As per the traditions of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, every year brings a focus on a new theme and 2017 has been announced to be the Year of Giving. In an effort to maximize the emphasis of the importance of the Year of Giving, the American University in the Emirates (AUE) has decided to work alongside Emirates Red Crescent, encouraging AUE students to donate items of clothing, food, electronics and anything they can spare for those in need as part of the Goodness Campaign. To open the doors of the Goodness Campaign, honoring guest Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Al Kubaisi and Director of Emirates Red Crescent, H.E. Mohammed Al Zarouni, visited AUE to speak about the many efforts of the UAE around the world in charitable giving. They sighted that the UAE is now the third in the world of international aid and its efforts span from the East to the West of the globe. Putting in place the Goodness Campaign in the first month of the year has placed AUE in the leader board as being the first university in the UAE to contribute to the vision of the leaders of the United Arab Emirates for the Year of Giving. Speaking on behalf of the University, AUE President and CEO, Professor Muthanna Abdul Razzaq, stressed the importance in such an initiative, “Our University seeks to not only graduate leaders but also open the eyes of its students to the wider world and its hardships.” This will not be the first time AUE extends its hand of generosity and awareness. For the past 10 years the University has offered various types of scholarships within its six Colleges to international students, especially those who come from war torn countries, as well as those who have UAE martyred families.