Santa's campaign ends on a high
Donations to Operation Santa Claus, which ends its public appeal today, have exceeded expectations.While the total raised by the annual holiday campaign will be announced at a special closing ceremony later this month, preliminary numbers indicate the 13 beneficiaries will receive all the funds sought for their much-needed programmes.
So far, HK$9,989,702 has been raised - surpassing the HK$8 million target - and donations are still coming in to the appeal, co-organised by the Post and RTHK. 'We've always had great confidence that people would dig deep to give, but frankly we're stunned at how much they gave, even in a tough year like this,' Post editor-in-chief Reginald Chua said. 'It really reminds you how generous Hong Kong really can be.'
As with all Operation Santa Claus campaigns, any additional money raised will also go to the charities.
Generosity has come from many sources. Schools and sponsors and civil servants have all contributed, as have corporations, sports enthusiasts and rock bands.
'There is a very real sense of community in the campaign,' Bryan Curtis, head of RTHK's English programme service, said. 'From small groups such as the Mad Dog Motorcycle Club and the Island Bar in Lamma to the large corporates, people have adopted OSC into their family.'
Even in the aftermath of the financial crisis, corporate sponsors rose to the occasion. 'Maybe I'm a dreamer, but the financial crisis has generated more interest in corporate social responsibility and charitable giving by the big institutions,' said Curtis, adding how impressed he was to see big sponsors also taking the time to visit the charities.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays Capital Asia, Deutsche Bank, J.P. Morgan, Macquarie, Morgan Stanley, RBS Coutts and UBS were all there to help, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for OSC.
Morgan Stanley set a record for largest single donation generated through a company event - its Directors' Choir raised HK$1.9 million.
A few years ago, Cathay Pacific converted a little more than HK$3 million in stock for 27 Operation Santa Claus charities during a period of shareholding realignment.
Other big surprises this year include a HK$1 million cheque from a family who wished to remain anonymous, and two HK$100,000 cheques from a pair of benevolent donors.
'I take my Santa's hat off again to the enormous dignity of the anonymous million-dollar donor, and to the two incredible individuals who sat down and coolly wrote out the HK$100,000 cheques,' Curtis said.
Also lending a hand were the Clifford Chance law firm, the police tactical unit, the Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, Manulife, Sino Group, Swire, FANCL, the Kowloon Shangri-La, Maxim's, The Link, Turner, Fong's Industries and the ZeShan Foundation. Other groups not to be forgotten include the Katterwall carollers, the Liechtenstein Princely Navy rowing team, the Santa Hash runners, and the 'Terrible Twins of Rock' promotion team.
Many thanks to the city's schoolchildren, including those from High West in Pok Fu Lam, the Discovery Mind Kindergarten, Shung Tak Catholic English College, St Mark's School and Hong Kong International School - Upper Primary School.
Special kudos to Wing Ding Squash Tournament co-ordinator Tim Everest and Five-a-Side Football Tournament organiser Brian Crockford for helping to bring out the best in our communities and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars. Last but not least, individual donors kept the cash rolling in throughout the appeal. Thanks to you all.
You can help make a difference
How you can give
Donate online by credit card at osc.scmp.com
Donations can be made by ATM or at any HSBC branches: a/c number 502-676299-001 for SCMP CHARITIES LTD - OPERATION SANTA CLAUS
You can donate by cheque, payable to 'SCMP CHARITIES LTD - OPERATION SANTA CLAUS' and mailed to:
Operation Santa Claus, Morning Post Centre, 22 Dai Fat Street, Tai Po Industrial Estate, New Territories, Hong Kong.
Donations of HK$100 or more are tax-deductible. If you'd like a tax receipt, please send the completed donation form and original bank receipt, with your name, address and phone number, to the address above
