Fund-raiser exceeds target despite global financial crisis
Operation Santa Claus donors and beneficiaries were surprised and delighted last night to learn the annual charity drive raised 'a fantastic' HK$11,002,664 in 2008.
The announcement drew gasps and 'wows' from those gathered at last night's closing ceremony at The Apex atop Central Plaza in Wan Chai.
The co-organisers of the 21st annual charity drive, the South China Morning Post and RTHK, had been expecting just HK$7 million, as the economic downturn started to bite, RTHK's Bryan Curtis said. But they still announced an ambitious HK$10 million goal.
When the campaign ended on December 31, HK$8.4 million was locked in. But last night, as magician Albert Tam rolled out a deck of purple number cards, the 'magical sum' raised was revealed.
That HK$11 million ensures critical projects for 13 non-governmental organisations that serve tens of thousands of underprivileged, poor and marginalised people can proceed, at least for this year.
About HK$2.9 million will also go to the Post's Homes for Hope project to help nearly 1,000 families in the Sichuan village of Qingquan rebuild homes destroyed in last year's earthquake.
