Yangon, Myanmar, 31 May 2018 – Grab, the leading ride hailing platform in Myanmar and in Southeast Asia, today hosted a donation ceremony to present a cash donation of MMK 15,752,000 (USD 11,616) as well as school supplies to Shwe Gone Daing Residential Nursery. Of the cash donation amount, Grab contributed MMK 6,780,000 (USD 5,000), while Grab passengers donated MMK 8,972,000 (USD 6,616) through their GrabRewards points which was converted by Grab into cash. The ceremony was held this morning at the orphanage which is run by the Department of Social Welfare under the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.

To usher in the Thingyan Festival and Myanmar New Year, Grab initiated the fundraising campaign from 23 April 2018 to 17 May 2018 and invited Grab users to participate by making donations through their GrabRewards points. GrabRewards points are earned when a passenger takes a GrabTaxi ride in Yangon. This fundraising campaign was successful in bringing together Grab users to raise the cash amount donated to Shwe Gone Daing Residential Nursery which currently nurtures 92 orphaned children aged up to 10 years old.

Said Alvin Loh, Acting Country Head, Grab Myanmar, “Grab is invested not only in supporting the development of Myanmar’s transport sector and improving the lives of our driver-partners and passengers. We are also invested in giving back to different community groups. We are proud that the Grab passenger community has joined us to raise this notable donation amount in such a short period of time for the children at Shwe Gone Daing Residential Nursery. Such campaigns promote empowerment of the community and are also very inspiring for our staff, driver-partners and passengers to be personally involved in enriching the lives of others. In addition to the cash donation, Grab is donating school supplies for students of the orphanage to use during the upcoming academic year.”

This morning’s ceremony saw introductory greetings made by Alvin Loh and Daw Khin Yu Dar Yee, Officer of the Shwe Gone Daing Residential Nursery. The cash donation amount was then announced by the Grab team. Following that, they presented the gifts of school supplies and lunch to the children at the orphanage and spent time to engage with them.

“We truly appreciate the donation by Grab Myanmar and all Grab passengers. At Shwe Gone Daing Residential Nursery, we provide welfare services to take care of children through early childhood development and we also offer primary education for those aged five to ten years old. The cash donation and school supplies donated by Grab will go a long way towards bringing positive impact and smiles to our group of children”, said Daw Khin Yu Dar Yee.

Khaing Yamone, a Senior Manager and Grab platinum member who has participated in this donation said, “With just a few simple taps in the Grab app, it is easy for passengers to contribute to Grab’s charity fundraising campaigns. I am so happy that Grab invited me as a representative of Grab passengers to attend today’s ceremony. We wish the children at Shwe Gone Daing Residential Nursery happiness and future success.”

Grab encourages all passengers to visit their GrabRewards catalogue in the Grab app regularly to redeem special discounts and benefits as well as support charity fundraising campaigns. At present, Grab passengers can also convert their points into donations to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to raise additional funds for supporting vulnerable communities, including those affected by disasters. Grab passengers can make a donation starting at MMK 500 in exchange for 230 GrabRewards points.

For more information about GrabRewards, visit https://www.grab.com/mm/hello_grabrewards/ and for more information about Grab Myanmar, visit http://www.grab.com  orwww.facebook.com/GrabMM.