[SCMP Archive] Bidding for good

[First published on July 16, 2004] About 400 guests raised more than $4 million for the Hong Kong International School at its "We are the World" annual fund­raising ball at the Grand Hyatt hotel. There was plenty of music. A live band entertained guests who were later diverted over dinner by a wonderful tap-dance performance by middle and high­school students of the Glenda Allen Dance Academy.

To the delight of proud parents and glowing faculty heads, further presentations included a joint choir performance and a string ensemble by students, accompanied on the piano by Anna Lo, a graduate of the school.

In furious bidding at the event's auction, the highest offer was a $120,000 wine dinner involving the choice of 1,900 vintages at the Island Shangri­La hotel's Petrus restaurant with wine expert John Koo.

Prominent at the event were the school's head, William Wehrenberg and his wife, Jane; the ball co­chairs Sophia Kao Lo and Katherine Geicke; parents Gisele Ho, Mira Yeh and Susan Romano and the school's community and resource development director, Christina Tung.