Bankers come out swinging for charity minigolf event

Corridors in the offices of Bank of America Merrill Lynch were turned into indoor putting greens yesterday as staff put their golfing skills to the test to raise money for Operation Santa Claus.

Twenty-seven employees used everything from stacks of paper to cardboard boxes to parts of a printer to build nine holes on two floors of the building.

Participants from various departments then formed 11 teams of three people to play the course in the annual contest.

"Every year the game gets more elaborate, more tricky - this year they've even made water holes. Some of them are ridiculously difficult," said John O'Toole, the bank's Asia-Pacific general counsel. "The most important thing is that the employees are having fun and are raising funds and awareness for Operation Santa Claus charities."

Jointly organised by the South China Morning Post and RTHK, Operation Santa aims to raise money for 18 charitable projects this Christmas that will help a range of people in need - from children with special educational needs to foreign domestic helpers who have suffered abuse.

The minigolf event is in its 10th year and the bank has been supporting Operation Santa Claus for 16 years. "Operation Santa has become a tradition in the company. What I like about it is that we have a tremendous amount of employee involvement," O'Toole said.

Donations come from participants who seek sponsorship from friends and family. Operation Santa badges were also on sale in the office this year, proceeds from which go to the charities. In creating the course, employees were asked to base their ideas on the company's three main focuses in corporate social responsibility - the environment, investment in the community, and arts and culture.