Media Release
Dubai, May 23: Fortune Group of Hotels, a Praveen Shetty Enterprise organized a blood donation drive on May 22 at Fortune Plaza Hotel, Al Qusais, here. This is the fourth year in succession that Fortune Group of Hotels has been successfully organizing the blood donation camp in the city.
This drive is an annual event hosted by the members of the Fortune family to commemorate the wedding anniversary of Sarojini and Narayan Shetty; the proud parents of Praveen Shetty, chairman - Fortune Group of Hotels. This year being their 53rd wedding anniversary.
It aims at spreading awareness amongst the community on the importance of blood donation and how a drop of blood donated can be instrumental in saving life.
This year, Rahul Shewale - Lok Sabha member (from Mumbai south central constituency) was chief guest of the occasion. He inaugurated the blood donation camp 2018 by lighting the lamp.
Praveen Shetty, Chairman – Fortune Group of Hotels warmly welcomed Rahul Shewale. Shewale began by wishing 'Ramadan Kareem' to everyone and thanked the executive committee members of Karnataka NRI Forum, his friends, well-wishers and the Fortune staff members for coming in large numbers and making this blood donation camp successful as it is necessary for the global community to indulge more and more in community service.
He also added, "In UAE, this year has been declared as the 'Year of Zayed' and we get to learn a great deal of human values that 'the Father of the Nation' displayed throughout his life in creative and interactive ways. We are very proud to be part of this drive for giving the best gift that any human can to save another life. Each one of you is our best ambassador and influencer in the community. Your contribution will ensure a sustainable supply of safe blood for transfusion needs. It must become a way of life at Fortune."
Shewale then addressed the gathering by wishing everyone 'Ramadan Mubarak' and spoke on the importance of blood donation. He also thanked and appreciated the efforts of Fortune Group of Hotels for donating the best gift to the community.
He said, “As member of Shiv Sena, I am very proud that my party holds the Guinness Book of World Records for collecting maximum blood in a day — 24,200 bottles — at a blood donation camp organized by the party at NSE Ground in Goregaon (East) some years back.
“Blood connects us even though we may come from different backgrounds, race, religion, country or creed, but the color of the blood is the same. One's selfless act of giving blood, not only saves lives, but is also a multiplier-for-good in the community. I congratulate the efforts of Indians and the Indian business community in the Middle East who are doing such a great job by representing the true value of India away from their motherland.
"Last but not least, I wish the proud parents on this joyous occasion and pray that they get to celebrate this day together for many more years to come."
Fortune Group of Hotels also recognized the efforts of Bala Krishna who was instrumental in organizing the blood donation camps for the Karnataka community, not only this time, but all across UAE in the past.
Shetty in his word of thanks said, “Blood donation is our human duty. Our body does not get affected if we donate blood. The body can repair the loss within a few days. So we must come forward to donate blood as it can certainly bring back a dying man to the light of life.” He thanked the efforts of all involved in organizing the event, blood donors and the team of doctors, nurses and staff from Latifa Hospital – Blood Donation Center, here.