Kuala Lumpur, 17 July 2010 - Spurring the community to donate more than just paint, AkzoNobel, the world’s largest paints and coatings company kicked off the second phase of its Dulux Paint Bank educational and empowerment campaign with the repainting of CADS Enhancement Centre, a non-profit NGO which caters to students with learning disabilities.

CADS Enhancement Centre is the first of four homes that AkzoNobel has committed to restore with collections from the Dulux Paint Bank campaign. The other homes include Rumah Kanak-kanak Sinar Suria, Pahang; Children Protection Society Penang; and The Spastic Children’s Association of Johore.

"At AkzoNobel, we believe strongly in demonstrating sustainable actions in our business operations," said Mr. CW. Goh, Managing Director, ICI Paints Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. "We know that sustainability goes a long way, playing a huge impact for the future generation, and programmes such as Dulux Paint Bank gives us an opportunity to make a difference. We are very pleased to be able to bring some colourful cheer to the staff and children at CADS Enhancement Centre," he added.

Comprising AkzoNobel employees and volunteers from EcoKnights, a non-profit environmental organisation dedicated to provide outreach programmes to communities and corporate players, more than 70 painters took time off their weekends to help repaint the school’s exterior and interior walls and ceiling. Also present was Dulux ambassador Maya Karin, casting aside her celebrity status to pitch in with the restoration efforts.

"I am passionate about giving back to the community, and in this case, the homes for these children because they provide invaluable service to disadvantaged Malaysians. I admire the work that they do, so being able to lend a helping hand in little ways can make a difference," said Karin.

Launched by AkzoNobel last month, Dulux Paint Bank is an educational and empowerment campaign which aims to raise awareness on the proper methods of paint disposal. It offered consumers a free and environmentally-friendly alternative to dispose their unused or leftover paint through five paint collection points located at selected Tesco hypermarkets in Peninsular Malaysia from 11 June – 11 July. For each litre donated by the public, AkzoNobel would match the deposit up to a potential maximum of 20,000 litres to be used for the repainting and restoration work of the four homes.

"The repainting campaign gives us an opportunity to help in building and restoring the community, which in turn allows the centres to do what they do best: provide a secure place for the children to grow. It is rewarding for us to know that our commitment in restoring these homes for these children will serve its purpose for their future," added Goh.

The CADS Enhancement Centre has 21 students under its care, ranging from five to 14-year-olds that have special educational needs such as dyslexia, autism, Down’s syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy. The centre is a crucial learning environment for these children to develop and hone their motor and cognitive skills that could help them as they grow. Students are taught basic subjects such as Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mathematics, Science, Living Skills, Occupational Therapy as well as Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for selected students.

"The centre requires about RM1,300 for the cost of a student, half of which is subsidized by donations from organizations and the public. With the repainting campaign, the centre has benefited from the newly painted hall, lounge, gymnasium, occupational therapy room as well as the exterior area of the centre," said Ms. Azura Binti Abdul Aziz, principal of CADS Enhancement Centre, who has been with the centre for 11 years.