HCM City Raises Nearly $1.8M for the Poor

The Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee has received more than VND44.3 billion ($1.8 million) donated to the municipal fund “For the Poor”.

The fund aims to ease the difficulties facing disadvantaged people in the city ahead of the 2024 Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays, which fall from February 8 to 14, 2024.

The specialized advisory and assistance agencies to the city Party Committee on Tuesday (October 30) organized a fundraising event and delivered the donated amount to the Permanent Committee of the municipal Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee.

Truong Vinh Tung, deputy chief of the Office of the municipal Party Committee, said the labor unions of the specialized advisory and assistance agencies of the city Party Committee had initiated a campaign to encourage officials, civil servants, public employees, and laborers in these agencies to donate one day's salary in support of the fund, contributing a total of VND400 million ($16,210).

“This gesture exemplifies the sincere generosity of each person,” he said.

This initiative upholds the long-standing tradition of unity, compassion, and goodwill among local residents via practical actions in response to the action month "For the poor", while enhancing the quality of life for underprivileged, poor and near-poor households.

It plays a crucial role in effectively implementing the city's sustainable poverty-reduction program in the 2021-25 period and contributes to the successful implementation of the national target program on building new-style rural areas and developed urban areas.

Among outstanding donors, Sacombank donated VND1 billion ($40,525) to the fund this year.

Phan Dinh Tue, a member of the bank’s Board of Directors, said the bank contributed to the fund a total amount of VND6.7 billion ($271,520) since 2020.

“This action is taken in response to the national program named ‘the whole nation joins hands for the poor’, and promotes the tradition of solidarity, kindness, love and sharing,” he said.

Later that evening, the committee for mobilization, management, and use of the For the Poor fund, in partnership with the Ho Chi Minh Television (HTV), hosted the 22nd annual artistic exchange program called "City of Compassion - Connecting Love 2023."

The artistic exchange program aims to mobilize resources through the "For the Poor" fund. This initiative is designed to support underprivileged, poor and near-poor households, and individuals living in difficult circumstances, as well as those affected by diseases and natural disasters. (VietnamNews)