A child motorcycle helmet donation ceremony took place in Hanoi today on the occasion of the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Charles H. Rivkin’s visit. Co-organized by AIG Vietnam Insurance Company, this is the first event to take place under the new partnership between AIP Foundation and the U.S. Department of State and is one of many that supports the 20^th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Vietnam.

Under the partnership, AIP Foundation will work with U.S. corporate sponsors to organize events and helmet donations for at-risk schools supporting the pre-existing Helmets for Kids program. The partnership aims to provide road safety education and helmets to 25,000 children throughout Vietnam.

In 2000, former President Bill Clinton launched Helmets for Kids in Ho Chi Minh City. Fifteen years ago at the 20 October Kindergarten, the location of today’s ceremony, then-Senator John Kerry launched the program in Hanoi.

Assistant Secretary of State Rivkin participated in a symbolic helmet handover at the event that represents the U.S.-Vietnam shared vision of a safer future for its children. Helmets were distributed to all 671 students and teachers. Distinguished guests included AIG CEO Ms. Susan Loftus; Deputy Executive Chairman of Vietnam’s National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC) Dr. Khuat Viet Hung; President of AIP Foundation Mr. Greig Craft; and members of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham). Representatives from the Ministry of Education and Training, Ministry of Public Security, Hanoi’s Department of Education and Training (DoET), and Traffic Safety Committee were also among distinguished guests.

View the press release here.

View more photos here.