Over 1,400 employees have donated

Starting in March 2011, ICICI Foundation gave ICICI Bank employees the opportunity to save lives during the time it takes for a tea break. At the blood donation drive held at ICICI Bank corporate headquarters in Mumbai, employees were able to do their part to help bridge the gap between the nine million units of blood India requires every year and the seven million it collects.

The three-day blood donation drive drew an overwhelming response with over 600 employees donating. Based on this success, ICICI Foundation will be holding blood donation drives at other ICICI Group offices in India, beginning with more drives in the Mumbai metropolitan area.ICICI Foundation aims to organise the drives on a regular basis between May and August when most blood banks face shortages. Blood donation provides an ideal platform to engage employees and fulfill community needs since it can done in any location and only requires 15 minutes per donor. To date, almost 1,400 employees have donated blood.

To make all employees aware that blood donation is a safe and worthwhile practice, in the weeks leading up to the drive, ICICI Foundation shared information to dispel common myths and explain the realities of donating – it’s safe, easy, and every donation can save three lives.ICICI Foundation’s partnership with the State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) will ensure that every blood donation event meets the highest hygiene and comfort standards.
The responses of the participants are enthusiastic and inspirational. “The whole process was very well-managed and I felt reassured that my safety was given first priority, " said ICICI Bank employee Rahul Virkar. “I initially signed up to donate just because it was convenient for me but now that I know how important those 15 minutes were, I look forward to donating on a regular basis."

The blood donated by ICICI Bank’s employees will go to the SBTC’s premier blood bank, Mahanagar Rakthpedhi, which provides safe blood at the lowest price in Mumbai. Mahanagar Rakthpedi works to make blood accessible to people from all socio-economic backgrounds and regularly provides blood for free to 150 children with thalessaemia and sickle cell disease.

You don’t have to be an ICICI employee to contribute! Anyone can contact the Sir J.J. Mahanagar blood bank at 022-23735585 in Mumbai or the local blood banks in your city to find out about blood donation.

Employee Volunteering

Financial literacy for youth

ICICI Bank has recently begun an employee volunteering programme in which ICICI Bank employees lead financial literacy trainings to youth. ICICI Foundation has created customised and innovative learning materials for the 10-hour course that covers all the financial basics. The programme is currently underway in Mumbai and Jaipur.