Sands Cares Ambassadors Celebrate 10th Anniversary

Sands China’s volunteer programme looks ahead to next decade of community service  

(Macao, August 30, 2019) – Sands China Ltd. celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Sands Cares Ambassador Programme with a gala dinner Thursday at The Venetian^® Macao.

Attended by government officials, community partners and Sands China executives, the commemoration honoured Sands China’s team of volunteers for their decade of service to the Macao community. A total of 250 Sands Cares Ambassadors attended the event.

Part of Sands Cares, the global corporate citizenship programme of parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp., the Sands Cares Ambassador programme was established in August 2009. It gives Sands China team members an outlet for serving the local community by organising community activities and initiatives that work toward creating a better Macao. Beginning with only 200 or so volunteers, membership in the programme now surpasses 3,300 volunteers from across all Sands China properties – Sands^® Macao, The Venetian Macao, The Plaza^® Macao, Sands^® Cotai Central and The Parisian Macao. Together they have contributed more than 100,000 hours of voluntary community service since the programme’s founding, having worked with over 300 organisations to date.

“We are very proud of our volunteers, who have been working tirelessly in their free time over the last 10 years to help make Macao a better place to live for everyone – in particular for some of society’s more vulnerable groups,” said Dr. Wilfred Wong, president of Sands China Ltd. “Sands China is a firm believer in the importance of corporate social responsibility, and we strive to have a positive impact in the Macao community – whether that’s in the form of providing family-friendly leisure experiences, running an environmentally sustainable operation, or engaging with the local community. We congratulate the Sands Cares Ambassadors on this milestone as the company looks ahead to another decade of service to the community.”

Guests at Thursday’s gala dinner received a commemorative gift pack designed by Antonio Luis Leong, the president of Macau IC2 Association, as a token of appreciation to the Sands Cares Ambassador programme’s supporting entities and volunteers. The first association of its kind in Macao to be led by members with intellectual disabilities, IC2 (I can too) is a self-help and non-profit organisation formed in 2016. Leong was invited to create a design that reflected the Ambassadors’ 10th anniversary theme of Spreading Love and Embracing Our Community, as an artistic representation of the Sands Cares spirit.

Thursday’s event included an awards presentation which honoured Sands Cares Ambassadors with top service hours, and a special performance by winners of Sands China's team member talent competition Start Your Show. Meanwhile, homegrown Macao pop-trio MFM was invited to perform “Be With You,” a theme song written especially for the 10th anniversary of the Sands Cares Ambassador volunteer programme, highlighting the positive impact the programme has had in the community. Sands China’s support and encouragement of MFM is part of the company’s effort to support local talent and youth development, in line with the values of Sands Cares.

Guests of honour for the evening included: Director of the Social Work Department and Deputy Secretary General of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR Huang Huagai; President of the Municipal Affairs Bureau José Tavares; Acting Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office Cheng Wai Tong; Acting Director of the Social Welfare Bureau Hon Wai; Adviser to the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Heidi Ho; Deputy Director of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau Anthony Leong; President of the Macau Federation of Trade Unions Chan Kam Meng; President of the General Union of Neighborhood Associations of Macao Leong Heng Kao; Macao Member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Committee Melina Leong; President of the Macau Holy House of Mercy António José de Freita; President of the Directive Council of the Charity Fund from the Readers of Macao Daily News Vong Kok Seng; Vice President of the Women's General Association of Macau Iong Weng Ian; Chairman of the Management Committee of Fuhong Society of Macau Chan Choi Fat; Secretary General of Caritas Macau Pun Chi Meng; President of the Directive Council of Macau Red Cross Quin Va; Chief Executive Officer of Macao Special Olympics Hetzer Siu Yu Hong; and Sands China executives.

Photo caption: Guests of honour toast at a gala dinner Thursday at The Venetian Macao in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Sands Cares Ambassador programme.
Left to right: Sean McCreery, Senior Vice President of Resort Operations for Sands China Ltd.; Dave Sun, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Sands China Ltd.; Anthony Leong, Deputy Director of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau; Hon Wai, Acting Director of the Social Welfare Bureau; José Tavares, President of the Municipal Affairs Bureau; Dr. Wilfred Wong, President of Sands China Ltd.; Huang Huagai, Director of the Social Work Department and Deputy Secretary General of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR; Cheng Wai Tong, Acting Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office; Heidi Ho, Adviser to the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture; Grant Chum, Chief of Staff for Sands China Ltd., Wen Hongyan, Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Sands China Ltd.; Cetin Tanisman, Senior Vice President of Casino Operations for Sands China Ltd.; Sam Chongnin, Vice President of Corporate Communications and Community Affairs for Venetian Macau Limited.

Photo caption: Government officials, community partners and Sands China executives attended a gala dinner Thursday at The Venetian Macao to celebrate Sands China’s team of volunteers for their decade of service to the Macao community.

Photo caption: Dr. Wilfred Wong, president of Sands China Ltd., addresses guests attending the gala dinner celebration Thursday at The Venetian Macao for the 10th Anniversary of the Sands Cares Ambassador Programme.

Photo caption: Sam Chongnin (right), vice president of corporate communications and community affairs for Venetian Macau Limited, receives a drawing by Antonio Luis Leong (left), the president of Macau IC2 Association. The drawing is featured in the Sands Cares Ambassador programme’s 10th anniversary gift pack.

Photo caption: Homegrown Macao pop-trio MFM performs “Be With You,” a theme song they wrote especially for the 10th anniversary of the Sands Cares Ambassador volunteer programme, highlighting the positive impact the programme has had in the community.

 

 

Photo caption: Sands Cares Ambassadors with top service hours attend an awards presentation at The Venetian Macao Thursday during a gala dinner celebrating the 10th anniversary of the programme.

Photo caption: Sands Cares Ambassadors attend a gala dinner celebration for the 10th Anniversary of the Sands Cares Ambassador Programme Thursday at The Venetian Macao.