As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Friday announced the launch of a charity campaign for fathers.
The Dubai Ruler said that in keeping with the annual custom of launching a humanitarian Ramadan campaign from the people of the UAE, announced the campaign titled 'Fathers' Endowment'.
This initiative honours fathers in the UAE by establishing a sustainable endowment fund valued at Dh1 billion, with proceeds dedicated to providing treatment and healthcare to the poor and needy, and those who cannot afford treatment. Proceeds will support healthcare systems through hospital development and the provision of medicine and treatment.
Along with a heartwarming video, the Dubai Ruler shared a touching message for residents of UAE.
"The father is the first role model, the first support, and the first teacher. He is the source of strength, wisdom and security in our lives, young and old," Sheikh Mohammed said in a post on X.
"Our role is to celebrate them in this blessed month through an ongoing charity in a sustainable humanitarian endowment in the name of our fathers, the proceeds of which will be allocated to treating patients and providing healthcare for the poor, needy and unable to pay. We invite everyone to contribute, strengthening family bonds and giving back. May God bless the UAE, its founders, and all fathers,” he further said in the post.
The Fathers’ Endowment campaign coincides with the Year of Community launched by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed, to promote family bonds and social solidarity.
Last year, Sheikh Mohammed launched the Mothers’ Endowment campaign to honour mothers by establishing an endowment fund at a value of Dh1 billion.
Launched under the umbrella of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) and coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan, the campaign honoured mothers by allowing contributors to make donations in their names. It also aimed to support underprivileged individuals and communities in a sustainable way through education.
And it received an overwhelming response with companies and individuals making massive contributions to the campaign, raising over Dh1.4 billion.
The Fathers’ Endowment campaign too is part of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI). It follows initiatives like the '10 Million Meals' campaign in 2020, which raised over 15.3 million meals; the '100 Million Meals' campaign in 2021, which collected 220 million meals; the '1 Billion Meals' in 2022, which achieved its goal in under a month; and the '1 Billion Meals Endowment' in 2023, which raised Dh1.075 billion.