AbbVie volunteers renovate Nafa Charity Society facilities
More than 55 volunteers from the Jeddah office of AbbVie, a global research-driven biopharmaceutical company, recently participated in the “Week of Possibilities,” the company’s global corporate responsibility program centered on education. The volunteers renovated several sections of the family-centered Nafa Charity Society Jeddah. The activities included reconditioning the organization’s playground, nursery, classrooms and library.
Rami Fayed, general manager, AbbVie Saudi Arabia, said: “It is our responsibility as a company and a leader in scientific research to support education for underprivileged children in our society. By lending a hand in improving the physical environment of those youngsters accommodated by Nafa Charity Society Jeddah, we feel that we can help the organization in its mission.”
Saeed Al-Zahrani, general manager, Nafa Charity Society Jeddah, said: “We are very grateful for the support provided by AbbVie. I’ve witnessed a tremendous amount of hard work and effort that the volunteers have put into the renovation, which helps provide the proper facilities to foster better learning.”
Nafa Charity Society Jeddah is a nonprofit organization licensed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Development and provides 10 different services for the community in Jeddah. It aims to activate various charity initiatives to meet the needs of orphans and underprivileged families by supporting them with health care services, education, professional training and development.
AbbVie launched “Week of Possibilities” in 2014, focusing on projects in North Chicago, Illinois, where the company is based. In 2015, AbbVie employees expanded their commitment to 45 countries, where more than 17,000 service hours were donated to nonprofit organizations. The AbbVie initiative has continued to grow, and in 2016 the program volunteered over 25,000 service hours in 50 countries.
Richard A. Gonzalez, chairman and chief executive officer, AbbVie, said: “‘Week of Possibilities’ demonstrates our deep commitment to giving back to our communities and people in need. These volunteer opportunities are critically important to who we are as a company and the fabric of our culture. I am tremendously proud of the remarkable impact we are having during ‘Week of Possibilities’ and beyond.”