The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s investment in nurturing a new generation of creative talents came to fruition today (27 September) with the opening of a 10-day Social Innovation Festival at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). This is the first signature event of the Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation (JCDISI), to be housed in the brand new Jockey Club Innovation Tower.
Club Chairman T Brian Stevenson joined Fukuoka City Mayor Soichiro Takashima, PolyU Council Chairman Marjorie Yang, Past Council Chairman Victor Lo, President Professor Timothy Tong and School of Design Dean Professor Cees de Bont to officiate at the opening ceremony.
Highlighting the Club’s commitment to helping society develop, Mr Stevenson expressed confidence that the Festival, funded by the Club’s Charities Trust, would inspire participants to come up with more innovative ideas on how to make change for a better future for all. “It is important for Hong Kong to nurture creative young talents who can be inspired to develop innovational solutions to tackle the challenges the city faces, and I am confident the Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation will provide inspiration and prove to be a great asset in this regard,” he said.
With the theme of “Making a change in 10 days”, the first-ever Social Innovation Festival features bamboo landmark installations, a variety of upcycling workshops, an on-the-spot advice session for social enterprises by seasoned entrepreneurs and branding consultants, as well as sharing by Fukuoka and Taichung mayors on innovative ways to enliven their cities. Documentary films about social innovation from around the world will also be shown during the free gala, which runs until 6 October on the 12th floor of the Tower.
The Trust has contributed HK$249 million towards the construction cost of the Innovation Tower and setting up JCDISI, as well as covering three years of its operational costs.
Since 1981, the Club has donated over HK$520 million to PolyU. Among other projects, it has funded the building of the Jockey Club Student Hostel and Jockey Club Auditorium, and the establishment of the HKJC Sports Medicine & Health Sciences Centre and Jockey Club Rehabilitation Engineering Centre.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is not only one of the world’s leading horse racing organisations, but also Hong Kong’s largest community contributor, donating HK$1.95 billion in 2012/13. In addition, the Club is a major taxpayer, Hong Kong's single largest by far, generating over HK$17.64 billion in 2012/13 for public funds. The Club pioneers technology applications for sporting and betting entertainment, striving for the highest levels of customer service. As a membership club, it is recognised as one of Asia’s most prestigious. These multifaceted roles make it a well-respected and remarkable organisation, dedicated to its mission of enhancing the quality of life for all Hong Kong people.
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Club Chairman T Brian Stevenson says it is important for Hong Kong to nurture creative young talents who can be inspired to develop innovational solutions to tackle the challenges the city faces.
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(Front row) Club Chairman T Brian Stevenson (6th left) joins Fukuoka City Mayor Soichiro Takashima (5th right), Hong Kong Polytechnic University Council Chairman Marjorie Yang (5th left), Past Council Chairman Victor Lo (4th left), President Professor Timothy Tong (6th right), School of Design Dean Professor Cees de Bont (2nd left) and the Club's Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (3rd left) to officiate at the opening ceremony of the 10-day Social Innovation Festival on the PolyU campus.
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Photos 3 /4 /5:
Club Chairman T Brian Stevenson hails elderly modelsa£á? a£á?marvellousa£á? catwalk.
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Photos 6 /7:
Club Chairman T Brian Stevenson tours the exhibition at the Jockey Club Innovation Tower.
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Photos 8 /9:
The landmark installations of the 10-day Social Innovation Festival.
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