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BEIJING, August 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 15, 2013, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)'s Representative to China Gillian Mellsop, HNA Group's EVP Zhu Weijun, Hainan Airlines' chairman Chen Ming and HNA Transforex Currency Exchange's president Hui Chengkun attended the signing and launching ceremony at Beijing Marriott Hotel Northeast for the "Change for Good" program, making Hainan Airlines the first mainland China-based carrier to join the "Change for Good" alliance.
The Hainan Airlines' chairman kicked off the event with a keynote speech: "With 20 years of experience behind it, Hainan Airlines is now able to give back to the community by providing five-star services on the back of a proven track record of safe operation. Hainan Airlines has now become the first mainland-based carrier to participate in UNICEF's 'Change for Good' program and we will continue to be deeply engaged and committed in improving the lives of children in China and other regions of the world. This marks a further step for us as we continue to strengthen our corporate social responsibility."
Gillian Mellsop indicated that Hainan Airlines is a model that can be followed by other companies, and UNICEF hopes that Hainan Airlines is successful in bringing more people on board to help improve the lives of children in China and other developing countries.
Under the terms of the long-term "Change for Good" cooperation agreement with UNICEF, Hainan Airlines plans to initially introduce the program on its Beijing-Haikou flights, then extend it to other domestic and international flights, as well as VIP lounges. The funds collected on Hainan Airlines flights will be directly delivered to UNICEF and every penny will be used to support children in need.
Launched in 1991, "Change for Good" is one of UNICEF's best-known, longest-running collection partnerships, designed to call for air passengers to voluntarily donate money to help implement its healthcare and welfare programs, aiming to improve the lives of children in over 150 developing countries across the world. Since 1993, Hainan Airlines has been committed to a wide range of public welfare programs, donating more than 800 million yuan (approx. US$130 million) in cash and in kind to various organizations, communities and individuals. The carrier will work to help improve the lives of children by implementing the "Change for Good" program with UNICEF.
