Citi supports multicultural families

By Kim Jae-won

Citibank Korea said Wednesday that the lender’s employees and executives are stepping up efforts to support underprivileged neighbors, particularly those from multiracial families, through various social contribution activities.

The Korean unit of the New York-based global bank donated 30 million won (about $27,000) to Bobper, a Christian organization for the homeless, earlier this month. Forty executives, employees and their families offered warm meals for around 1,100 socially marginalized people including senior citizens living alone or with no place to turn to and the homeless.

“I’m very happy that we could contribute to expanding the forest,

which was created in June, through this sponsorship. Now people in need coming here will enjoy food and rest. I hope they will find hope and courage here,” said Citibank Korea CEO Ha Yung-ku.

On Nov. 16, 30 employees of the lender made kimchi for foreign workers and immigrants at the free meal service center of Global Sarang, a non-government organization for foreign workers and immigrants in southwestern Seoul.

The traditional Korean food was made from 3,000 Chinese cabbages and will be served at the center where many foreign immigrant workers and Chinese of Korean descent visit. It will also be delivered to low-income foreign immigrant households.

The program is in its second year, sharing Korean culture and cheering up who those away from home and working hard in Korea.

Global Sarang was established to support interracial families and foreign immigrants. Since last year, the bank has been funding the center. From Is employees have regularly volunteered to serve meals there every third Saturday of the month.

In addition, its management and union initiated a campaign to encourage employees to donate 10,000 won to a charitable fund. As a result, the bank collected 40 million won, which was used to teach and nurse children from multiracial families.