Bank on child artists getting creative
Crayons and markers are all children need to unleash their creativity, and underprivileged children helped by Po Leung Kuk did plenty of artistic unleashing at a Christmas party held by J.P. Morgan Private Bank.
This is the 10th year the bank has raised money to help the needy through Operation Santa Claus (OSC). Each year children taking part in activities at Po Leung Kuk, which supports education and other services, are invited to a Christmas party to play with children of the bank's employees.
Staff from all sections of the firm - including J.P. Morgan Hong Kong - have contributed effort and money to OSC, including a staff raffle.
At Monday's party, held at the private bank's office in Central, more than 30 children aged three to six put their heads down and drew pictures - which will be featured in a calendar sold to staff as part of their fund-raising effort.
'When the kids are at school, they are developing their IQ,' Michael Fung, chairman of J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Asia and senior country officer for J.P. Morgan Hong Kong, said. 'But we want to nurture their EQ [emotional quotient] and creativity outside school, and that's why we have an arts and crafts workshop for the kids this year.'
Fung said J.P. Morgan would continue to work with OSC because 'it is our hope that we can continue to fund organisations that are creating innovative programmes that increase social awareness and make a better Hong Kong today and for tomorrow'.
J.P. Morgan has launched a new charity initiative this year - sponsoring the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children, which serves the Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po communities. The firm continues to support The Women's Foundation in a mentorship programme for teenagers, and is the sole sponsor for the Asia Society Summer Film Series.
Fung says he strongly encourages his staff to donate money and use their skills and talent for a good cause. 'To have colleagues come out and volunteer to help the needy is a great way to build teamwork and cohesion,' Fung said. J.P. Morgan matches staff donations to OSC.
In another effort to raise funds for OSC this month, J.P. Morgan Private Bank employees will host a dumpling-eating contest, in which colleagues will sponsor participants for the number of dumplings they eat.
Jointly organised by the SCMP and RTHK, OSC has supported more than 100 charities since it was founded in 1988. This year, it will raise money for 16 Hong Kong charities.
How you can give
Donate online by credit card at osc.scmp.com;
Donations can be made at ATMs or at any branch of HSBC: account number 502-676299-001; for SCMP CHARITIES LTD - OPERATION SANTA CLAUS;
You can make a donation by cheque, payable to 'SCMP CHARITIES LTD - OPERATION SANTA CLAUS' and mail 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 would 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;
