The Saudi-based BMG Financial Group’s philanthropic arm, BMG Foundation, recently organized the exciting and long-running GCC Polo Cup for the 18th year at Cirencester Park, United Kingdom, where winners from their “Safe Driving, Life Saving” (SDLS) awareness campaign activated early this year in Saudi Arabia and around the GCC region were awarded.

The rampant menace of reckless driving and the high death-toll statistics emerging from Saudi Arabia inspired BMG Foundation to roll-out the year-long public service campaign.

Many philanthropic entities from Saudi Arabia that included National Commercial Bank, UCA, Al-Isthithmar Capital, Haji Hussein Ali Reza and Co., Tamer SA’AID, Saudi Investment Bank and King Khalid Foundation participated in the “Safe Driving, Life Saving” campaign as part of their social corporate responsibility.

A competition was created for university students across the GCC who submitted video and still-graphic design entries highlighting the cause of irresponsible driving.

The awarding ceremony was preceded by a friendly Polo match where The Duke of Cambridge — Prince William, led the Maserati team against the BMG Foundation team captained by his brother Prince Harry to contend for the GCC Polo Cup.

The Polo match ended in a victory for the Duke of Cambridge’s team and a unique opportunity for the guests to focus on bridging business, social and philanthropic networks in a gathering of the most influential leaders of both East and West.

CSR-centric companies like Med Gulf, Saudi Orix Leasing Company, APCO, Digital Gateway and Akar One continued to support the “Safe Driving, Life Saving,” campaign throughout the phase of the competition.

Winners Omar Al-Sabbagh, Tazim Khan and Rabia Babar Khan were invited to the GCC Polo Cup ceremon y to be felicitated by Basil Al-Ghalayini, CEO and chairman of the BMG Financial Group and Foundation for their outstanding and creative submissions in the competition.

“To address the issue of safe driving is of paramount importance when so many people are losing lives on the road unnecessarily due to negligence.The GCC Polo Cup was a very remarkable platform for us to acknowledge the participation of our supporters in our campaign toward saving lives,” said Al-Ghalayini.

The University of Dammam, Gulf University for Science & Technology, King Abdul Aziz University and Al-Faisal University were the first participants to support the SDLS campaign at their campuses.