Celebrity Life

As the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children marks its 95th anniversary, philanthropist Jacqueline Chow tells us why the charity speaks to her heart.

For 18 years, Jacqueline Chow has been a leading light of the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children (HKSPC), a tradition she’s carried on from her mother and great-grandmother, and is proudly passing on to her two daughters as well.

Jacqueline Chow on the HKSPC's 95th Anniversary

“My great-grandmother, May Woo, wife of Dr Arthur Woo, used to be a member of the Women’s Auxiliary in the 1930s, which is now the fund-raising committee of the HKSPC,” says Jacqueline Chow. “My mother volunteered for the fund-raising committee for more than 20 years.”

Like their mother, Chow’s daughters have also been aware of the HKSPC since early childhood. Chow tells me she takes them to the centre regularly. “What they observe themselves is more significant and memorable than what I can tell them in words. They’ve helped to sell flags on our charity flag days since they were toddlers.”

Her elder daughter Gabriella helped the charity raise more than HK$200,000 when she auctioned one of her paintings at the HKSPC Little Artists fundraising event earlier this year. “They know very well that being able to give is a form of blessing,” says Chow. “They’re very grateful and feel fortunate to be able to help underprivileged children in Hong Kong.”

This month, the HKSPC celebrates its 95th anniversary, marking a significant milestone since Thomas Maynard Hazlerigg, a former British army officer, established the society with a mission to build a healthy, happy and safe environment for children from all backgrounds.

The longest-established organisation of its kind, the HKSPC serves around 3,000 children and families each day

The society, which opened its first baby health centre in 1951, today operates 29 units serving children aged up to 16, as well as providing support for working and single parents, and low-income, newly arrived and ethnic-minority families, as well as those on social-security assistance (CSSA). The longest-established organisation of its kind, it serves around 3,000 children and families each day.

Chow sat as the chairperson for the fundraising committee between 2014 and 2017, and today, along with her brother Evan, continues to take an active part in the society’s executive and finance committees, and management sub-committee. She proudly tells me she helped bring in almost half the current fund-raising committee members. “I’ve lined up many notable individual donors, institutions, and luxury and local brands to have a wide range of collaborations, along with organising various fund-raising activities,” she says.

The pandemic didn’t dampen the society’s efforts, even as physical fundraising events couldn’t proceed. “We turned every challenge into new opportunities,” says Chow, who quickly adapted to hosting online fundraising series, including Little Musicians and Little Artists, in which young philanthropists were encouraged to take part. During the peak of Covid in early 2020. when supplies were lacking, the HKSPC also rallied members and the public to donate anti-epidemic items to support the needs of children and their families.

Much has been done to safeguard children’s rights, but there’s still a lot to do. In celebrating the 95th anniversary with a Game Night at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club on December 12, Chow hopes that funds will continue to come in to support the society’s various missions.

“Covid has changed the world in many aspects,” says Chow. “Children and their families are facing a completely new lifestyle and unexpected challenges.”

One such challenge was for both parents to find work, which led to day-care shortages, as the HKSPC quickly realised. By March 2020, it had received 1,959 applications for the 329 places at its five-day crèches, almost six times its service quota. Depending on continued funding from patrons and cooperation with the relevant government departments, the society is hoping to open a sixth-day crèche, in North District, to cater to an urgent need from dual-income families.

With pressures continuing to rise on children and families in need, Chow believes maintaining good mental health is also key for the HKSPC’s future campaigns. “Parenting education will be one of the highlights in the next few years,” she says. “We’ll focus on promoting the appropriate parenting style and attitudes towards child-rearing and education issues.’

Aside from her 18 years of active participation in the HKSPC, Chow’s philanthropic efforts include a seat on the board of the YWCA, membership of the Hong Kong Ballet Guild and her work as an independent school manager at the Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired. Evidently, philanthropy not only runs in her blood, but it also brings her joy.

“I get so much happiness and satisfaction through volunteering for various charities and helping others,” says Chow. “It’s more precious to me than monetary rewards. To me, the more giving you are, the more you will receive.”

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