Category: Charity

New Wine Ministries HK providing financial assistance the sick and poor

Since 2011, New Wine Ministries Hong Kong has continuously and consistently been dedicated to the cause of betterment of the less fortunate members of society – the poor, the sick, the neglected. From providing financial assistance to the impoverished to extending medical support to those fighting cancer, New Wine Ministries Hong Kong has touched the lives of thousands throughout its years of operations. For that, New Wine Ministries Hong Kong is extremely grateful to its generous supporters and donors who have never hesitated to extend a helping hand to the charity at all times. So it is with great hope and humility that New Wine Ministries Hong Kong urges you to join this worthy cause and continue to support the charity, now and always.

 

To donate, please make cheque payable to “New Wine Ministries Hong Kong Limited” and send to 1225, 12/F, Southmark Tower A, 11 Yip Hing Street, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong or by telephone to 2553 2106 / 2580 8201.

Design Trust celebrates its 11th Annual Ambassador’s Ball

Design Trust, an acclaimed charity, just celebrated its 11th Annual Ambassador’s Ball this weekend at Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong. This year’s theme, Hyper Environment explores the relationship between the city and the countryside – a juxtaposition of technology and nature.

Ambassador's Ball

The event, which was sponsored by Prada, was officiated by the Hong Kong’s CEO Carrie Lam and other guests of honour included the Dutch Office for Metropolitan Architecture’s partners Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten who flew in especially for the occasion.   

Design Trust

“It’s been such an honour working with Prada – a name and brand that resonates with creativity and design excellence, and a pioneer who promotes and preserves art and culture with passion and commitment. It has been so empowering to work closely with OMA’s Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten – such visionaries who have brought our gala concept to an entirely new level. I know our guests are reflecting on the constantly evolving status of our city and countryside with a new perspective”, says Marisa Yiu, co-founder and executive director of Design Trust.

Design Trust

The event also included an auction featuring limited edition art and decorative objects, travel experience and more from names such as Zao Wou-ki, Zaha Hadid, Daido Moriyama, Andre Fu, Joan Miro and more.  The event was an overwhelming success, raising over HK$10.5 million, all of which is being donated to Design Trust.

Master Minder: Jacqueline Chow on charity and beyond

Taking care of needy, young Hongkongers has been a lifelong commitment for Jacqueline Chow

 Jacqueline Chow is a fundraising committee member of the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children (HKSPC) and a council member of Ebenezer School for the Visually Impaired. Brought up in a family that has been involved with charitable movements for generations, charity runs in her blood. She talks to us about what drives her and more…

Jacqueline Chow

Prior to taking on your charity commitments, you were working in the financial services sector. Was that quite the career shift it seems?

To be honest, I genuinely never had a true career shift. I have been involved in charity for pretty much my whole life. It’s actually a kind of family thing. My great-grandmother was one of the founders of the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children (HKSPC), an organisation that both my grandmother and my mother later played active roles in. From a very young age, I wanted to give back to society in my own way.

Can you tell us more about your family’s history with the HKSPC?

Well, my great-grandmother started the charity back in 1927, together with the wives of a number of British guys in government roles. It started small with the ladies mainly providing congee and other food items to malnourished children in some of Hong Kong’s less affluent areas, such as Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po. Later, in my grandmother’s and then in my mother’s time, the charity expanded dramatically, extending across a wide range of childcare issues. Today, it operates 27 daycare centres and takes care of more than 3,000 children daily.

Jacqueline Chow

Given the considerable expansion of both its remit and its resources, what’s next for the charity?

We do, in fact, feel that we need to broaden our reach still further, which will enable us to not just help children, but also their immediate family members, including their parents and siblings. Right now, of the 3,000 children under our care, a significant proportion belong to minority families and, maybe, those families can’t speak Cantonese or have found it difficult to get somewhere suitable to live or to secure worthwhile employment. So, to ensure the all-round wellbeing of all children, we have to make sure the wider family is also doing well. To that end, we have established two family centres that both provide a wide range of assistance and educational services through a variety of courses, including vocational training, language skills and basic childcare.

Jacqueline Chow

Obviously, the HKSPC takes up a lot of your energy, but you still find time for a number of other charitable causes…

Yes, I am one of the independent school managers at Ebenezer School for the Visually Impaired, the only school in Hong Kong that’s dedicated to helping children with eyesight problems. On top of that, I am also a council member of the SAHK, an organisation that, in less enlightened times, was known as the Spastics Association of Hong Kong. I am very proud of what the SAHK accomplishes and all the good it does when it comes to helping anyone – young or old – who is struggling to cope with any physical or mental challenges.

Jacqueline Chow

Among all your achievements – philanthropic or personal – what are you most proud of?

While I don’t have one particular proudest moment that I can single out, I must say giving something back to society, in general, remains one of the most significant aspects of my life. Having said that, I am delighted that I have been able to impart to my two daughters the same values my grandparents and my mother instilled in me back in the day. As I said, my mother worked with the HKSPC for more than 20 years and I grew up being inspired by her commitment. As a result, I am always thrilled when my daughters volunteer their time to charity. Just recently, for instance, they gave up a weekend to help out with a flag-day fundraising initiative.

Being close to such hardship on a regular basis must make it difficult for you to unwind…

I do like to take time out to travel. I have just gotten back from one trip, for example, that took me to London, Paris and Burgundy. I also love trying out all the latest make-up trends and I am now taking art classes, which I hope will help me appreciate the finer things in life even more.

Thank you.

Interview by: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Direction: San Wong
Photos: Neville Lee
Video: Laity Yeung
Makeup: Zoe Fan
Venue: Baker Showroom

Thinking of adopting a dog? Here’s what you need to know

Adopting a dog is a big decision – one that will change your life (hopefully for better) forever. But it is one thing to gush over cute puppy videos and another to be 100% responsible for a living, breathing creature. If you feel ready to shoulder the responsibility, here are a few things to keep in mind before you take the plunge.

Please make sure your house has enough space for a dog. This is particularly the case in Hong Kong where people live in smaller spaces. Choose a breed wisely depending on how much free space you have at home. It’s cruel to buy a large dog like a Great Dane and then keep it restricted within tiny quarters. If you stay in a rented apartment, make sure you have permission from both your building authorities and your landlords before welcoming a dog into your house. HKDR reports a record number of cases where dogs are abandoned because their owners did not have permission from their landlords. You don’t want that to happen to your furry friend.

adopting a dog

Think about the amount of time you’d be able to devote to your pet each day. Dogs are extremely sociable animals and get depressed or cranky if left alone for too long. In fact, most of their behaviour problems such as barking or aggression may be a cry for attention. If your job requires long hours at office and you have no one to take care of your pet while you are gone, it may be a good idea to hire a dog-walker to take out your dog for walks. If you have a domestic help, you may need to request them to take care of your dog. But before that, you need to find out if your help has any reservations about dogs. Not all people are comfortable around pets.

Dogs need plenty of exercise to stay fit. They need to be taken out for brisk walks at least three times a day. Smaller breeds of dogs require more exercise, but some larger breeds like Labradors also need to have an active routine as they tend to get flabby easily. As a rule of thumb, all dogs need at least 45 minutes of exercise. So before adopting a dog, you need to think if you have the time or physical fitness to give it the exercise it requires. If a dog does not get enough exercise, it can lead to several health complications from early on.

Dogs do create some amount of mess. They shed fur regularly. They may also pick up fleas from time to time. And like humans, they have their share of bodily excretions and you need to be prepared to clean up after them. You may think you are a dog lover from a distance, but ask yourself, are your ready to take a hands-on approach? It may be a good idea to volunteer at a dog rescue centre to get used to cleaning and caring for dogs.

If you already have a cat or some other pet at home, be extra-careful while introducing a new dog to the other non-human members in your family. It’s advisable to opt for a canine with lower prey drive. Especially if you already own a cat or a rabbit, create an exclusive safe zone in your house, where it can retreat if threatened. Introduce your other pet to your dog by smell only at first. The adaption process may take a few days or even a week, but don’t lose patience and always remember to praise your pets and reward them with treats if they show good behaviour.

At the end of the day, it is important to remember that dogs are just like babies and needs all the love, care and attention that a baby would require. If you are ready to love unconditionally, just go for it already! You’ll be rewarded with a flurry of wags for sure.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay

French artist Invader attacks Harbour City with street art for a good cause

Have you noticed some quirky mosaic artwork on the walls of Harbour City recently? If you are wondering who’s behind this, we’re here to unravel the mystery!

Iconic French street artist Invader has hit Hong Kong with a new series of 32 impressive artworks. He recently invaded Harbour City installing 18 of his art pieces on prominent locations around the mall. His signature piece Space Invader is one of the most eye-catching installations. Other pieces like Anchor, Mermaid and Emojis match the theme of Harbour City.

What makes this collaboration so unique is that this is the first time that the iconoclastic artist is pairing up with a shopping mall for a charity fundraiser. For the occasion, he has designed a limited-edition umbrella printed with the same mosaic Anchor pattern that is displayed at the Ocean Terminal Rooftop Carpark.

Harbour City x Invader Limited Edition Umbrella – Charity Redemption Details

Date: 18 December 2017 – 11 February 2018
Time: 12noon – 8pm
Location: Level 3, Ocean Centre, Harbour City (near OC312, Leonidas)

Participation Method:

  1. Upload three photos of Invader’s mosaic artworks in Hong Kong or elsewhere on personal Facebook or Instagram account; hashtag #harbourcity & #hcart; and @harbourcity (at least one of the photos must be a self-portrait taken with the mosaic artwork at Harbour City)
  2. Present the related post and personal ID proof for verification, with simple registration and onsite donation of HK$200 to “Hong Kong Blood Cancer Foundation” to redeem one umbrella.

*Each person can redeem one umbrella throughout the whole redemption period only. Quota applies on a first-come-first-served basis while stock lasts.

More details on http://www.harbourcity.com.hk.

Annual Academy Ball fundraiser a star-studded success

The annual Academy Ball is one of the key charity events on Hong Kong high society’s social calendar, and this year’s #LIKEINAMOVIE-themed party did not disappoint. Over 400 donors and supporters of the Academy of Performing Arts (APA) turned up for the exclusive fundraising gala including guest of honour HKSAR Financial Secretary Paul Chan.

Other A-list attendees included Charmaine Ho, Sabrina Ho, Harris Chan, Jonathan Cheung, Rosamund Kwan, Brandon Chau, Kathy Chow, Angela Leong  and many more.

Pianist Yundi Li and Stanley Ho's son Mario performed lovely duets at the Academy Gala

Held in order to raise scholarship funds for outstanding APA students, last week’s Academy Ball featured live performances by renowned pianist Yundi Li, Mario Ho and May Lui. Academy students also showcased their talents, performing a dance tribute to six classic movie musicals.

The evening culminated in a charity auction featuring 13 high-end items donated by luxury watch brand Jaeger-LeCoultre (the Academy Ball’s title sponsor), Poly Auction and other generous patrons.

APA Council Chairman Stephen Chow Chun-kay, Director Adrian Walter and Executive Chairwoman Winnie Chiu were thrilled by the turn out and by the generosity of this year’s Academy Ball attendees.

Dogtown: Christmas charity for our furry friends by HKDR and squarestreet

 

It’s the time for sharing and spreading joy. While we are busy buying gifts for our loved ones, what about our furry friends who have to spend time in adoption centres? To help care for abandoned dogs this Christmas, Hong Kong Dog Rescue (HKDR) and Nordic lifestyle boutique squarestreet have come up with a unique partnership to raise funds for saving and re-homing dogs across Hong Kong.

The squarestreet team has painstakingly built and hand-painted a miniature winter village (120cm x 80cm) called Dogtown, on display at their shop (G/F, 15 Square Street, Sheung Wan) till 15 January 2018.

Guests can view the installation and buy dog or human figurines at only HKD50 each to populate the mostly deserted Dogtown. Donors can also name their purchased dog or human characters, adding their own personal touch to Dogtown’s winter story.

100% of the proceeds will go to HKDR to help in its ongoing endeavour to unite canine friends with their happily-ever-after homes.

Pic courtesy: HKDR, press photos

Wish Upon a Star: Bulgari launches festive new campaign and charity drive

There’s only one word to describe the festive new Wishes Factory Campaign from Bulgari: wow. Featuring stunningly creative visuals by Italian architect and designer Federico Babina, the video fully immerses viewers in the holiday spirit while evoking images of Rome under a starry night sky.

At the same time, Bulgari continues to build on its charitable endeavours with a special #SeeMyWish social media campaign. The luxury jewellery brand will donate US$1 to Save the Children every time the campaign video – which you can find at https://www.bulgari.com/en-hk/seemywish – or a wish selfie with the hashtag #SeeMyWish is shared on Facebook or Instagram.

Since 2009, the jewellery house has raised over US$70 million for Save the Children in support of youth education and empowerment, improving the lives of over one million children across the world.

So spread your joy with those less fortunate this holiday season. Log on to your social media and start sharing now!

New Guiltless pop-up turns your guilt to gold for a good cause

The premium luxury consignment e-shop Guiltless.com has popped up in real life for one month only. Guiltless’ first pop-up store is giving Hong Kong shoppers a chance to purchase luxury pre-owned items donated by local and international celebrities.

Over 50 celebrity-owned items will be up for grabs including a Valentino dress from actress Shu Qi, Michelle Yeoh’s signature trainers and a Gucci Dionysus from Michele Reis.  

Building on Founder and CEO Yen Kuok’s philosophy of promoting eco-friendliness in the wasteful fashion world, 70% of all celebrity sale profits will be donated to Crossroads International, a Hong Kong-based non-profit organisation dedicated to recycling.

So do your bit for sustainable fashion while beating ridiculous waitlists for limited-edition fashion items. Pop by the Guiltless pop-up store at Man Yee Building from now until 20 November 2017.  

Hammer Time: One-off watches hit HK before Only Watch Charity Auction

Unique luxury timepieces were displayed in Hong Kong before heading to the Only Watch Charity Auction. Elizabeth Doerr, co-founder of Quill & Pad, dissects eight of the best ones.

Only Watch has become a much anticipated fixture of the high watchmaking scene. Taking place every two years, 2017 plays host to the seventh edition since Luc Pettavino called this auction to life in support of the Monegasque Association against Muscular Dystrophy (AMM), which battles the rare Duchenne strain of the disease. Pettavino’s son, Paul, who died from the condition last year at the age of 21, inspired the former to take up the charitable cause.

Collectors will find rarities here that can be had nowhere else and, better yet, all proceeds go toward research for this neuromuscular disease. Over the course of six auctions in 12 years, Pettavino has raised more than HK$235 million for the cause. For brands big and small alike, the publicity that comes along with the world tour preceding the auction makes it worth every cent to donate a specially-made, one-off watch.

Immediately following the world tour exhibiting the pieces, which hits Hong Kong 23-24 October, the auction will take place on 11 November in Geneva under the patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco. Here are eight highlights from the auction suiting a cross-section of tastes – each watch unique in its own right.

Patek Philippe’s Reference 5208T-010 is an obvious investor’s choice. With its chronograph, instantaneous perpetual calendar and minute repeater, it’s an extremely collectable watch that’s likely to increase in value over the years – especially as it has a titanium case, a metal rarely used at Patek Philippe.

With a high estimate of more than HK$8 million, this is the auction’s top lot, and it comes with a complimentary visit to the workshops plus a private lunch with Patek Philippe president Thierry Stern.

If you’re looking for artistic merit, the titanium-encased Armin Strom Manual Hunt Slonem Edition for Only Watch is a perfect fusion of art and mechanical excellence. New York artist Hunt Slonem – best known for his Neo-Expressionist practice – has decorated the watch front with references to his critically-acclaimed series of rabbit paintings using a transfer process.

In addition to this watch, the winning bidder will receive a hand-signed original artwork from the artist entitled Rex – a 46cm by 31cm oil painting created using metal pigmented paint. High estimates surpass HK$150,600.

The minimalist, however, would be drawn to H. Moser & Cie’s Venturer Concept Only Watch – the ideal acquisition for lovers of simple yet striking pieces (high estimate: HK$240,200).

The finely finished, manually wound movement features a funky red balance bridge and an unusual red fumé dial – subtle references to the flag of Monaco, the birthplace of this auction and the home of AMM.

Offering a taste of the rare and unique is Fabergé’s Visionnaire Chronograph, presented in a sporty black and yellow outfit called “If life gives you lemons” (DLC-treated titanium).

Expected to sell for up to HK$383,000, this is a chronograph like no other. It’s able to provide both time and chronograph measurements using only hands that extend from the centre of the dial thanks to an innovative automatic movement by Agenhor.

Sure to put a smile on your face, the Slim d’Hermès L’Heure Impatiente Only Watch Edition (high estimate: HK$448,200) incorporates the whimsy of a novel complication in the “impatient” countdown hour, but does so in masculine grey titanium. The latter aspect is surprising, considering that the French powerhouse rarely utilises the high-tech metal to house its timepieces.

The Laurent Ferrier x Urwerk Arpal One LF-UR1 (high estimate: HK$570,450) offers an opportunity to own a unique watch borne out of a collaboration between two brands with styles on opposite ends of the spectrum. This timepiece doubles the fun with its wandering hours, sand-blasted satellites and exclusive polished alloy called ARPAL+ (specifically developed for this unique watch), making it a visceral feast for the senses.

For lovers of rare semi-precious stones, Jaquet Droz’s Grande Seconde Off-Centered Cuprite could be just the ticket with its minimalist dial crafted in ultra-rare cuprite, an oxide mineral with a vibrant red hue that gives away its origin as a minor ore of copper.

It is combined with red gold hands and subdial outlines matching the precious metal case for an overall graceful and unique appearance. In contrast, the watch’s high-tech mechanical movement with silicon balance spring can be viewed from the back. Its high estimate comes in at HK$330,600.

Our last timepiece is a treat for fashionistas everywhere: the Chanel J12-XS (high estimate: HK$366,700). Crafted in white gold, black ceramic and onyx with baguette-cut diamonds and embroidered calfskin, it is effortlessly chic. As the cherry on top, the winning bidder will be granted passage to Chanel’s ready-to-wear fashion show in March 2018.

Haven’t found your dream watch yet? Discover all 50 timepieces at www.onlywatch.com. Each and every piece was either specifically made for this auction, or is a one-off version of an iconic model.

Text: Elizabeth Doerr, co-founder of Quill & Pad

The Only Watch Charity Auction will be held on Saturday, 11 November at 2:30pm (Geneva time).