Donations to Operation Santa Claus, which ends its public appeal today, have exceeded expectations.While the total raised by the annual holiday campaign will be announced at a special closing ceremony later this month, preliminary numbers indicate the 13 beneficiaries will receive all the funds sought for their much-needed programmes.
So far, HK$9,989,702 has been raised - surpassing the HK$8 million target - and donations are still coming in to the appeal, co-organised by the Post and RTHK. 'We've always had great confidence that people would dig deep to give, but frankly we're stunned at how much they gave, even in a tough year like this,' Post editor-in-chief Reginald Chua said. 'It really reminds you how generous Hong Kong really can be.'
As with all Operation Santa Claus campaigns, any additional money raised will also go to the charities.
Generosity has come from many sources. Schools and sponsors and civil servants have all contributed, as have corporations, sports enthusiasts and rock bands.
'There is a very real sense of community in the campaign,' Bryan Curtis, head of RTHK's English programme service, said. 'From small groups such as the Mad Dog Motorcycle Club and the Island Bar in Lamma to the large corporates, people have adopted OSC into their family.'
Even in the aftermath of the financial crisis, corporate sponsors rose to the occasion. 'Maybe I'm a dreamer, but the financial crisis has generated more interest in corporate social responsibility and charitable giving by the big institutions,' said Curtis, adding how impressed he was to see big sponsors also taking the time to visit the charities.