To mark the Year of Giving, Beit Al Khair Society (BAKS) spent Dh225 million, on an array of charity projects and programmes, and is geared to keep it up during the Year of Zayed.

Abdeen Taher Al Awadhi, director-general of Beit Al Khair Society, said they significantly increased their expenditure to over Dh225 million in 2017. "This includes over Dh83.5 million spent on financial and food aids for more than 25,000 families during the holy month of Ramadan."

The society has also efficiently distributed surplus foods received from the UAE Food Bank. In cooperation with the Emirates Islamic Bank, it distributed 45,000 free meals to low-income workers, and sponsored expatriate orphans of Emirati mothers."

BAKS also assisted low-income families complete the construction of their houses in association with charity associations nationwide, the department of Islamic affairs and charitable activities, and Mohammed bin Rashid housing establishment.

"It released 28 Emirati inmates after paying out their outstanding debts of Dh8.4 million in cooperation with the Relief Fund and prison departments in Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain," said Al Awadhi.

BAKS supported several health and development drives and launched numerous initiatives for detecting and treating chronic diseases in collaboration with the 'Zayed Giving', and doing 12 obesity operations in coordination with the Zahra hospital, he explained. "It participated in the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Dialysis Centre, worth Dh40 million, at Al Tawar area, in cooperation with four charity entities and the Dubai Health Authority."

The society also supported productive families develop and market their products at the 'Matjari' virtual platform initiated by the General Women's Union in Abu Dhabi to improve their standard of living.

"A 'seven-star' service has been introduced to meet the needs of emergency cases, as well as the 'relief' initiative to fulfill the needs of orphans and their families. Al Ansari Exchange has agreed to quickly pay emergency and regular aids." 

BAKS also developed and secured its smart applications to ease the suffering of listed beneficiaries and reach more vulnerable people and donors easier, Awadhi said. 

"The society was crowned with the best charity performance in the Arab world prize for setting a role model in contemporary corporate performance. The prize was also in recognition of showcasing balanced performance that can effectively participate in the progress of the society and uplift low-income segments."