Covid-19 crisis makes supporting charities harder, but more vital than ever, Operation Santa Claus donor says
- KPMG Hong Kong vows to maintain fundraising efforts despite the pandemic making that more difficult
- Millennials want to work for firms that stand for something, not just bottom lines, Woo Pat-nie says
The Hong Kong offices of accounting giant KPMG are relatively empty these days, with most staff working from home again amid the city’s fourth Covid-19 wave.
You can’t just think about financial bottom lines. You have to show what else you have done to benefit the communities and the societies that you operate in
Woo’s new look sporting a long-haired wig and fake moustache was live-streamed to colleagues watching in other parts of the office or at home, the fundraiser being one of many company events forced online by the pandemic.
“Usually, we do this game called ‘Run for a Claus’, which is a treasure hunt around Hong Kong. We would go visit the beneficiaries and such,” Woo said. “This year, we had to turn it into a virtual game.”
He admitted it had been difficult during the health crisis to hold charity events. This year 18 teams were taking part, rather than the usual 30 or so previously gathered.
“It’s a lot more difficult getting colleagues to know about [the event], and everybody’s working from home,” he added.
KPMG is a corporate donor of this year’s Operation Santa Claus, an annual Christmas-themed fundraising drive co-organised by South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK since 1988. Nineteen local charities have been named as beneficiaries this year.