| Woori Financial Group Vice President Choi Dong-soo, left, poses with Korea Childhood Leukemia Foundation Secretary General Seo Sun-won after presenting blood donation cards from the group's employees, at the foundation's headquarters in northern Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Woori Financial Group |
By Kim Bo-eun
Woori Financial Group said Thursday that it donated 500 blood donation cards to the Korea Childhood Leukemia Foundation.
Woori group's vice president Choi Dong-soo delivered the donation cards to the foundation's chief, Seo Sun-won, at a ceremony at the foundation's headquarters in northern Seoul, Wednesday.
Donation cards can be used at medical institutions to receive blood transfusions free of charge. The donation cards will be used for children battling cancer and rare incurable diseases.
Woori group said that the cards were provided by employees on a voluntary basis. The financial group has been campaigning to encourage employees to donate blood amid a dire lack of blood at hospitals due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Blood banks at hospitals are virtually empty because of the lack of blood donors, as less people have been taking part in donations amid the pandemic.
"We hope the cards, donated by our executives and employees amid the blood supply crisis due to the extended COVID-19 pandemic, help and provide hope to children fighting cancer and rare, incurable diseases," a Woori Financial Group official said.
"We will strengthen our ESG management through various projects contributing to society, which our executives and employees can take part in."
Woori Bank set up a partnership with the Korean Red Cross in 2006 to provide blood donations, and has been holding a blood donation campaign every year since.
Woori group has also been engaging in other efforts to contribute to society, such as supporting small independent businesses nationwide via loans and marketing, along with donating masks and meal kits to the underprivileged.