Operation Santa Claus: Italian flair raises 6-figure sum for Hong Kong charities through annual fair
- About 2,000 people thronged the Italian Women’s Association ‘Il Mercatino di IWA’ charity fair, which sold high-quality merchandise at cut prices
- Annual event raises more than HK$600,000 for charity, including Operation Santa Claus, organised by the Post and broadcaster RTHK
The spirit of giving back and merriment filled the air as smiling volunteers presented a wide range of attractive products to thousands of happy shoppers at the biggest Italian charity fair in Hong Kong.
About 2,000 fair-goers were spoiled for choice with a wide selection of discounted high-quality goods, including clothes, sunglasses, watches, jewellery, leather bags, home appliances and toys, donated mainly by Italian companies with operations in Hong Kong.
About 160 volunteers worked at the Italian Women’s Association (IWA) annual charity fair, “Il Mercatino di IWA”, which was held in the courtyard of the historic PMQ building in Central and raised more than HK$600,000 (US$77,000).
“All the proceeds will go to charity,” IWA committee member Barbara Maiorano said at the event.
She added the funds raised by the fair, held on November 12, would be distributed to city charities and Operation Santa Claus (OSC).
OSC, which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, is the annual fundraising campaign organised by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK.
The appeal has raised HK$353 million to support the Hong Kong community through 323 charitable projects since its launch in 1988. A total of 15 projects are being funded this year.
