SCMP inks deal with Asia City

HONG KONG 23th January 2013 – The 25th Anniversary Operation Santa Claus (OSC) 2012 campaign formally announced its fundraising total during a star-studded closing ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Hotel yesterday; a new all-time high of HK$18.8 million dollars for 18 charities.

OSC, jointly organised the South China Morning Post and Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), has now raised an astonishing HK$181 million over 25 years – through the generous support of corporations, organisations, schools and individuals – supporting 176 charities in total.

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The ceremony, which was live-broadcasted on RTHK’s Radio 3, was attended by many of Hong Kong’s well known names, from Cardinal Zen, who made an opening address, to Allan Zeman, Sir David Akers Jones, Rosemary Vandenbroucke, Lisa S, Nissa Marion, and Regina Leung, OSC Patron and the wife of Hong Kong Chief executive, Leung Chun-ying.

“This year many donors went to great lengths to make their own fundraising efforts fun for the participants with runs, games, football, squash and a host of other activities,” said Robin Hu, Chief Executive Officer, South China Morning Post.

“I am particularly proud of our own Santa on the Beach fundraising effort at Repulse Bay where a group of celebrities and corporate teams took part in team-building games such as rafting and water-balloon battles, and raised a total of HK$240,000.”

Other innovative fundraising included a Cathay Pacific flash-mob dance at the airport; the police tactical unit – which has supported the campaign for 21 years – with an annual games day; the Santa Hashers fun run; and Discovery Mind Kindergarten’s 7th anniversary, raising $150,000 from their local community walk.

A record 28 major corporate donors donating a minimum of HK$150,000 took part this year. Some 22 schools – 19 of whom were major donors – joined the campaign, raising more than HK$500,000.

Top corporate fundraiser Morgan Stanley hit an all time record of HK$2.5m, UBS raised HK$2.4m and JP Morgan raised HK$1m.

The WingDing Squash tournament, now in its 9th year, raised a record HK$1.8m. A personal donor made his fifth anonymous donation of HK$1m, sending the total funds raised to $1.3m above the record set at last year’s closing ceremony.

The charities covered this year were Children’s Heart Foundation, Hans Andersen Club, Kids4Kids, Playright Children’s Play Association, Teach Unlimited Foundation, Christian Action, Christian Family Service Centre, Operation Dawn,Foodlink Foundation, World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong, Helping Hand,Hong Kong Red Cross Hospital Schools, The Joshua Hellmann Foundation for Orphan Disease, Lions Kidney Educational and Research Foundation, Little Life Warrior Society, Operation Smile – China Medical Mission, The Society for AIDS Care and Families of SMA Charitable Trust.

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About SCMP Group Ltd and South China Morning Post

SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 583) is a leading newspaper and magazine publisher in Asia. Its flagship publication, South China Morning Post, is Hong Kong’s internationally recognised English language newspaper and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership.

First published in 1903, the newspaper has developed an enviable reputation for authoritative, influential and independent reporting on Hong Kong, China and the rest of Asia. Available in print, iPad™ and online through scmp.com and e-reader editions, South China Morning Post reaches a global audience with daily breaking news, analysis and opinion, multimedia articles and interactive forums. The South China Morning Post received 64 awards in 2012 for excellence in editorial, marketing and technical capability. Other titles in the Group include the Sunday Morning Post, the Chinese editions of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s BAZAAR, ELLE and CosmoGirl! magazines.

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Jennifer Shay
Head of PR and Corporate Communications / South China Morning Post Publishers Limited
Email: jennifer.shay@scmp.com / +852 2680 8132 Direct
Website: www.scmpgroup.com