Media & Marketing Charity Lunch raises funds for Mother’s Choice

In a heartwarming display of unity and generosity, Haymarket Media Limited, in collaboration with Haldanes, hosted the annual Media & Marketing Charity Lunch at The Murray Hong Kong on December 6.

Co-hosted by Atifa Silk, managing director of Haymarket, and John McLellan, partner at Haldanes, the event brought together more than 85 senior professionals from the media and marketing industry driven by a shared mission: to raise funds for Mother’s Choice, a local charity that has been transforming the lives of pregnant teenagers and children without families since 1987.

For over 30 years, Mother’s Choice has provided care, support, and hope to vulnerable families across Hong Kong. The charity’s vision is simple yet profound: to ensure that every child grows up in a loving and permanent home rather than in institutional care. This mission is particularly urgent in Hong Kong, a city where nearly 4,000 children live in institutional settings, and an estimated 5,400 crisis pregnancies occur annually, primarily affecting single women under the age of 25.

This year’s charity lunch was an overwhelming success, raising more than HK$1,134,900 ($145,967) through live and silent auctions as well as direct pledges. The proceeds will go directly toward supporting Mother’s Choice in providing essential programmes that offer hope to vulnerable children and families across Hong Kong.

The afternoon commenced with opening remarks by Silk and McLellan, who highlighted the importance of industry-led initiatives in driving meaningful change. Sky Siu, chief executive officer of Mother’s Choice, shared emotional stories from her professional journey about the life-changing impact of the charity’s work. It was a powerful reminder of the lives touched by the charity’s ongoing efforts.

One of the high points of the afternoon was the live auction, generously supported by 25 event partners. The audience bid on a range of exclusive items from luxury travel experiences to bespoke offerings. The afternoon was buzzing with energy as guests competed to outbid one another, united in their desire to make a difference.

The event also saw strong support from some of the industry’s prominent leaders, including Mark Patterson, GroupM's global chief operating officer; Simone Tam, Dentsu’s group CEO for the Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong; Sandpiper CEO Emma Smith; GroupM China CEO Rupert McPetrie; and Hang Seng Bank’s CMO Jordan Cheung among others.