Zain takes Mandela’s day to Radio City

Zain Group has announced the sponsorship of this year’s Mandela’s Day celebration in New York’s Radio City Music Hall on July 18.

The telecom operator said the event has been planned in honour of Dr. Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday and designed to raise funds for his foundations.

The concert, which will feature some of the world’s most famous musicians, hence a call for people around the world to celebrate Mandela’s inspiration, values and establish the date in global calendar as one dedicated to ‘celebrating the idea that each individual has the ability to make an imprint and make the world a better place’.

Celebrating the idea ‘that each individual has the ability to make an imprint and make the world a better place’ a press statement from Zain read.

It also stated that performances by renowned African and American artists with the support of world figures, is expected worldwide viewership of over one billion.

Staged by 46664 – a foundation named after Mandela’s Robben Island prison number which championed his humanitarian work - with the support of the Nelson Mandela Foundation charitable organisations.

“It is also an occasion for many of the world’s most powerful and instantly recognizable figures to pay their tributes to one of the world’s most loved leaders, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and icon of freedom, Nelson ‘Madiba’ Mandela, as he turns 91 this year,” it further read.

As famous actor Robert De Niro said, “When Nelson Mandela speaks we all must listen.”
While announcing the sponsorship Zain Group chief executive, Dr. Saad Al Barrak noted that Mandela is an iconic statesman whose sacrifice and leadership has had an enormous impact on humanity.

“Honoring him by raising funds for his foundation is in line with Zain’s global ambitions and corporate social responsibility philosophy,” he said.

Zain was also one of the main sponsors of Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations that were held on July 1, 2008 in London’s Hyde Park and Zain customers across Africa raised more than US$ 85,000 for the Nelson Mandela Foundation through a fundraising competition, during which members of the public were invited to Short Messaging Services (SMS) their birthday greetings to the former South African president.

International Director of 46664, Mr. Tim Massey said, “Mandela Day is about creating a movement for positive change and establishing one day to reflect upon, celebrate and make manifest the values that guide Nelson Mandela.”

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