GS donates W5 bil. for charity

By Yoon Sung-won

GS Group has donated 5 billion won for underprivileged people and those who suffered from the earthquake in the southeastern area of the country last month, according to the conglomerate, Wednesday.

From the total donations, 4 billion won was given to help poor residents at the year-end, and the other 1 billion went to Community Chest of Korea to help people in Pohang, South Gyeongsang Province.

Earlier on Nov. 15, an earthquake and aftershocks hit the southeastern port city, damaging buildings and facilities. More than 700 people who lost their homes are still living in shelters.

“Businesses should take the initiative to help our neighbors in need, especially when society is undergoing difficulties,” GS Group Chairman Huh Chang-soo said, highlighting the importance of corporate social responsibility.

A GS Group official said, “We hope the donation will help people in need around us and those who face serious difficulties due to the earthquake in Pohang. We will continue to fulfill our corporate social responsibility and share what we have to make society a better place.”

Besides the latest donation, GS Group said its affiliates have supported the earthquake victims in other ways.

GS Retail offered blankets, hot packs, masks, gloves and food while GS Caltex provided winter bedding.

GS Group affiliates are also running charity programs of their own for the year-end, the conglomerate said.

GS Caltex plans to operate 26 charity programs participated in by 660 employees and their families. Since 2005, its employees have donated 10 billion won for charity.

GS Engineering & Construction (E&C) has worked with the J K Huh Foundation to make kimchi and deliver it. Alongside kimchi, the company donated heating oil for the underprivileged and regional child centers in November.

GS Shop has cooperated with the social welfare organization Save the Children for the last 11 years to encourage people to produce wool caps and give them to newborn babies in developing countries around the world. The initiative has gathered more than 1.7 million wool caps and donated them in 11 countries including Uzbekistan, Ethiopia and Nepal, according to the company.

GS EPS has donated 600 million won to Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, to promote regional development. It also provides scholarships and educational material to 11 schools in the region.

GS Global is supporting the underprivileged in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, and multiracial families in Seoul. GS E&R also provides financial help to neighbors where they operate electric power plants.

GS Sports is offering children of multiracial families opportunities to learn football at a youth academy for professional teams, the company said.