Committed to Building Homes with Heart, Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited (SHKP) has long advocated healthy living and Sports-for-Charity, and has continuously encouraged citizens to participate in sports to “sweat for good deeds”. A total of HK$9 million was raised through the SHKP Sports-for-Charity initiatives last year, which will be used to support eight projects dedicated to children and youngsters, benefitting over 10,000 people. SHKP hopes that the donations will bring positive energy to the beneficiaries and assist them in achieving more in the future.

Supporting the Development of Children and Young People through Sports-for-Charity

Officiating at the kick-off ceremony of the 2020 SHKP Sports-for-Charity Funded Projects today were SHKP Chairman & Managing Director Raymond Kwok; SHKP Deputy Managing Directors Mike Wong and Victor Lui; Executive Directors Adam Kwok, Christopher Kwok and Allen Fung; and representatives of the various beneficiary charity organizations.

At the ceremony, Raymond Kwok said, “We would like to express our gratitude to the various charity organizations for sharing our belief in Sports-for-Charity and supporting underprivileged children and young people. Together, we will support various projects developed for children, primary and secondary students, and other youngsters, ranging from mental support for those facing family hardships, emotional and mental health, to STEM education and physical fitness training. Our aim is to help them achieve and develop their full potential, and enable them to grow and flourish.”

Chua Hoi Wai, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS), said, “We are grateful to be given this opportunity to join hands with SHKP to nurture the next generation of Hong Kong. We hope that the beneficiaries will reciprocate and pass on the spirit of Sports-for-Charity after receiving love and care from the community.”

Charles Chan, Executive Director of The Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong (BGCA), said, “SHKP’s longstanding support for, and dedication to, the Hong Kong community has helped many underprivileged youngsters through difficult times, helping them develop the confidence and courage to embrace the future.”

To promote the spirit of Sports-for-Charity, SHKP held the SHKP Sports for Charity Carnival at the Hong Kong Velodrome in October 2019. Over a thousand participants had fun exercising together, and SHKP turned their collective effort at the carnival into donations. In addition, SHKP fulfilled its pledge after two cancelled events, the 2019 SHKP Vertical Run for Charity – Race to Hong Kong ICC and the Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong Cyclothon, making extra donations to keep the total donations unchanged for the beneficiary charities for their originally planned projects for underprivileged children and young people. The SHKP Sports-for-Charity initiatives raised HK$9 million last year.

Discovering a Silver Lining with Children during Difficult Times

Part of the donations will go to the HKCSS to help with their commitment to support the ‘SHKP Rainbow with KIDS’ project for the fourth consecutive year. The programme aims to support children and teenagers under the age of 18 who have encountered family crises, such as the loss of a parent, family violence, or parental separation or divorce, in the past two years. The project has benefitted over 620 individuals, helping the young people get through the difficult times and gain the courage to face the future.

Organizations taking part this coming year include Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service, Harmony House, Hong Kong Single Parents Association, and the Hong Kong Catholic Marriage Advisory Council. Through different methods such as individual and group counselling, training sessions and game therapy, each organization will help children and young people from families experiencing trauma relieve their emotional burden and re-build their confidence. It is estimated that over 200 individuals will benefit during the new term of funding.

Programme for the Gifted to Discover Their Potential

SHKP has sponsored BGCA’s ‘SHKP – Science & Innovation Project for the Gifted’ initiative since 2015. The aim of the project, which has helped 360 individuals so far, is to help gifted underprivileged children discover their potential. SHKP will use part of the donations raised in Sports-for-Charity events last year to continue its support for the project, which will offer one-year of free STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) courses to gifted Primary 3 to Form 2 students from underprivileged families. The project aims to develop their potential and interest in STEM, especially in the areas of marine biology and engineering. The project will help an estimated 75 gifted children from underprivileged backgrounds during the new term of funding.