Taking Fundraising to New Heights in Hong Kong
From helicopter flights to online auctions of celebrities’ pre-owned luxury bags, Habitat for Humanity China has no lack of ideas
(Top) Michael Wong with two staff members of Ricacorp who flew in the helicopter with him. (Bottom) DJ/model Lisa S. is among the celebrities who donated their bags to raise funds for HFH China.
HONG KONG (March 8, 2013) ‒ Habitat for Humanity China’s latest project has recently taken off. “Fly for Hope” sees actor/singer Michael Wong (left) playing host to donors during 15-minute helicopter flights around Hong Kong.
The inaugural flights took off on February 27 with 12 staff from Ricacorp Charity Foundation as part of its staff recognition program. Ricacorp also donated HK100,000 (US12,900).
A licensed helicopter pilot, Wong did not take control during the recent flights but chose to focus on the guests. Wong founded MW Michael Wong, a Hong Kong company which collaborates with luxury brands to create lifestyle products. MW Michael Wong is a charity partner of HFH China.
Wong said: “I would like the community to have new insights toward helicopter (flights). Flying is not a privilege for the wealthy people. It can also be an extraordinary means for fundraising. I enjoy viewing HK up in the air. The harbor scenery always fills me up with hope. I would love to share this feeling with families in need, so I decided to start this ‘Fly for Hope’ program with Habitat for Humanity China and invite all my friends to play a part.”
The funds raised from this project, which is expected to end in December 2013, will go toward helping 340 families in Hong Kong and China improve their housing conditions.
Earlier, various celebrities helped kick off a new project in Hong Kong by donating their pre-owned designer bags. Under “Go Bag Home” which was launched on February 21, the bags will be auctioned online with proceeds donated to HFH China.
Among the bag donors is radio DJ and model Lisa S., who is married to actor and HFH China’s ambassador Daniel Wu. Currently expecting her first child, Lisa S. said: “A home to me means warmth, it means security, it means love, it means a possibility for the future. When you have a child, you start thinking about the good things you can do for other people to teach your child not to be selfish.”
Habitat for Humanity China was established in 2000. Habitat works with low-income rural families in the southern provinces of Yunnan, Guangdong, Guangxi as well as Sichuan where Habitat also responded to the May 2008 earthquake.
In Shanghai, the office is responsible for raising awareness about inadequate housing, developing projects and creating partnerships in the Yangzi delta area.
The Hong Kong office plays a leading role in raising funds and awareness of Habitat’s work and response to natural disasters in China and other parts of the world. To date, HFH China has served more than 3,400 families with decent, affordable housing.