Bars, brands join ‘Drink for Good’ event

‘Drink for Good’ is expected to raise HK$100,000 (US$12,900), which will go toward giving disabled children a fun day at Ocean Park.

Caroline Sprod, executive director, HandsOn Hong Kong, told Campaign Asia-Pacific that the organisation works with schools like Hong Kong Red Cross Princess Alexandra School for disabled children as well as community centers. The organisation will arrange volunteers, tickets and transportation to take five groups of 20 children to Ocean Park between November and March.

With the help of the British Chamber of Commerce, HandsOn Hong Kong has secured more than 40 corporate sponsors, including The Wall Street Journal, Nomura Investment Bank, Light Foot Travel, British Airways, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, The Economist, The New York Times, Ogilvy & Mather, Maxus, Lewis PR and Sinclair Communciations, plus more than 60 bars in  SoHo, IFC, Tsim Sha Tsui and Quarry Bay, including Tivo, Ayuthaiya and Stauntons.

Each corporate sponsor will partner with one of the bars to host a party from 5 to 10 pm on 4 September, with HK$5 per drink going to the charity. HandsOn is also organising an online lucky draw from all participants, with the top prize being a two-night hotel stay in Koh Samui, courtesy of Light Foot Travel. Each bar will also be offering their own prizes.

Sprod said the charity would like to make the event a regular one. Getting such support was quite straightforward because people like to relax and network after work, and then bars like the opportunity to get new customers, she said.

Maxus Hong Kong will be partnering with Sugar at Island East. “I think that we are engaging in something good for charity," said MD Caroline Chan. "We can have fun and also have a relaxing evening, hopefully without talking about business. One of the strengths as an agency is that we have lots of friends and contacts.”

Added Florence Shih (施致瑀), of Alibaba International Corporate Affairs, "Alibaba Group supports a number of different charity initiatives and is thrilled to be a part of the Drink for Good event. Ali Bullock made us aware of the opportunity to participate and we felt the cause was extremely worthwhile to contribute to."