In difficult times helping others matters more than ever.
Come and join the 2009 Fundraising community.
http://www.ammado.com/community/111374
A scene of dark suits, red scarves and piles of money. The Morgan Stanley Directors' Choir "kicked up their heels" at the Elements Mall yesterday, and "kicked it up a gear" in donations. Bryan Curtis spoke to Owen Thomas, the firm's CEO for Asia and Managing Director Sophia Leung.
Click here to listen to the interview. (If you are using real player, please click here)
If you would like to know more about Operation Santa Claus, go to our website at RTHK's special website or osc.scmp.com. Donations can be made until December 31st.
RTHK Radio 3's "Santa's Got Talent" found six individual and group acts to perform music and comedy in front of a panel of three judges. Due to a bad cold on the day – one act pulled out – so five performed.
The winner was Guzheng Kids Trio; runner-up was comedian Thomas Schmidt; audience-popularity prize went to singer Saxby Macalister; also participating and very entertaining were singer Gillian Ho and comedian Anthony Solimini.
Judges, dishing up some acerbic comments, were restaurateur and ex-radio host Bonnie Gokson, political commentator Michael Chugani and music producer, MC and occasional radio presenter Anders Nelsson – who played the role of Santa Claus.
The evening kicked off with professional singer Ginger Kwan singing her new single – "The Christmas Wish". Two female vocalists, a secondary school-age guzheng trio and two stand-up comedians entertained a crowd at Grappa's Cellar – and raised around $50,000 for Operation Santa Claus.
Audience entry was free. Funds were raised through an entry fee for each live act, collection boxes and a percentage of the evening's take on food and beverage from Grappa's Cellar.
Great prizes, were kindly donated:
First prize – Guzheng Kids Trio won 1 night in a Grand Hyatt Hong Kong Specialty Suite, inclusive of breakfast, evening cocktails and a Tiffin's dessert buffet for two.
Runners-up prize – Thomas Schmidt won a VIPBox Shining Star experience, valued at $3,900 – this gift box offers the chance to record their own CD, take a fashion-style photo shoot, among other options.
Audience-popularity prize – Saxby Macalister won dinner for two at Domani Italian fine-dining restaurant.
Participant prize – Gillian Ho and Anthony Solimini won a pair of tickets for Hong Kong Ballet's Nutcracker Suite production.
"Operation Santa Claus 2009"
In difficult times 
Helping others matters
more than ever
“Operation Santa Claus 2009” , co-organised by Radio Television Hong Kong Radio 3 and the South China Morning Post, launched its opening ceremony on November 10 at The Podium, Cyberport, introducing this year’s beneficiaries and kicking off the annual community-wide charity event.
Officiating guests including the Wife of the Chief Executive, Selina TSANG, the Honorary Patron of the campaign, Director of Broadcasting Franklin WONG Wah-kay, SCMP Editor-in-Chief Reginald CHUA, Cyberport Chief Operating Officer Mark CLIFT, and Operation Santa Claus 2009 Ambassador Kary NG were invited to launch the campaign. The ceremony opened with a performance of the newly formed RTHK Quartet. A video with interviews of the beneficiaries was shown during the ceremony, delivering the message of love and care.
To echo the theme of the event, the classic animated short film, “The Snowman”, was shown. This film tells the tale of a snowman built by a boy which suddenly comes to life one night, taking the boy on a magical adventure. This 26-minute film is wordless, while the music is unforgettably beautiful, and was performed live by the OSC Orchestra.
The event was also well supported by dignitaries including Consuls General or representatives of the Consulate General of Colombia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Netherlands, Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Communications and Technology) Duncan Pescod, and representatives of corporate sponsors and beneficiaries.
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