BY LAURA MITCHELL
thank you...
Hong Kong Academy is first and foremost a community of people. Before we arrived at our state of the art campus in Sai Kung, we were fond of saying, “It’s not about the building.” And it wasn’t — and in a very real way, it couldn’t be! Our temporary, tired, and sometimes troubling facilities made it crystal clear that the community was HKA’s most important asset.
Parents in particular give life to the school’s culture of philanthropy. The HKACO’s Buddy Programme helps welcome new families, its committees support school programmes and its social gatherings provide opportunities for parents to get to know one another better. Room parents support teachers and classroom activities, and this year, parent volunteerism expanded to include a Saturday sports programme. Other parents serve on the Board of Trustees and committees, providing valuable leadership and decision-making. And many parents volunteer behind the scenes in capacities most people never see. These generous giſts of time and expertise benefit the community immeasurably.
Now that HKA boasts a fabulous facility, it remains crystal clear that people still are the heart of Hong Kong Academy. The relationships, the learning, the growing and the sharing: this is Hong Kong Academy, wherever HKA calls home.
Because relationships are so important to HKA, and because everyone at HKA gives so much to the school, HKA has a formal statement to describe its unique “Culture of Philanthropy.”
That statement reads:
Hong Kong Academy recognises that everyone contributes to the life of the school in different ways and values all giſts to the school, whether of time, talent, or financial resources. The community-centered, co-operative values that inspired the school’s founders continue to shape HKA today. Each member of the community is a giſt to the school, and HKA appreciates everyone for their roles in making HKA a positive and dynamic learning environment.
HKA seeks every opportunity to say thank you to those whogive generously of their time, expertise, and resources, including faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, former families, and others associated with the school. The school seeks to say thank you in ways that respect HKA’s sense of community and its many cultural backgrounds and contexts. HKA stresses the importance of the personal thank you over public recognition and offers public recognition that matches the school’s vision and values.
Parents also give generously to the school with their financial resources. This year, donations to the school exceeded HK$2m. The annual gala alone raised close to HK$1.2m. The financial success of the gala is extraordinary, and the proceeds directly support students and faculty at HKA through enhanced programmes and professional development opportunities.
The dollar number is a real achievement, but there’s another numbers story that’s extraordinary: a committee of more than 20 who worked tirelessly to bring the event together, the nearly 100+ people who donated auction and raffle items, and the 200+ who gathered for a fun-filled evening. At HKA, these numbers are the real measure of success.
As Hong Kong Academy’s first Advancement and Communications Director, it’s my pleasure and privilege to support everyone at HKA as we give of our time, talent and financial resources. As our first year in Sai Kung draws to a close, it is equally my pleasure and privilege to say THANK YOU. Thank you to everyone for all your contributions to the school. Thank you for being a part of this community. We are all the richer for being here together.
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