Operation Santa Claus raises more than HK$15 million for charities
The donation drive wraps up looking back at 30 years of giving, collecting more than HK$260 million for more than 250 groups since its beginning
Reaching out to 14 charities in Hong Kong, including groups that offer support for at-risk students and the elderly, the annual campaign culminated in the festive closing gala in Central on Tuesday night.
This came after around 80 fundraising events were held across the city under the theme of “changing lives for good” throughout a 65-day period from mid-November 2017 to mid-January 2018, collecting HK$15,154,186 (US$1.94 million).
MBA students prove they mean business when it comes to raising money for charity
The charity drive raised HK$16 million for 23 charities in the previous instalment.
Revellers including representatives of donors and beneficiaries celebrated Operation Santa Claus 2017 amid performances by a team of opera singers led by tenor Tomos Griffiths at the campaign’s closing ceremony. Operation Santa Claus 2017 Ambassador Gin Lee filled the occasion with warmth by singing You’ve Got a Friend.
Leung Ka-Wing, head of broadcasting at RTHK, described the charity campaign as a “home-grown success story”. “Over the last three decades, we have raised more than HK$260 million to support more than 250 charities,” he said. “Thousands of lives have been improved as a result.”
Gary Liu, CEO of the Post, said: “I’m inspired by the city, by the passion that you guys all have to serve the needy.”