This is the third year that Heategevusfond, a non-profit organisation set up by SEB in 2005 and which the bank supports financially, makes arrangements for distributing Christmas gifts to children in need. Previously only SEB employees were asked to contribute, but this year the fund cooperated with local news portal Delfi to enable also the wider public to make contributions.
SEB’s Private Banking, Merchant Banking and Retail Banking units in Estonia also made contributions.
To be someone’s Santa, people could choose a child with a wish on a Christmas tree (www.heategevusfond.ee/joulupuu) and make a donation according to his/her means. With those donations and together with retail chains, Heategevusfond procured the presents each child wished for.
“With the help of our good-hearted supporters, we have been able to bring the joy we all know is there in a bag of presents to all children staying at substitute homes and safe houses in Estonia,” Triin Lumi, head of Heategevusfond, says.
Heategevusfond organises campaigns twice a year where the fund invites people to donate money to support children deprived of parental care. With more than 6,400 people regularly contributing to the fund, it’s the largest of its kind in Estonia. SEB in December 2006 agreed to support Heategevusfond with 20 million Estonian kroons (1.28 million euro) over 10 years.