2013 Global Challenge Total Funds Rise
The ING Chances for Children Global Challenge 2013 closed on Friday 29 November with a noteworthy rise in the total funds raised despite the fact that this year’s event coincided with the campaign to raise disaster relief funds for the Philippines.
This is a truly amazing achievement for the Global Challenge, the annual flagship event held on and around the United Nations’ Universal Children’s Day on 20 November in which staff and management throughout ING raise funds and volunteer in support of children’s projects. We want to say a huge thank-you to everyone who put time and effort into making the 2013 Global Challenge such an outstanding success!
Support disaster relief efforts Philippines
A total of 12,249 employees (or 21% of our global workforce) from ING business units in 25 countries participated in the 2013 Global Challenge initiatives, volunteering an overall 8,685 hours of their time. A total of 782,094.42 euros was raised for all causes (including matching by ING), with 721,088.43 of this amount destined for UNICEF to support projects aimed at children’s education and welfare.
Funds raised for UNICEF during this year’s Global Challenge will also be used to support disaster relief efforts in the Philippines after typhoon Haiyan left many children in desperate need of food, shelter, clean water and medicine.
Staggering amounts
In the wake of Haiyan our Filipino colleagues themselves raised 91,000 euros by organising a contest among employees to see who would raise the most funds and ‘toning down’ this year’s Christmas party. ING Spain, meanwhile, gathered a staggering EUR 237,236 after they opened up their website so customers could donate to the cause.
Wonderful and original ideas
Every year we are amazed by the wonderful and original ideas devised by our staff for the Global Challenge and 2013 was no exception. Initiatives ranged from 500 ING Bank employees in Turkey running the marathon dressed in orange, to ING Australia CEO Vaughn Richtor agreeing to wear a lion onesie for an entire workday if a fundraising target was met!
The bonds we share
The Global Challenge is, of course, primarily about children but it is also about us: how we as a company work together and how our combined efforts can really help make things better. The following quotes are a reflection of this:
“With hundreds of hours volunteered and thousands of dollars raised, we experienced again this year that we serve others not because of our differences, but because of the bonds we share. We’re ready for Global Challenge 2014!” - ING Americas
“It was an excellent event, I volunteered with my two sons and wife, so my kids would learn at a young age what diversity, volunteering and helping others in need means, and how volunteering helps to build good personal qualities. I do hope that next year we will be able to give again” - Norbert Huber, ING Commercial Banking in Hungary