MBA Challenge proves a successful fundraiser for Operation Santa Claus
Participants in MBA Challenge beat expectations to raise HK$767,000 for festive fundraiser
Participants in the MBA Challenge for Operation Santa Claus proved they really are the business, with the contest proving a resounding success in terms of both fundraising and spreading awareness about the annual campaign's aims and beneficiaries.
Competing teams, which represented some of the top MBA programmes in Hong Kong, were given the task of putting together a business plan to secure donations, and then implementing it over an action-packed two months. By raising a total of HK$767,000, the teams surpassed all expectations, and the challenge let them put their business and marketing skills to very practical use. But it was also a steep learning curve, great fun and, most importantly, a chance to make a real contribution to improving the everyday lives of less fortunate members of society.
The judging panel consisted of Mark Michelson, senior counsellor for APCO Worldwide; Hugh Chiverton, head of the English programme service for RTHK; Michael Chu, South China Morning Post's director of strategic marketing; and May Lam-Kobayashi, head of public affairs for Swire Properties, which generously provided seed capital for each team and hosted this week's round-up event in their new Blueprint office space in Quarry Bay, which is dedicated to supporting start-ups.
And while the judges had their work cut out with competition tight for two of the main prizes, there was no doubt at all about the winner of the Top Fundraiser Award. That went to the V Care team from Manchester Business School, in Causeway Bay, who raised a remarkable HK$300,324 and won dinner with the chief executive of Swire Properties.
They took a gamble by devoting the majority of their efforts to one signature event rather than steadily accumulating donations from alumni dinners, merchandise sales, online campaigns and activities around town.
Their strategy was to get the Guinness world record for building the world's tallest cupcake tower - and they succeeded in Tsim Sha Tsui on Christmas Day. Funds were largely raised from corporate sponsorships and, once the record was ratified, the cupcakes were distributed to beneficiaries of Operation Santa Claus.