The Governor of Riyadh honors philanthropists through the Ihsan platform on behalf of the Crown Prince
Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and on his behalf, His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh, honored individual and organizational philanthropists through the Ihsan Platform for Charitable Work on Friday evening. This took place during the fourth annual awards ceremony held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh, in the presence of several ministers, senior officials, and a large gathering of business leaders and philanthropists, in recognition of their generous contributions and support for charitable projects across the Kingdom.
Royal patronage reflects the leadership's concern
Upon his arrival at the venue, His Royal Highness the Prince of Riyadh was received by His Excellency Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the National Platform for Charitable Work (Ihsan), and His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince – may God protect them – for their unwavering support of charitable work, emphasizing that the Crown Prince's patronage of this event embodies the wise leadership's commitment to strengthening the values of social solidarity and encouraging philanthropy.
Digital transformation and the journey of giving at the Ihsan platform
This recognition comes amidst a qualitative leap in the Kingdom's non-profit sector, with the Ihsan platform as a pioneering model for digital transformation in charitable work, spearheaded by the Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). The platform was established to promote transparency and reliability in donations and facilitate the delivery of aid to those in need with the highest standards of efficiency. These efforts align with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to increase the non-profit sector's contribution to the GDP and cultivate a culture of volunteerism and charitable giving across all segments of society.
"Buds of Kindness" initiative to instill values
The ceremony witnessed the launch by His Royal Highness the Prince of Riyadh of the "Buds of Charity" initiative, a strategic step aimed at instilling the values of giving in young people. The initiative allows children to explore areas of charitable work and choose donation opportunities themselves in a simple and interactive way under the supervision of their families, thus contributing to raising a generation aware of its social responsibility and imbued with a culture of generosity and benevolence from a young age.
Sustainable developmental impact through the endowment fund
In his address at the ceremony, Adeeb bin Abdullah Al-Zamil, Chairman of the Ihsan Endowment Fund Committee, highlighted the platform's sustainable impact, explaining that the endowment fund was established to transform donations from temporary support into a lasting and continuous force. Al-Zamil noted that total contributions to the fund have exceeded two billion riyals, representing 41% of its target, as the fund aims to reach five billion riyals in endowment assets. This figure reflects the significant trust the platform enjoys both locally and regionally, and its active role in supporting developmental, educational, and health initiatives, thus strengthening the social safety net in the Kingdom.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Royal Highness the Prince of Riyadh presented the “Ihsan Award” to leading charitable organizations, and honored major benefactors from individuals and companies. His Highness also received an endowment certificate from the platform in recognition of his efforts and continuous support for the charitable work movement.
