Bank with a big heart

CHARITY champions working at one of the kingdom's leading banks have been boosted by a generous 'dinar for dinar' gesture from their bosses.

The Bahrain-based BMI Bank has pledged to support its staff's big-hearted efforts with special quarterly 'D4D' events.

The Think Pink! Breast Cancer Awareness Society, Down's Syndrome Society and Muqabah Charity Fund were nominated as the recipients of donations from the first 'D4D' event which raised BD2,557.

And, the countdown to the next special fund-raiser has already started with commitments pouring in from all departments.

A spokesman for the organisers explained: "The bank decided to experiment by coming up with something truly different and innovative through staff involvement and as a result a unique quarterly category entitled 'Dinar for Dinar' was introduced.

"The D4D is a special one-day event that simply provides employees with an opportunity to organise and involve themselves for a noble cause.

"At the end they can nominate or recommend a charity that they feel strongly about for the proceeds to go to. The interesting part of the new scheme is that for every dinar the staff raise, the bank matches it by contributing an equal portion."

During the recent launch D4D event, staff held an internal sale of food, used books, DVDs and CDs as well as cookies, sweets, computer games and board games.

So as not to leave out staff spread out over seven branches across the country, they also brought in snacks and drinks which were offered to visiting customers. Whatever amount was spent on the snacks was considered as money raised for charity.

A bank assistant at the HQ sale said tables were covered with items ranging from cup cakes, cheese cakes, bagels, perfumes, books and even indoor plants in special crafted pots and hand-made pen holders. She added: "Most of the items were snapped up with lots being drawn out for any items remaining.

"As word spread and the tables began emptying staff went out and bought doughnuts and muffins to sell. By lunchtime, the response was greater than expected and everyone was having a good time. Just when it was time to call it a day, a colleague decided to get some home-cooked lunch and at just 500 fils a plate, everyone asked for seconds!"

A BMI Bank spokesman said it has always been committed to supporting needy causes within the local community. A donation and sponsorship scheme run by staff has in the past made donations to institutions such as the American Mission Hospital and the Royal Charity Organisation, amongst others.