Wow! Simply wow! Morgan Stanley is donating HK$1.9 million to Operation Santa Claus, setting the record for the largest single donation in the 22-year-history of the annual campaign.
The amount tops the financial institution's record of last year, when it contributed HK$1.4 million to the appeal, which benefits various charities throughout Hong Kong.
The company amazingly raised its donation in just one week as part of its 'Managing Directors' Choir' initiative.
Since December 11, employees were invited to sponsor managing directors and heads of departments who they wanted to see perform holiday carols in a Kowloon shopping centre atrium.
Any executive who received a generous bid was asked to take part in the public sing-a-long, which has been a company tradition for the past seven years. Last Thursday, more than 80 senior executives came together to croon seven holiday tunes at the Elements mall.
Before the choir members began with their carolling, Owen Thomas, chief executive of Morgan Stanley Asia, addressed a large crowd and made an astonishing announcement - the company had raised HK$1.9 million. The crowd broke into wild applause.