Bulbank announced today the intention of the Bank to support Bulgarian Christmas initiative of President Parvanov for the second consecutive year.

The announcement was made during the opening ceremony of Children Haemodialisis Clinic in Sofia that was jointly supported last year by the Bank and the Bulgarian Christmas Initiative. Bulbank and Bulgarian Christmas donated sufficient funds for reconstruction of the premises and purchase of all needed medical equipment for the normal work of this important unit of Children Hospital in Sofia. The total amount of donations for the Clinic exceeded EUR 100 000.

"Bulbank decided this year to devote sufficient financial resources, initially purposed for Christmas presents to its clients, to support once again the Bulgarian Christmas Initiative of President Parvanov. We are certain our clients will be happy to be indirectly contributing to this important initiative and to know they have played a significant role in future projects. The completion of the Hemodialisis Clinic will provide access to proper treatment for lots of children in need. It was also important for us to integrate the support already provided by Unidea (Charity Foundations, set up by Unicredito) to ensure the full completion of such effort. We are sincerely proud that Bulbank and its clients could support the Bulgarian Christmas Initiative launched by President Parvanov." - Mr. Hampartzoumian, Chairman of the MB and CEO of Bulbank said.

Unidea

Unidea - UniCredit Foundation was established as a private foundation in March 2003, thanks to the express desire of UniCredit. The Foundation received official recognition in May 2003. It is an autonomous organization that both plans and sustains intervention in the area of solidarity and co-operation on development in Italy and abroad. Unidea is an especially innovative institution for Italy: a private, non-profit foundation, rather far removed from the more widespread type of banking-related foundations.

The Foundation's main priority is to improve human skills and abilities at a professional and cultural level, so as to help countries and communities living in poverty to develop processes of civil and economic growth. Unidea is an "acting" type of foundation. That means it acts directly, or possibly in co-operation with third party institutions, to conceive, prepare, assess, manage and monitor a given project.