UPS (NYSE:UPS) UAE, as part of its plan to raise awareness on autism, today extended its support and contribution to the Dubai Autism Center (DAC), a non-profit organization that trains and nurtures autistic children between the ages of 2 to 16 years. Autism is a developmental disorder that affects a child’s mental growth and social interaction abilities.
Aimed at helping the DAC better utilize its resources, UPS will provide international and domestic shipping services free-of-charge to the organisation for a period of one year. The DAC also will be using UPS’s free shipping software, UPS WorldShip, a PC-based, industry-leading shipping software which will allow the center to reduce overhead costs and streamline its shipping processes with their suppliers and the community. In addition to these shipping services, UPS staff also will be volunteering their time at the center.
Mohammad Al Emadi, Director General and Board Member of the DAC said, “The DAC is a non-profit organization that relies on funds and donations from companies and individuals. All the contributions, whether in cash or kind, go toward educating the students and equipping them with the skills needed to function and excel in the real world. UPS’s contribution will help us better synchronize our delivery needs and stay connected to our suppliers and the larger community.”
“Autism and its related disorders are issues that may not be widely understood in the Gulf and Arab world. However, when a global company like UPS comes forward and supports our endeavors, we are confident that a greater level of awareness is created about autism and our work at the DAC,” Al Emadi concluded.
John Tansey, Country Manager, UPS UAE LLC, added, “At UPS, we hold community service to be a fundamental part of our organization, especially in the field of education. We believe that every child, irrespective of nationality, family background, intellectual and learning capabilities, has the right to basic education.”
Autism is a complex lifelong developmental disorder that affects individuals in the areas of social interaction and communication. A disorder that affects predominantly males, autism affects an estimated 10 to 20 of every 10,000 people. Early intervention has been shown to produce positive changes in skill and behaviour deficits associated with autism.
The DAC is committed to empowering autistic children and their families, offering courses in conventional academics, speech, occupational, music and play therapy in its curriculum.
“In this regard, we feel that the DAC is doing a commendable job of nurturing young minds, helping them to realize their potential and enabling talents. By donating our services and time, we hope to contribute to the goals of the DAC and the achievements of its students,” Tansey concluded.
UPS UAE coordinates a number of corporate social responsibility efforts throughout the year, culminating in its participation in UPS’s annual Global Volunteer Week (GVW). Late last year, more than 45 UPS volunteers took part in local GVW activities, staging a full day clean-up operation of the Jumeirah Beach coastline, which included removing rubbish and enhancing the overall environment of one of Dubai’s most popular tourist destinations. UPS UAE was recognized for their participation in the company-wide GVW and the photographs taken at this event was awarded second prize in an internal competition. The award included a cash portion which was donated to the DAC.
About UPS
UPS is the world’s largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain services, offering an extensive range of options for synchronizing the movement of goods, information and funds. Headquartered in Atlanta, USA, UPS serves more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. UPS’s stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (UPS), and the company can be found on the web at www.ups.com.
