The lobby of Menara Maybank was filled with the melodious voices of children singing Christmas carols when Maybank brought early Christmas cheer to some 100 children in a party filled with fun activities, great food and presents.
The children, from five special homes namely Stepping Stones Living Centre, Shepherd's Centre Foundation, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Ann’s Cottage, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Yesuvin Mahligai Selangor and Dignity for Children Foundation were feted by the senior management of Maybank led by the Group President and CEO, Datuk Abdul Farid Alias.
They were given the opportunity to show their talents by singing Christmas carols which included Joy To The World, Away In The Manger, Jingle Bell, Silent Night and We Wish You A Merry Christmas. They then participated in a group activity where they were teamed up with the Maybank management team to decorate specially made gingerbread, using multi coloured icing, colourful chocolate rice and a variety of candies. They also received Christmas presents including cash gifts and were treated to a sumptuous lunch.
Twelve year old David, from Dignity for Children Foundation, said that he was very happy to have had the opportunity to decorate a gingerbread with the President and CEO of Maybank. Meanwhile, Thillagawally, Pavithra and Pichu from Pertubuhan Kebajikan Yesuvin Mahligai Selangor had lots of fun working on their decorative skills with Maybank’s Group Chief Human Capital Officer, Nora Manaf.
Earlier in welcoming the children to Menara Maybank, Datuk Abdul Farid Alias encouraged the children to make the most of their time in Maybank to learn from Maybanker senior management team who had chosen to be with them during the event.
“Ask them as many questions as you can, about their childhood, their families, their hobbies and what it took to make them the successful persons they are today,” he said.
Datuk Farid touched on the spirit of giving which is synonymous with the Christmas season. “In light of the recent tragedies faced by fellow Malaysians in the East Coast, and those in the Philippines, I have indeed broadened my understanding of the word ‘GIVE’,” he shared.
To make the Christmas season’s ‘spirit of giving’ more meaningful, Datuk Farid said Maybank had also introduced the Group Christmas Book Donation Drive where employees were encouraged to donate suitable children’s story books. These books will then be distributed at selected paediatric wards in hospitals across Malaysia and in countries with Maybank presence.
He said “Books and reading provides distraction, entertainment and reassurance for all young inpatients in the hospitals. Although the action of donating a book that might have been lying unread at home is simple to some, the joy that it will bring to a child is immeasurable. We would never be able to foresee that someday it could be one of our own children, who benefit from reading a book that we Maybankers have donated. As we continue to grow together as an organisation, always also look to how we can use the potential that we have in our strengths, to be of value to the community.”