Asiana passengers raise over $9.6 million for Unicef

MANILA, Philippines - Change for Good, the unique charity program of Asiana Airlines (OZ), has reached its 20th year, raising over US$9.6 million for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Asiana, Korea’s multi-awarded carrier, celebrated the milestone at its headquarters in western Seoul.

Asiana launched Change for Good in 1994, allowing passengers to donate any unwanted loose change of any currency at the end of their flight. Cabin crew would collect these donations and turn them over for counting. On its first year alone, the program resulted in over US$147,000 in donations to UNICEF. Asiana estimates that their international passengers have given over US$900,000 to the cause every year since.

Airline president and CEO Soo Cheon Kim, together with UNICEF executive director Jong Nam Oh and UNICEF Ambassador and Korean top actor Sung Ki Ahn led a ceremonial counting of the foreign currency donated.

“Change for Good is a remarkable donation program helping children in need around the world. We are deeply thankful to all our passengers who have participated in the campaign and support UNICEF to give children happiness all over the world,” Kim said.

The collected currency is regularly delivered to the UNICEF Korea Committee.

Coin donations have gone to helping children through UNICEF across Asia and Africa, especially those suffering from famine, malnutrition and lack of education.

Over the years, Asiana has collected heartwarming stories of charitable passengers. One anonymous Business Class passenger who heard of the program changed to Travel Class and donated the difference. Another passenger directly gave $10,000, while an elderly couple coming from a Southeast Asia trip donated their gold rings tied up with thread. Even child passengers have come up to give their piggybanks for Change for Good.

Asiana Airlines will continue to support Change for Good for the benefit of UNICEF. In the Philippines, the airline flies out of Manila, Clark and Cebu to their hub in Incheon International Airport. Asiana Airlines is a proud member of Star Alliance.