British Chamber Shanghai Centenary Ball Raises over RMB 500,000 for Charity

SHANGHAI, June 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- On the evening of Saturday, 23 May, The British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai (British Chamber Shanghai) hosted its Annual Charity Ball as part of its yearlong centenary anniversary celebrations. Held at the Shangri-La Hotel, Pudong, almost 1,000 Chamber members and friends were transported back to 1915 with the theme of Old Shanghai, marking the year when the British Chamber Shanghai was first established.  VIP guests Dr. Catherine Raines, Director General for UKTI in China; and Matthew Forbes, Acting British Consul-General in Shanghai, gave keynote speeches reflecting on the relentless growth and evolution of the Chamber in the last 100 years, including the exciting future that lies ahead.

British Chamber Shanghai Centenary Ball

British Chamber Shanghai Centenary Ball

Held in aid of the Chamber's own charity project "Bright Eyes", over RMB 500,000 was raised on the night, with an incredible RMB 200,000 being raised in just five minutes during the live auction. The total figure is expected to rise further as more pledges are collected.

The Shangri-La turned back time as guests arrived in their traditional Chinese Qipaos, gowns, black ties and blazers to be greeted with themed photo points depicting the Paramount nightclub, once home to the largest ballroom in Shanghai; and the famous Nanking Road of Old Shanghai.

Kicking off the night in style, Andy Summers, lead guitarist from The Police; and renowned Emmy Award winning musician and composer, John Altman, played a medley of jazz music to welcome the guests. Not stopping there, an array of live entertainment carried on throughout the night, including the talented singer of the Downton Abbey soundtrack, Mary-Jess Leverland; performances from the International Schools Theatre Association (ISTA) Performing Arts Academy; the amazing quick change dance act, Soul Mystique; and Virgin Atlantic's professional dance troupe, who performed traditional Chinese dance routines to the live music of an Old Shanghai band, PurpleJam.  Testament to the remarkable success of the event, the guests continued to kick off their shoes and dance into the early hours to sounds from the energetic band, Studio 188.

As usual, the Chamber's perennially popular Charity Ball Best Dressed Awards (BDA) were the highlight of the night. Sponsored by Holland & Sherry, this year's BDA saw plenty of detailed and authentic outfits highlighting the true glamour and opulence of Old Shanghai; as well as the time and effort the guests had put in to ensure they looked the part.  

Special thanks must go to all the guests who gave generously on the night, helping the Chamber raise over RMB 500,000, through raffle sales, silent and live auctions and other donations, for the Centenary CSR project Bright Eyes. The project is about providing prescription eye glasses to young children with impaired vision in Lixin County, Anhui Province, in order to improve their academic performance and, hence, create a brighter future.  More than 30 companies and individuals have pledged to support and participate in the growth of the Bright Eyes project, seeing a leap from just 13 companies before the event.

Last but not least, the event would not have been possible without the great support of our sponsors, including Centenary Sponsors: Control Risks, Faithful+Gould, St. James's Place, Weir Group and Yew Chung International School of Shanghai (YCIS); Silver Sponsors: Harrow International School Shanghai, LehmanBrown, Michael Page, MandarinSpring and O'Melveny & Myers LLP; Beverage Sponsor Diageo. We also would like to extend thanks to all the in-kind sponsors for their contributions the event.

For further information please contact Janet Jiang, Marketing Communications Manager of the British Chamber Shanghai, on +86 (0) 21 6218 5022 or janet.jiang@britishchambershanghai.org

Notes to the Editor:

About The British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai

In May of 1915, during the time of the Great War in Europe, a group of British merchants gathered at the British Consul's residence in Shanghai to discuss how to protect British business interests during a time of conflict. The meeting culminated in the formation of the British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai.  Although, at that time, it was considered to be a short wartime initiative, this business support organisation quickly grew in size and activity beyond the end of the First World War. The following years would see the establishment of many more British Chambers in China and by 1925 the Association of British Chambers of Commerce in China and Hong Kong, headquartered in Shanghai, had a total membership of 23 British Chambers.

Today, the British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai comprises over 300 British companies and international companies with a British interest, ranging from the largest multinationals to small start-ups operating in East china.  The Chamber is a non-for-profit, non-governmental organisation, funded and governed by its members.   As one of the oldest foreign Chambers still operating in China, the Chamber's original ethos of helping each other in the interests of growing British trade with China, is as true today as it was 100 years ago.

About The Centenary CSR Project 'Bright Eyes'

Bright Eyes is an opportunity for members of the British Chamber of Commerce to adopt a CSR charity project that will improve the lives of under-privileged children in rural China.

For the past seven years the British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai has been improving the educational environment for the children of Lixin County, Anhui Province. Located 700Km northwest of Shanghai, this is one of the poorest regions in east China and many of the students are the children of migrant workers or farmers. As such they have become the forgotten children with regards to education and healthcare.

To date, the Chamber's support has been through the refurbishment of classrooms, supplying new desks, chairs and libraries. The Chamber is now extending that support to include eye testing and, where necessary, the supply of prescription glasses. In rural China many children can go through their entire educational life without having their eyes tested. As a consequence, many children with impaired vision will underperform educationally. Providing prescription glasses to children who need them will greatly improve their chances of a better education and a brighter future; this is 'Project Bright Eyes'.

About the Centenary Sponsors

Control Risks

Control Risks is an independent, global risk consultancy specialising in political, integrity and security risk. We help our clients understand and manage the risks of operating in complex or hostile environments. With our unique combination of services, wide geographical reach and the trust our clients place in us, Control Risks helps organisations effectively solve their problems and realise new opportunities across the world. https://www.controlrisks.com/

Faithful+Gould

Faithful+Gould is a world-leading Project and Program Management Consultancy. Our purpose is to protect and maximise our clients' interests in the planning and delivery of projects. As a member of the Atkins group of companies since 1996, Faithful+Gould have been delivering major project and program management around the world. Faithful+Gould have been in Asia for over 25 years. In China, we have been delivering projects in almost every sector and environment including life sciences and health, industry and manufacturing, commercial and retail properties, hospitality and leisure, transport and education since 1997. We are one of the leading and largest providers of affordable sustainability, carbon and energy management solutions in China. http://www.fgould.com/asia/

St. James's Place

St. James's Place is one of the largest wealth management companies serving the expatriate community living and working in Asia. We have many years of experience and have offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore. The strength of our business is underpinned by satisfied clients, their referrals and the dedication of our unrivalled team of St. James's Place Partners. Constantly evolving to meet the ever-changing needs of our diverse client base, we are personally committed to providing quality face-to-face advice and the very best client service. http://www1.sjp.co.uk/

Weir Group

Founded in 1871 and headquartered in Scotland, Weir is one of the fastest-growing engineering companies in the FTSE 100, employing more than 14,000 people in our global operations. Our ongoing success is based on a philosophy of engineering and operational excellence and a sharp focus on customer needs. We seek to exceed customer expectations in everything we do, creating the growth and business performance that delivers sustainable value for our shareholders at all times. It's all about driving growth the Weir Way – a dynamic combination of innovation, collaboration and global capability. http://www.weir.co.uk/

Yew Chung International School of Shanghai

Yew Chung International School of Shanghai (YCIS) is renowned for offering one of the most progressive and globally-minded programmes of international education in China. Established in 1993 as the first international school officially recognized by and registered with the Chinese government, the school now has four campuses in prime locations in Puxi and Pudong. The school's unique multicultural and bilingual approach to education is recognised globally and is just one of the features that sets the school apart from others. With over 2,500 students, aged 2-18, from more than 50 countries, YCIS provides a truly international education that develops caring, well-rounded, global citizens. http://www.ycis-sh.com/en/

Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150529/0861504751-a
Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150529/0861504751-b