UAE Consulate in New York Teams Up with NYC to Give Dozens of Winter Coats to Families in Need

NEW YORK – January 6, 2017 – The United Arab Emirates Consulate in New York donated dozens of new winter coats to children in need through the Department of Homeless Services, an agency committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City. The initiative, organized by the NYC Mayor’s Office for International Affairs and NYC Service, supports the UAE’s ongoing humanitarian efforts in the city and aligns with the country’s 2017 Year of Giving, declared by UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. 

“The UAE has made great strides in charitable and philanthropic works and it is necessary to open people up to the notion of giving back to society,” His Highness said in a statement to media. He further explained that the Year of Giving “focuses on enhancing the spirit of volunteering and encouraging specialized volunteer programs that will effectively assist in the social development and community services.

The New York Consulate purchased winter coats for children ages 7-16. The coats were delivered to families at shelter locations across the city.

“We’re proud to partner with NYC to support families in need,” His Excellency Majid Al-Suwaidi, Consul General of the UAE Consulate in New York said. “The winter coat project reinforces the UAE’s commitment to philanthropy and promotes our shared UAE-US interest and values.”

The New York Consulate is an active partner in the NYC civic community. Globally, the country is a major donor of foreign aid and claims the world’s second highest foreign development spending as a percentage of Gross National Income (GNI).