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Societe Generale raised over EUR 115,000 in 2015 charity bike ride

Over 100 Societe Generale employees from Asia Pacific cycled across Mongolia and the event raised over EUR 115,000 for local charity partners in the Asia Pacific region.

The 6th instalment of the annual Asia Pacific Bike Ride Challenge took place over three days from September 26 to 28 in the mountainous terrain of the Gorkhi-Terlj national park in Mongolia. Parts of the donation this year will also go to the Tsolmon Ireedui Foundation to support children in Mongolia.

Frank Drouet, Head of Global Markets for Asia Pacific at Societe Generale, who was a member of the cycling team, said: “The annual Asia Pacific Bike Ride Challenge has become a significant fixture in Societe Generale’s calendar. We are delighted to see the enthusiasm from the participants and are grateful for the generosity of the supporters, amid challenging conditions this year where we experienced four seasons in one day.  Together, we live out our team spirit and show our commitment and responsibility towards such a great cause.”

Societe Generale’s annual bike ride is part of the bank’s ongoing charitable initiatives throughout the region and has enjoyed success in China, Cambodia, Japan, Korea and Taiwan in the past years.

Joji Hiratsuka, Chairman at Nadia NPO in Japan, one of the 2015 recipient charities, said: “Thanks to the proceeds from Societe Generale’s bike ride in Tokyo last year, Nadia was able to build a new playground at a Fukushima elementary school as well as organize a football tournament bringing together eight schools from Tokyo and the Tohoku region, offering children in Tohoku some joyful leisure time, where the earthquake happened in 2011.”

Mr. Pengju Qi, Operations director of North District at Adream in China, also commented: “Societe Generale was Adream’s first institutional donor and has provided continuing support for Adream since 2008. Over 2.5 million yuan has been raised through both the annual bike and other charity events organized by Societe Generale, which benefited over 20,000 students and teachers in 23 Adream centers across 8 provinces and autonomous regions.”

The Bank has rolled out community engagement efforts globally to support philanthropic, humanitarian and local community causes. Its social and charitable activities fall into three categories: Citizen Commitment, in which it partners with social and charitable organizations; Cultural Patronage, which focuses on support for classical music and contemporary art; and Sports Sponsorship, which supports the development and practice of rugby, golf and disabled sports.