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ImpactHK’s first fundraising gala features trailblazers, changemakers and impact creators. The non-profit organisation aims to raise HK$5 million (US$640,000) to fund its work with Hong Kong’s homeless. Photo: Kim Lo
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To help Hong Kong’s homeless, charity ImpactHK aims to raise US$640,000 from its first fundraising gala

  • Non-profit organisation ImpactHK will use money raised from its first fundraising gala to provide Hong Kong homeless people shelter and help them find purpose
  • Highlights of the gala will include a performance by singer-songwriter Eli Zaelo, an art exhibition, and live painting by Hong Kong artist Kristopher Ho
Hong Kong
Kylie Knott
Kylie Knott
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ImpactHK, a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping Hong Kong’s homeless, has racked up some impressive numbers since it was founded six years ago.

It has engaged more than 30,000 volunteers, distributed half a million meals and helped move more than 600 people off the streets and into shelters.

Now it is focusing on another number as it aims to raise HK$5 million (US$640,000) in its first fundraising gala, to be held at the Conrad hotel in Admiralty on Hong Kong Island on February 24.

With the theme “It’s Cool to be Kind”, the gala will feature numerous Hong Kong artists.

ImpactHK founder Jeff Rotmeyer (centre) with Ah Lik and (right) Cindy Tse. Photo: Kim Lo

“This milestone event will not only make ImpactHK’s work financially sustainable, but it’s a great party for us to come together and celebrate our community,” says Jeff Rotmeyer, the founder of ImpactHK.

Helping promote the event is photographer Kim Lo, who has featured people involved with the event in a stylised fashion shoot.

Cindy Tse in a photo to promote the NGO’s fundraising gala. Photo: Kim Lo

For Cindy Tse, the shoot was extra special. Tse represents another impressive ImpactHK statistic: it has employed more than 50 people, around a third of whom have experienced homelessness themselves.

“I had never dressed up like that with a team of styling professionals, so it was a lot of fun,” says Tse, who, because of a combination of health and personal reasons, spent six months homeless.

Today, she works with the NGO and has developed her own brand of chilli oil.

Gala highlights will include a performance by South African-born, Hong Kong-based singer-songwriter Eli Zaelo, in addition to an art exhibition with the theme “Home”, and live painting by Hong Kong artist Kristopher Ho.

 
Helping with MC duties will be celebrated Hong Kong comedian Vivek Mahbubani. “The gala lets me turn my comedy and energy on stage from just laughs and cheers into a warm meal and shelter for someone else,” he says.
Influencer and fitness icon Utah Lee is also on board for the event.

Funds raised will help ImpactHK’s work; as well as providing shelter, it helps people to regain their mental and physical health, and discover purpose in life.

A street sleeper in Tsim Sha Tsui. Photo: Edmond So

It will also help with the charity’s shelter programme, which has been providing a safe home for hundreds of individuals since 2018.

While the government has put the number of street sleepers at 1,500, groups working with vulnerable people believe hundreds of thousands of people are living with some degree of homelessness, including sleeping in tunnels and parks or living in cage homes and so-called coffin homes – mere bed spaces – in subdivided flats or factory buildings.
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