Big B honoured for supporting IFFI

Thursday, November 16, 2006
Mumbai, UNI: Superstar Amitabh Bachchan became the first Indian celebrity and the sixth in the world to be presented with a special certificate for his support to the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFI) in London last week.

The presentation coincided with the official announcement of the eighth annual International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend from June seven 2007 in Yorkshire which was made by Mr Bachchan, who is the IIFA brand ambassador, a press release issued here today said.

Presenting Mr Bachchan with the special certificate in the House of Common, Chancellor of the Exchequer at the Treasury, Gordon Brown, said ''The IIFA Weekend has my unprecedented support. The relationship between India and the UK is long standing and one we would like to keep developing forever''.

Mr Brown also extended his support to the upcoming IIFA Weekend in Yorkshire and congratulated Yorkshire for winning the IIFA Bid, the release said.

Mr Bachchan, who supports the UNICEF and the Pulse Polio Immunisation drive in India, said that the IFFIm had all his support and he would always help the cause in whichever way he could.

British Member of Parliament Keith Vaz, Chairman of Yorkshire Tourism Board Judith Donovan, CEO Yorkshire Forward Tom Roirdion and IIFA event managers Wizcraft attended the function, said the release.

IFFIm works by donors floating bonds from the commercial market.

Recognising the strong moral purpose underpinning IFFIm, representatives of the major faith groups including Pope Benedict XVI, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Chief Rabbi, the Muslim Council of Britain, the Hindu Forum of Britain and the Network of Sikh Organisations will each buy a bond, the first six of only ten to be issued, denominated at 1,000 sterling pounds, the release stated.

The IIFA also participates in numerous philanthropic activities for behind-the-scene workers of the Indian Film Industry.

One of the most significant activities of the IIFA Weekend is the IIFA Foundation Celebrity event - an event to raise funds for those who work behind- the- scene for making celluloid dreams come alive.

These artists work diligently and silently, and in unfortunate accidents, also hurt themselves or loose their lives in the course of filming.

The Indian Film fraternity, along with the IIFA Foundation bring rays of hope into the lives of these people and their families, the release added.

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