The Soong Ching Ling Children’s Foundation of Canada is dedicated to improving the education, health and welfare of children in both China and Canada. Mr. Tony Lau served as the President and Fundraising Chairman of the Foundation. More than $60,000 was raised from the dinner, breaking the record of the Foundation. Hon. Linda Reid (middle), Minister of State for Child Care, was pleased to hold the big cheque.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Members and Friends,

I am honoured to have been elected in June 2008 to serve as the President of the Soong Ching Ling Children’s Foundation of Canada, especially in these very exciting times—- a subject that I will explain later.

By way of background, I have had the privilege of being involved with the Foundation since the early 1990’s, first as a Life Member, then briefly as a member of the Advisory Board, in the last five years as a member of the Board of Directors, including serving as Chair of the Fundraising Dinner Committee in 2004 and 2006, Vice President in the past year, and now President.  More than 30 years ago I had had the privilege of meeting the Foundation’s Co-Founder Professor Paul Lin while I was an undergraduate university student. Deeply inspired by one single lecture that Professor Lin delivered as a guest panelist in an international forum at the University of Manitoba, I developed great respect for him. Professor Lin and I connected again about 20 years ago after we had moved to Vancouver from two different places. I feel privileged to have crossed paths more than once with such a remarkable man.

As mentioned earlier, these are exciting times for the Foundation—for various reasons. Firstly, in my new term as President, the Board of Directors welcomed five members to the Board. Secondly, the Foundation’s Board of Directors is composed of many dedicated people who have genuine interest in improving the education, health and welfare of children in Canada and China. It is inspiring to work with such wonderful people.

Thirdly, the Foundation is supporting three very worthwhile projects, with funding directed towards the Hastings Community School hub in Vancouver, the Stars and Rain Education Institute for Autism in Beijing, and the scholarship programme assisting over 200 students attending high schools in the remote regions of China.

Fourthly, realizing the importance of providing more funds to the children in need, a stronger fund raising culture is emerging in the Foundation. Four years ago we first began to tap into corporate sponsorship as a source of funds for our bi-annual fundraising dinner on November 18, 2004. At the same time the Foundation succeeded in raising its profile and reaching out to the community by holding for the first time a press conference for the 2004 fundraising dinner, and by advertising through posters and newspapers. Through media sponsorships for the first time, at no cost to the Foundation, radio stations and newspapers covered the work of the Foundation. The result was unprecedented attendance at the 2004 fundraising dinner.

Two years later the success of the Foundation’s fundraising dinner on September 15, 2006 surpassed that of 2004. In addition to doubling the number of Gold Sponsorships, the Foundation also received $5,000 from Gore Mutual Insurance Company for the newly-created Diamond Sponsorship.  In 2006 the Foundation also received television coverage for the first time on its fundraising dinner and its work. The attendance record was again broken.  

The Foundation’s fundraising dinner on October 3, 2008 promises to be the most successful one in its entire history. In addition to Gore Mutual Insurance Company as a Diamond Sponsor for the second time, ING Insurance Company has also paid $5,000 as a Diamond Sponsor for the first time. This time with more corporate sponsors, both Diamond and Gold, we are raising more funds (a total of $22,000) from corporate sponsorships than each of the previous two dinners.  Thanks to your support, we will have a record number of attendees at the dinner on October 3, 2008.

On September 19, 2008 our press conference on the fundraising dinner was attended by Hon. Linda Reid, Minister of State for Child Care, who is a specialist in early childhood education. She spoke eloquently on “The Importance of Early Childhood Education and Philanthropy”. The press conference and the work of the Foundation were covered by all Chinese daily newspapers and television. At the time of writing this article, it was also exciting to receive confirmation from Hope Tian, the founder of the Stars and Rain Education Institute for Autism in Beijing, that she will fly from Beijing to attend the fundraising dinner on October 3, 2008 to accept our “For the Children” award.

Before June 2008 fund raising is one of the many duties of the Development Committee, which is also responsible for, among other things, website updating and newsletters. Our emerging fund raising culture culminated in June 2008 in the formation of a separate Fundraising Committee independent of the Development Committee. In stead of organizing a fundraising dinner every two years as in the past, with your support we are planning to hold such an event every year.

Despite our growing success, we have only limited funds to support our programmes for the children as outlined above. We are hopeful that the Foundation can count on your continuing support to help us reach out to more children.

In conclusion, I wish to thank all the supporters of Soong Ching Ling Children’s Foundation of Canada for their generosity in contributing their valuable time and money to make the Foundation a success. After all, we all work for a common cause—the Children.

For the Children,

Tony T. K. Lau

President of SCLCFC