PRESS RELEASE
Bankers will come together for blood donation and encourage others
Budapest, October 2, 2023
For the 4th time, the Hungarian Banking Association and the domestic banking sector are organizing the Banking Blood Donors Week. This year, the Hungarian National Bank has also joined the GOOD DEED Bank program, in which hundreds of central bank employees, along with sector-wide support, will provide thousands of blood products together with bankers to draw attention to acts of goodwill that heal and save lives.
One of the traditional events of the GOOD DEED Bank initiative is the Banking Blood Donors Week. Within this program, bank employees donate blood to ensure a continuous supply of blood products needed for healthcare. The Banking Blood Donors Week will once again take place as a two-week event, with blood donation stations set up at 14 locations in Budapest and 2 locations in the countryside. The blood collected from hundreds of units will assist in the recovery of thousands of patients.
Leaders of the Hungarian National Bank (MNB) and several ministries are participating in the Banking Blood Donors Week. István Nagy, Minister of Agriculture, who is also a regular blood donor, personally greeted the blood donors at the opening event. István Nagy explained that in Hungary, annually, half a million units of blood are needed for safe blood supply, requiring around half a million voluntary blood donors. The participation of 1600-1800 blood donors daily contributes to maintaining a safe blood supply. Therefore, as a regular blood donor, he encourages everyone to join and help others recover. Be part of the community that can make a difference and save lives – the minister encouraged. He thanked the bank leaders and employees for their selfless donations and blood donations to aid the recovery of sick people. Together, through collaboration, we can achieve something truly valuable.
At the opening event held at CIB Bank, Kandrács Csaba, Deputy Governor of the MNB, participated as a blood donor leader. He emphasized in his speech that in the past year, MNB employees have performed nearly 1000 blood donations, saving the lives of around 3000 compatriots. The fact that Hungarian commercial banks announce and organize the GOOD DEED BANK - Banking Blood Donors Week year after year proves that the sector and its supervision not only contribute their blood but also allocate their financial resources and time for corporate social responsibility. This includes support for not only blood donation but also other educational, customer education, or consumer protection programs.
In his speech, Barnabás Virág, Deputy Governor of the MNB, highlighted the importance of social solidarity. Selfless acts of kindness, such as blood donation, are not only fundamental building blocks of our societies but also shining examples of the responsibility we take for each other. He expressed his gratitude to all those who support the recovery of others through blood donation and hoped that more and more people would follow the example of the banking community.
Nagy Sándor, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Blood Supply Service, expressed his gratitude for the unwavering and even expanding blood donation activity of the banking sector and hoped that this remarkable example would inspire other sectors to engage in blood donation.
Jelasity Radovan, President of the Banking Association, stated the goal of achieving a new record in the number of blood donor donors during Banking Blood Donors Week. Jelasity Radovan is a regular blood donor himself, having already donated blood 40 times. His exemplary commitment was acknowledged with a certificate by Dr. Andrea Matusovits Bayerné, Director-General of the National Blood Supply Service, who thanked him.
Banking Blood Donors Week is not only taking place in Budapest but also in several other locations throughout the country. With the coordination of the National Blood Supply Service and the assistance of the Hungarian Red Cross, banking employees can sign up for blood donation in Nyíregyháza and Békéscsaba, as well as at blood donation centers.
Last year, as part of Banking Blood Donors Week, the Hungarian Banking Association announced a poster design competition to draw attention to the importance of blood donation through the works of young artists from the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design.
Richárd Lévai, CEO of the largest laboratory diagnostic service provider in Hungary and Europe, announced at the event that they will display blood donation promotional posters in all of their nearly 100 blood collection and laboratory units throughout Hungary, further promoting blood donation.
The members of the banking sector, under the auspices of the Hungarian Banking Association, united under one flag during the coronavirus pandemic. The GOOD DEED Bank initiative was born, which is the joint CSR program of the banking sector. The GOOD DEED Bank supports initiatives where collective action is essential for success, such as blood donation during Banking Blood Donors Week. The activities of the GOOD DEED Bank were recognized with the Mastercard "2021 Social Initiative" special award. One of the most important events of the GOOD DEED Bank is Banking Blood Donors Week, which is...
