Gangnam-gu, Campaign for a Warm Winter Fundraising 추진

From November 14, 3-Month Goal of 3.7 Billion KRW... First Donation of 100 Million KRW Worth of Clothing from Hanwha Galleria -
Since 2021, Kim Tae-su from Dogok 2-dong Donates 100 Million KRW Annually, Along with Appointment of 23 District Ambassadors -
Promoting Positive Influence Through Small Donations by Individual Donors Including Sharing Leader Enrollment Ceremony

Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jo Seong-myeong) unveiled the ‘Love Thermometer’ on the 15th and will conduct the ‘2024 Hope Ondol Warm Winter Campaign’ fundraising drive until February 14 next year.

This fundraising project is a public-private cooperative effort between Gangnam-gu and the Community Chest of Korea, allowing local residents, organizations, and businesses to participate in donations to help neighbors in need. The target amount for this year is 3.7 billion KRW, the same as last year. Last year, Gangnam-gu raised a record-high amount of 4.344 billion KRW (1.917 billion KRW in cash donations and 2.427 billion KRW in in-kind donations), achieving first place among autonomous districts and being selected as an excellent district by the Community Chest. This year, they hope the same spirit of sharing will continue.

There are two ways to donate: cash and in-kind donations. Cash donations can be made by depositing into the fundraising account number assigned to each district and then submitting a donation receipt to the Gangnam-gu Welfare Policy Division or the nearest community service center, which will forward it to the Seoul Community Chest of Korea. The collected cash and in-kind donations will be delivered to marginalized groups such as low-income families, people with disabilities, and elderly living alone who need a helping hand. Additionally, donations are eligible for tax deductions during year-end tax settlements with the National Tax Service.

The ‘Love Thermometer’ showcased at this unveiling ceremony reused last year’s digital signage-style thermometer, which was the first of its kind introduced by a local government. Anyone can donate by scanning the QR code on the screen and check the fundraising amount in real time. Hanwha Galleria (CEO Kim Young-hoon) participated as the first donor of the year at the unveiling ceremony, donating clothing worth approximately 100 million KRW and lighting up the Love Thermometer. The donated items will be distributed to low-income families through the Gangnam Food Support Center.

A notable point in this year’s fundraising campaign is the appointment of 23 promotional ambassadors by neighborhood to spread a grassroots donation culture. The ambassadors will promote sharing campaigns tailored to the characteristics of each neighborhood and encourage small donations. At the unveiling ceremony, a certificate of appointment was awarded to Kim Tae-su of Dogok 2-dong as a representative of the 23 ambassadors. Since 2021, Kim Tae-su has donated 100 million KRW annually, totaling 400 million KRW, and joined the Community Chest’s Honor Society as the 376th member in Seoul in February 2023. He currently serves as a director of the Gangnam Welfare Foundation and continues to practice a life of volunteering and sharing.

Furthermore, active encouragement is given to join the Sharing Leaders program. Sharing Leaders is a Community Chest program for individual donors who lead sharing practices in the local community. The district plans to designate Sharing Leaders centered around the neighborhood promotional ambassadors and promote small donations.

Jo Seong-myeong, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, said, “One act of sharing leads to another, creating a beautiful donation culture that warms the entire Gangnam-gu,” adding, “This year, we especially hope to further activate a grassroots sharing culture led by local residents to share hope and courage with low-income families.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.