JEDDAH, 22 June 2005 — Children’s paintings were sold at a charity auction at the Jeddah Hilton on Sunday night. The proceeds of the auction were earmarked for children with special needs.
The auction included paintings by children and were divided into two sections. One section had 100 paintings, all with reserve prices of SR1,000. The other section had 20 paintings with reserve prices ranging from SR5,000 to SR14,000.
The auction, conducted with the support of Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed, was organized by Unilever Arabia.
“This is part of the company’s ongoing initiative to effectively partner with local communities and make a difference,” said Unilever Middle East Chairman Jan Zijderveld. “The proceeds from the auction will directly benefit children with special needs. This charity initiative ties in with Unilever’s global policy of using its corporate position to effect positive change and engage in activities that effectively use the organization’s local talents and expertise to make a real difference,” he said.
Unilever has a global reputation for its corporate social responsibility. Wherever it operates, it includes community support initiatives as part of its activities.
“This year, our charity event has a special meaning since the works of art have been created by children to contribute toward assisting other children,” he said.
