Schools which make donations to Hong Kong's largest annual community-based charity drive will have their names on the Operation Santa Claus Christmas Tree this year. Now in its 17th year, Operation Santa Claus is organised by the South China Morning Post and RTHK.
As in the past, corporate donors who contribute a designated sum will have their company logo on the Operation Santa Claus Christmas Tree, which will appear every day in the SCMP next month. It tracks the day-by-day progress of the fund-raising effort. This year, schools will have their own Operation Santa Claus Christmas Tree, which will appear in Young Post.
The tree will give a daily update of the total amount of money raised by schools for this year's 12 beneficiaries - Hong Kong Alzheimers' Association, Breakthrough Rugby, Children's Institute, Direct Association for Handicapped, Enlighten for Epilepsy, Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Richmond Fellowship, Riding for the Disabled, Spastics' Association, Society for Hospice Care, Hong Kong Youth Arts Festival and Society for the Deaf.
A Christmas card design competition, organised by Canadian International School, raised more than $15,000. The cards, at $80 per pack, were sold at the school's Family Fun Fair on November 7.The school will also make arrangements for students and parents to buy the cards in designated Central offices. The public is welcome to place orders at 2525 7088 until December 17.
Melody Lee Miao-shi, one of the students who designed the cards, has even written a jingle to boost sales. 'My friends and I were singing at the Christmas cards booth to attract attention,' said the Grade Eight student. 'Operation Santa Claus is a meaningful event that gets students involved in charity.'
