Abu Dhabi Media, represented by Aletihad newspaper, has signed an MoU with the Make-a-Wish Foundation to provide media support for the Foundation which is aimed at granting the wishes of children aged 3-18 years suffering from life threatening health conditions, in an effort to bring them hope and strength and happiness.

The memorandum, which was signed by the two sides at Abu Dhabi Media premises (on Thursday), comes in response to the declaration by H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, of 2017 as the ‘Year of Giving’, a nation-wide initiative which Aletihad newspaper is keen on upholding.

The Memorandum was signed by H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Make-a-Wish Foundation UAE and Mr. Mohammed Al Hammadi, Editor-in-Chief of Aletihad newspaper in the presence of Make-a-Wish Foundation Hani Al Zubaidi, the CEO of Make-a-Wish Foundation UAE.

Under the MoU, Aletihad is to provide media support and advertising of the wishes received by the Foundation in its publication, digital platforms and social media pages in support of the Foundation's efforts to raise funds from the public to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses, in order to motivate and prepare them psychologically to complete their treatment.

Aletihad will announce two wishes per month on its pages and one wish through the newspaper's social media pages.

H.E. Dr. Ali Bin Tamim, General Manager of Abu Dhabi Media, said: "Abu Dhabi Media and Aletihad Newspaper pay great attention to their corporate social responsibility, and are keen on supporting the ‘Year of Giving’ initiative launched by H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, by securing the success of community and national initiatives.”

“This kind of initiative that addresses the humanitarian aspect of our readers and followers is in line with our ongoing efforts to provide meaningful content that embodies the solidarity of the nation and educates the world about the significance of goodness, giving and charity through our media platforms. This is the least we can do to support the mission of the Foundation and to grant the wishes of these children who are in dire need of social attention.” Said Mohammed Al Hammadi, Editor-in-Chief of Aletihad.

For his part, Hani Al-Zubaidi, Chief Executive Officer of the Make-A-Wish Foundation UAE, praised the support and cooperation shown by Abu Dhabi Media, represented by Aletihad newspaper, stressing that this memorandum will provide media coverage and wide publicity of the initiative given the extensive base of Aletihad newpaper readers and followers in the UAE in particular and throughout the Arab World in general.

Al Zubaidi pointed out that this kind of humanitarian initiatives will have great impact on the children of the targeted group, stressing that the Foundation is keen to grant the wishes of these children and deliver their humanitarian message in cooperation with the relevant competent authorities related to the UAE. The foundation’s activities are not confined to the UAE, as it tries to reach out to sick children throughout the Arab world and bring happiness to as much of them as it can.

It is worth noting that the Make-a-Wish Foundation in the UAE is the only branch of the foundation in the Arab World that is affiliated with the international foundation. The wife of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Advisor to H.H. the President of the UAE, Sheikha Sheikha Bint Saif Al Nahyan, is the honorary chairperson of the foundation which was created to draw joy and happiness in the hearts of children with chronic life threatening diseases, and fulfil their wishes.