Fundraising Exceeds Initial Goal with 3.3 Billion Won Raised Over 3 Months Until the 14th
Residents from All Walks of Life Including Individuals, Companies, Seniors, and Disability Pension Recipients Unite in Support
Despite Difficult Circumstances, Helping Hands Continue, Making Nowon a Warm Welfare City with Sharing
Nowon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that the ‘2024 Hope Ondol Warm Winter Campaign’ successfully concluded by raising 3.3 billion KRW, exceeding the initial target amount.
The fundraising event was held over three months from last November, starting with the unveiling of the Love Temperature Tower, until the 14th of this month. As a result, it raised 3.3 billion KRW, surpassing the target of 3.28 billion KRW, achieving a Love Temperature of 100°.
Donations were received from various sectors including residents, organizations, companies, and religious groups, totaling 2,065 cases. The funds and goods are provided to low-income households with incomes below 120% of the median income who face housing and livelihood instability due to sudden unemployment or financial difficulties, neighbors with illnesses who cannot receive proper treatment, and low-income youth in need of tuition support.
The district plans to send letters of appreciation to all donors who participated in the fundraising to help establish a spirit of sharing and a culture of donation within the community, and will hold a performance report meeting.
Since participating in the Warm Winter fundraising campaign in 2012 and steadily increasing the amount raised each year, Nowon-gu has been selected as an excellent autonomous district for fundraising for four consecutive years since 2019. In November 2023, it was also awarded the 10th Love Fruit Grand Prize ‘Hope Award’ in recognition of its efforts.
Last year’s 2023 Warm Winter campaign raised 3.88 billion KRW, of which 3.04 billion KRW worth of goods were immediately distributed to welfare facilities and vulnerable households in need. The 840 million KRW in cash donations have so far been used in welfare projects for about 1,000 households, including livelihood, medical care, housing, education, and emergency relief expenses.
Heartwarming stories have also been shared throughout the district. Jeong Gu-sun (65), who lives in Sanggye 3 and 4-dong, operates the ‘Parangsae Mart’ where she repairs and washes clothes donated by neighborhood residents and sells them, donating the proceeds. Over the past year, Jeong donated 1 million KRW to Nowon-gu from the money earned by selling used clothes. This warm-hearted practice of selling used clothes to donate has been ongoing for eight years.
The family of Lee Jae-ryeon, who ran a recycling center in Nowon-gu for 25 years and passed away in 2019 due to a chronic illness, donated 50 million KRW in accordance with his will to “return part of his assets to the local community.”
Additionally, SB Global Healthcare (Chairman Lee Sang-bong, CEO Lee Seung-hyun) has maintained a relationship with Nowon-gu since 2022, continuously donating over 4 million Ibana-ri health masks worth approximately 2.5 billion KRW to support low-income vulnerable groups. In particular, they assist with delivery services for low-income elderly and disabled households with mobility difficulties, repaying the love they have received from the public through social contributions.
Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “I sincerely thank everyone who participated in the fundraising for the community and neighbors despite the difficult economic situation caused by high inflation and economic downturn,” adding, “We will carefully ensure that the donors’ intentions and warm hearts are fully passed on so that warmth can be delivered throughout Nowon-gu.”
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