Jockey Club supports new awards to commend contributions of volunteers

03/01/2024 18:40

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, through its JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER, has given its support to six new volunteer awards to foster a culture of volunteerism in the city. As part of the Hong Kong Volunteer Award scheme, the new awards encourage citizens to show more love and care to people in need. The Club’s support for the awards reflect its commitment to the betterment of our society.

Co-organised by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Agency for Volunteer Service, the Hong Kong Volunteer Award held its awards presentation ceremony today (3 January). Officiating guests at the awards presentation ceremony included Janet Lee, Wife of the HKSAR Chief Executive and Volunteer-in-Chief; Clarence Leung, HKSAR Government Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs; Ann Kung, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; and Melissa Kaye Pang, Chairman of the Agency for Volunteer Service.

Club Steward Ann Kung said the Club has supported many projects over the years to promote volunteerism, such as JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER, launched in 2023 to provide the public with a diversity of volunteer service opportunities. It is through this initiative that the Club has supported the six new awards under the Hong Kong Volunteer Award scheme. She congratulated all the awardees, commending them for setting an example to the public through their selfless contributions.

The six new awards are:
·         JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER Outstanding Evergreen Volunteer Award
·         JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER Outstanding New Star Volunteer Award
·         JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER Outstanding Caring School Award
·         JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER Evergreen Volunteer Award (Volunteer Hours)
·         JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER New Star Volunteer Award (Volunteer Hours)
·         JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER Caring School

Further details can be found on the Hong Kong Volunteer Award website: https://www.hkv-award.hk/

JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER, initiated and funded by the Club’s Charities Trust, was launched in collaboration with 12 partner organisations. It is designed to encourage and mobilise primary and secondary school students, families, working adults, people aged 50+ and retirees as well as the general public to do good for the community. It also created the JC VOLUNTEER TOGETHER PLATFORM to help people identify volunteering opportunities, and register for and keep track of their volunteering activities. To date, the project has attracted close to 70,000 participants.

The Club’s support for these volunteer initiatives, like all of its charity donations, is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and wagering generate employment, tax and charity support for the community.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the HKSAR Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2022/23, the Club returned a total of HK$35.9 billion to the community. This included HK$28.6 billion to the HKSAR Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$7.3 billion in approved charity donations.  The Club is Hong Kong's largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is one of the world’s top ten charity donors.