kyivstar, Dobovo, Pixabay, Fora, Dairy Alliance
Read also: Budget 2020: how much money will go to medicine
WOG
WOG is a network of gas stations and shops in Ukraine. For more than ten years, the company has been holding the Road to the Heart campaign, which aims to raise funds for the purchase and repair of medical equipment, as well as the needs of children’s clinics and centers throughout Ukraine.
"Big business cannot operate in isolation from society - it must be socially responsible, respond to people’s problems and, of course, make a significant contribution to their decisions. WOG helps children. Initially, it was a comprehensive assistance to orphanages: repair work, purchase of clothing and toys. As well as targeted assistance in the treatment of young children. Later, the all-Ukrainian large-scale project "Road to the Heart" became a logical continuation of our charity, the company said.This charity project is held annually at all WOG filling stations and in the WOG CAFE network, and the mechanics of the action are very simple and absolutely everyone can take part in it. All you need to do is buy a coffee drink in a special charity cup at any WOG and WOG CAFE filling station. The cost of a drink in such a glass is two hryvnias more expensive than in a regular one.
"The action has been going on for more than 10 years. Thanks to each of our clients who joined the campaign at one time or another, we raised over UAH 17 million. This allowed to provide expensive repairs of equipment in medical institutions across the country, to buy new modern devices for them, thus saving children’s lives. And, most importantly, we are now doing it systematically, ” WOG commented on the situation.
A new wave of the action started on June 1 this year. This time funds were raised to purchase an ultrasound machine for the Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery. Amosov, thanks to which specialists would be able to diagnose heart disease in children in time, which means - to promptly perform operations and save lives. The cost of the device is 1.33 million hryvnias and a month before the end of the campaign, about 1.4 million hryvnias were accumulated, which allowed to purchase and transfer equipment ahead of schedule.
Fora
The large trade network "Fora" together with the Ukrainian Relief Fund has been holding a charity event "Heart beats thanks to ..." for two years in a row.
"We have been working with the Ukrainian Relief Fund for two years. Our cooperation is a charity event "Heart beats thanks to ...". We are looking for a partner who is ready to take part in the project and then from the sale of certain goods 1 hryvnia is transferred to charity. During this time, we have already had 6 waves of this project, "said Oksana Perekupko, head of the public relations department of the Fora network.
From 1 to 30 September 2019, such an event was held in conjunction with the dairy brand "Yagotynske for children". During this time, from each unit of production of TM "Yagotynske for children", which was sold in chain stores, 1 hryvnia was transferred to charity. All funds raised during September will be used to purchase equipment for endovascular surgery for children with heart defects. In particular, occlusal implants, stents and conduits. “Now we have already collected over a million hryvnias, 15 operations have been performed, and 3 more operations will be performed soon. This is a very emotional project, because every time we come to the hospital to visit children, meet families, learn their stories, " - say in the trade network " Fora ".
In addition, the stores of the network are installing social shelves, where everyone can put products for people who can not afford to buy them.
"We know that there are really vulnerable people who can’t even afford to buy basic food. And the idea arose to put such social racks. People who have the opportunity, they buy any food, the same cereals, canned food, etc., and just leave them on the shelf. And people who can’t buy these products come and get them from there. In fact, many people want to help, but often do not know how to do it. There are cases that even bring food from home. Who brought and left canning, in the summer, for example, vegetables and fruits, ”the company says.
Dobovo
Dobovo is a Ukrainian online service for daily rent, which has been on the market since 2010. The company has long been involved in charity and cooperates with large foundations.
“Our PR department pre-selects the object of assistance. In each case, we contact the shelter or orphanage, specify what exactly you need to buy. Then we buy the necessary things and goods and go with our employees, ” the company told us.
Dobovo adds that they also help animal shelters, where in addition to food and food, old things, rags, etc. are brought.
In addition, in the spring of 2019, the team of Dobovo service employees took part in the 27th charity run "Chestnut Run 2019". Thus, the funds raised during the run were used to purchase the necessary equipment for the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Kyivstar
One of the largest Ukrainian mobile operators Kyivstar also does not stay away from the problems of society. Yes, the company has its own charity project within the framework of SMS charity - "Children’s Hope", which began to be implemented in December 2018.
Kyivstar is implementing a project together with the Ukrainian Charitable Exchange (UBB) International Charitable Foundation. As part of the project, we help children with heart disease or cancer who are being treated in Ukrainian medical institutions. "- tell in the company.
Every prepaid subscriber can donate to help children, and these donations can be completely different, both one-time - from UAH 1 to UAH 3,000, and regular - UAH 2, 5, 10, 15 and 20. By the way, regular donations can be made automatically after each top-up of 40 hryvnias. “As of today, with the help of our subscribers we managed to collect UAH 1,343,628.19. With the money raised, we helped the Institute. M. Amosov and the National Cancer Institute, Odessa Regional Children’s Hospital, Dnipropetrovsk Regional Children’s Hospital, Lviv Okhmatdyt and the East Ukrainian Children’s Medical Center to purchase the necessary equipment and medical supplies, " - explained in the company" Kyivstar ".
Yagotynske
As we have already said, it is the Yagotynske dairy brand, together with the Ukrainian Relief Fund and the Fora retail chain, that is taking part in a charity event aimed at helping children with heart disease. The Yagotynske brand is part of the Dairy Alliance group of companies, which is actively involved in charity.
Charity is an integral part of the corporate social responsibility of the Dairy Alliance. The company annually allocates budgets for charity events, funding of socially significant social events and projects, support for orphanages, charitable foundations, NGOs, volunteers. Moreover, charity budgets are available for both the management company and each company separately. Our charity policy is based primarily on the principles of transparency, legality and integrity, " said Svitlana Hinotska, PR Manager of the Dairy Alliance.
She added that the companies have conducted dozens of different charity projects. Among the large-scale ones, we can single out the project of Yagotynske TM and Tabletochky Charitable Foundation , which is being implemented for the second year in a row. Under this project, part of the money from the sale of "Big" milk for the promotional period is transferred to the purchase of medicines that are vital for children with cancer. "In addition, we regularly provide products to children undergoing treatment at the Kyiv City Oncology Center, the Navysport project - which develops military-applied sports at the Navy, the children’s camp " Sunlight " and a number of other organizations. I would like to emphasize that in our projects we aim not just to raise money and transfer it to the treatment of a child / children or the purchase of medicines. The main thing for us is to unite our consumers, convey to them the importance of the problem, and unite with them in solving it, "concluded Svitlana Hinotska.
As we can see, big companies do not stay away, but try to help who can. They organize various actions and launch projects in which anyone can take part. And every year such examples in the country become more and more, which can not but rejoice.
Author Anastasia Ishchenko
Photo sources WOG, Kyivstar, Dobovo, Pixabay, Fora, Dairy Alliance
Read also: Budget 2020: how much money will go to medicine