Investment bankers and footballers are appeal's top donors They are this year's top guns of Operation Santa Claus: Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch and organisers of the Five-a-side Football Tournament. Through their events, the three together added HK$3.46 million to this year's coffers, about 35 per cent of the target to make the lives of underprivileged people a little better next year. The official month-long campaign wraps up today, but contributions and a few more fund-raising events - to meet the goal of HK$10 million - will run until the closing ceremony on January 20. On December 5, the 11th Merrill Lynch Operation Santa Claus Golf Day at Xili Golf and Country Club in Shenzhen teed off a series of fund-raisers by the investment bank that raised HK$1 million. Just over a week later on December 14, the 11th Five-a-side Football Tournament for the appeal topped even its most optimistic expectations, raising HK$1.06 million. Twenty teams donated time, money and effort at the day-long competition at Stanley Fort. Four days later, Morgan Stanley sprang a surprise with a staggering HK$1.4 million, a record amid a year of dire financial predictions. Employees made competitive pledges via a company website to sponsor department heads and managing directors to sing in public as the Morgan Stanley Directors' Choir. The performance was held on December 18 at Elements Mall in Kowloon. Golfing, football and a chorus line: a good mix that is in keeping with the tradition of Operation Santa Claus, a 21-year charity drive organised by the South China Morning Post and RTHK to aid 13 groups, including victims of the Sichuan earthquake. The planned and executed the fund-raising events. Those involved in raising funds said they were glad of the opportunity to do good. Michael Fung Yue-ming, chief executive of JP Morgan in Hong Kong, noted that funds were going to 'critically needed' community initiatives such as libraries and youth empowerment centres in rural areas. 'And we hope this year, our 2008 partnership with Youth Outreach will help transform young lives this Christmas...and beyond,' he said, referring to one of the 13 beneficiaries of the fund this year. Daryl Ng Wing-kwong, executive director of Sino Group, which has supported Operation Santa for many years, said: 'For our company, Christmas is a perfect time for giving back to the society. We are very happy to see our funds will go to those in need through the charity drive.' Michael Huddart, Manulife's executive vice-president and Hong Kong general manager said: 'Of course we are on a tight budget this year due to the financial crisis, but we are also aware that the charities need even more help at this tough time. We don't want to let them down.' Robert Morrice, chairman and chief executive of Barclays Capital Asia-Pacific said: 'We're living in Hong Kong. We're working in Hong Kong. We feel it is our duty to give something back to the community.' Michael Wu Wei-kuo, chairman and managing director of Maxim's group, singled out the help for victims of the Sichuan earthquake. 'It has been seven months since the earthquake occurred in Sichuan. We understand that reconstruction in the quake-affected areas will take a long time, and a huge amount of resources are needed to help residents rebuild their homes. We'd like to do our share.' The big three Operation Santa Claus' top fund-raisers this year Morgan Stanley Directors' Choir: HK$1.4m Five-a-side football tournament: HK$1.06m Merrill Lynch golf day: HK$1m