Honour the Goodness in our Community

Organisers of the Abu Dhabi Awards 2009 have revealed that more than 9000 nominations were cast by the general public during the first two weeks of the campaign. This is a 50% increase to the number of nominations received at the same point in last year’s campaign.

Held under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Abu Dhabi Awards reach out to the citizens and residents of the Emirate to identify and acknowledge the acts of goodness and selfless contributions of fellow residents.

There are ten days remaining in which to acknowledge an act of goodness with nominations closing on the 27th September.

Reflecting on the importance of nominating and how it impacts the wider community, and not just the recipient, 2008 Abu Dhabi Award recipient Dr Margit Muller explained: “Receiving the Award is a huge encouragement to do even more good for the community. It is an obligation, and not something to rest on. A community can only grow if everyone tries to contribute to it.”

While the Awards are an opportunity to recognise those whose actions have selflessly helped others, 2005 Awards recipient, BR Shetty, has a word of advice to those who want to make a difference to the community: “Do your job according to your conscience and don’t think of what you will get in return. I believe when you get a moment of goodness, consider it as an opportunity to invest. Because it is just like a simple give and take, the more you take care of God Almighty’s human, the more he will take care of you.”

Nomination booths across the Emirate are manned by Takatof volunteers, who have been helping people to complete their nomination forms. Meanwhile, Etisalat call centre staff has been receiving enquiries and faxed nomination forms. The website remains a popular means of submitting a nomination, receiving plenty of daily traffic.

Nominations can be registered in the following ways:

• Visit one of the 124 nominations stations located across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
• Stop a roving nomination station when you see one – look out for the Abu Dhabi Awards Smart Cars
• Visit the website: www.abudhabiawards.ae
• Fax a completed nomination form to 800 333000
• Post a completed nomination form to 44442 Abu Dhabi

The nomination period runs from 30th August to the 27th September, followed by an extensive judging process by a panel of senior government officials. Recipients will be announced at a ceremony in December to be held at the Emirates Palace, and televised on Abu Dhabi Al Oula the following day. For further information, please call 800 3331 or visit the website www.abudhabiawards.ae .