Organised by Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited (SHKP), the seventh "SHKP Vertical Run for Charity – Race to Hong Kong ICC" that took place in December last year, attracted more than 1,900 participants from 38 countries and regions. Runners included a record high of 75 student relay teams, reflecting the growing interest in vertical running among young people.
As in previous years, all proceeds of "Race to Hong Kong ICC", without deducting any cost, together with SHKP's top-up donations will go to charity. Beneficiary projects targeting children and young people include The Hong Kong Council of Social Service's "SHKP Rainbow with KIDS" which supports children and youth who have undergone traumatic family crises, Hong Kong Family Welfare Society's "Parade of Light – Pilot Project on "Child-focused" Intervention Programme for Children Facing Parental Conflicts / Separation or Divorce", as well as Kwun Tong Methodist Social Service's "Discover Talents through Happy Training" programme which supports children with special education needs.
The SHKP Reading Club is now five years old! To celebrate its birthday, the Club invited a team of "story elves" aged five to eight, who had recently received story-telling training, to visit the Kowloon City Baptist Church Neighbourhood Elderly Centre where they shared the joy of reading with local elderly through picture books and games. Books and story-telling succeeded in bringing participants closer together and bridging the generation gap. Each elderly participant was given a gift bag with some food and health products, as well as a book for their reading enjoyment.
Last May, the SHKP Reading Club launched the "Happy Reading Give Me FIVE" celebration campaign and organised five attractive activities in collaboration with different partners. The campaign attracted about 1,000 participants, giving each of them unique reading experiences, while benefitting a total of 250 children living in small group homes as well as underprivileged youth and elderly through book donations and other reading-related activities. In 2019, the SHKP Reading Club will focus on encouraging young people to make reading a part of their daily lives and to explore the world through books.
The SHKP-Kwoks' Foundation is committed to nurturing the younger generation. In addition to promoting Hong Kong’s educational development, the Foundation also provides financial assistance for underprivileged mainland students to pursue their studies. Previously, the Foundation has established a brand new scholarship scheme at Chongqing University. At the signing ceremony, SHKP-Kwoks' Foundation Executive Director Amy Kwok indicated the Foundation has long placed emphasis on the development of education in the west of the country as well as on scholastics and future prospects of student beneficiaries.
Ever since the Belt and Road initiative is introduced, enormous opportunities and challenges have arisen and influenced the economy, social infrastructure and culture of the western region. The Foundation hopes its collaboration with Chongqing University can nurture more elite graduates for the country's future development.
