A Record-Setting Benefit Gala
2011-12-23
The benefit gala held in the grand hall of the Shanghai Okura Hotel on December 8, 2011 set the record of raising the most funds in a single event in the Shanghai area this year. The total amount of RMB 6.79 million yuan raised that evening will go to the “Shanghai Soong Ching Ling Foundation – Bank of East Asia” (SSCLF-BEA) Public Fund, which has already accumulated RMB 18.8 million yuan for the continuing implementation of the “Firefly Program”, first introduced in 2009.
At the gala, attended by over 200 guests, the hosts also announced the launching of the SSCLF-BEA shop on the Chinese TaoBao website as an efficient online channel for public donation. Called the “Firefly House”, the shop will sell badges, T-shirts and piggy banks all imprinted with the firefly logo. All sales revenue will go to the SSCLF-BEA Public Fund.
The highlight of the evening was the live auction. The auction catalogue included five pieces of centuries-old Chinese antiques donated by Qiu Gongding, an overseas Chinese patriot. Other items included works by several famous painters and a well-known calligrapher. An East Asia /China lucky number IC Credit Card earned the highest bid at RMB 1,330,000 yuan.
Celebrities attending the event as goodwill ambassadors included Liu Chen and Li Donge who had represented China at the Miss World Pageant, and supermodel Ha Jinxi.
In 2011, the SSCLF-BEA Public Fund has continued with their implementation of the “Firefly Program”, setting up six “Firefly Paradises” and distributing 5,000 “Firefly Parcels”. BEA staff members have put in 2,600 hours of on-site volunteer work. BEA’s college grant program has assisted over 100 needy students at three universities to complete their education.
