Time has come to get giving again as Operation Santa Claus begins
Operation Santa Claus launches 25th annual charity appeal, after record HK$17.5 million in 2011
It may be too early to be singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town, but Operation Santa Claus is already in town, and it's time for giving and sharing.
The annual charity appeal, one of the largest in the city, is celebrating its 25th anniversary and was officially launched last night at a gala dinner in Admiralty.
Jointly organised by the South China Morning Post and RTHK, Operation Santa Claus (OSC) has been sharing Christmas goodwill since 1988, and the campaign has raised a total of more than HK$170 million for more than 150 charitable projects.
This year, OSC will raise funds for 18 organisations. Their appeals for money to help specific projects were chosen from around 100 proposals by a panel of judges from the Post, RTHK and donor representatives.
Children with rare diseases and victims of domestic violence victims will be among those to benefit this year.
Last night marked the start of a cycle of festive fundraising. Special events to celebrate the OSC's silver jubilee this year include a Santa on the Beach sports day and Santa's Silver Auction.
Lunch with Jackie Chan, a private performance by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra's concertmaster and cellist and a fun drawing by the Post's very own cartoonist Harry Harrison are all up for grabs in the auction, organised by RTHK Radio 3. Bidding, via the RTHK website, opens this week and closes on December 17.