Crowne Plaza Dhaka Gulshan has raised Tk 12 lakh for Mojar School, which supports underprivileged children, through a series of charity initiatives in September as part of IHG Hotels & Resorts' Giving for Good Month 2026.

The cheque was formally handed over at the Joy of Giving Charity Dinner on 1 October, which brought together colleagues, guests, partners and supporters. Firoze Asad, Senior Group Advisor and Member of the Board of Doreen, Karthi VK, General Manager of Crowne Plaza Dhaka Gulshan, and Ashwani Nayar, Cluster General Manager of Crowne Plaza and InterContinental Dhaka Airport, handed it over to Arian Arif, Founder and Executive Director of Mojar School.

"What makes me particularly happy is that this has not been just one event," said Asad. "The team has created a meaningful journey of giving - Drops of Hope, the WOW Market, the Meaningful Charity Run, and now the Joy of Giving Dinner."

The contribution will support more than 200 underprivileged children by helping provide education, nutrition and essential support.

Karthi VK said the month showed what giving can become when it goes beyond a one-off effort. "Giving for Good becomes truly meaningful when it moves beyond a campaign and becomes a shared commitment," he said. "This month, our colleagues, partners, entrepreneurs, runners, guests and community members all found different ways to give back."

Under IHG's Journey to Tomorrow, the hotel turned September into a series of initiatives. It began with "Drops of Hope," a blood donation camp organised with the Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation. Nearly half of the hotel's employees donated blood, which could support 60 to 70 thalassemia patients and their families who depend on regular transfusions.

The second edition of W.O.W Market - Women of Worth and Wonder followed, bringing together 30 women-led businesses. Entrepreneurs, artisans and creators sold handwoven clothing, handmade products, jute and coconut-husk crafts, and homemade food. Each participant contributed Tk 3,000 towards their stall, and the full amount was donated to Mojar School. All sales went directly to the businesses.

Nayar, who is also Area General Manager and General Manager of InterContinental Dhaka, said the hotel's efforts were part of a global programme. "IHG Hotels & Resorts organises this Giving for Good week throughout all our 7,500 hotels worldwide on the same week," he said. "So these 'drops of hope' which our General Managers like Karthi and his wonderful team create actually translate into a lot more than a few drops when we look at the global impact that we are trying to create as a company."

Nayar also said that, with the first batch of Mojar School students graduating this year, the hotel group would consider it "a privilege and an honor" to offer internships or future opportunities to the graduates, whether at Crowne Plaza Dhaka Gulshan or its other hotels.

The month's next initiative was Run for Charity: Meaningful Marathon 2.0, a 5-kilometre run with more than 200 participants. They included hotel colleagues, corporate partners, community members, running enthusiasts and former Bangladesh national footballer Zahid Hasan Ameli. Each runner contributed Tk 1,500, raising more than Tk 3 lakh for the hotel's Giving for Good fundraising in support of Mojar School.

Hotel colleagues made personal contributions of Tk 1.5 lakh, which, together with the proceeds of the month's initiatives, brought the total to Tk 12 lakh.

At the dinner, Asad also recognised the work of Arif and the school's efforts to give children not only shelter and care but, more importantly, education and the opportunity for a better future.

Arif said this was the second time Crowne Plaza Dhaka Gulshan had organised the dinner for the school's children. "This financial contribution will play a major role in creating a long-term impact for our children," he said. "Mojar School has been working with a sustainable approach for the past 14 years."

The dinner also featured entertainment, including magician Saqlain Hossain and a comedy performance. Students of Mojar School presented a cultural performance. The programme ended with a vote of thanks, music and a buffet dinner.