Cathay Pacific raises more than HK$4 million for UNICEF

Change For Good involves asking passengers to donate the extra foreign currency change they bring back from holidays to help UNICEF. Cathay Pacific cabin crew distributed Change For Good envelopes to passengers on each of the airline's flights from July to December 1999. UNICEF uses the proceeds to support their social development programmes in 161 developing countries around the world.

Part of the proceeds from the 1999 Change For Good programme were donated by Cathay Pacific and UNICEF to the Cathay Pacific Wheelchair Bank. The amount given was one month's average proceeds, amounting to HK$630,000. The Cathay Pacific Wheelchair Bank was set up in 1996 to help children with neuromuscular diseases through supplying them with specially adapted wheelchairs to improve their quality of life.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Cathay Pacific General Manager Hong Kong and China Alan Wong said: "We are strongly committed to the do what we can to help the underprivileged around the world and that is why we have helped run the Change For Good programme over the last nine years. We will continue to work closely with UNICEF to improve the living standards of children worldwide."

Mr Wong handed over the cheque for HK$4.1 million to the Chairman of the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF Dr Robert Fung, and UNICEF's Special Representative to Youth Leon Lai. Mr Lai took part in an inflight video played during each Cathay Pacific flight informing passengers of the Change for Good programme.

Cathay Pacific and other members of the oneworld global airline alliance announced a major initiative with UNICEF at the end of last year to raise funds for children around the world. The "oneworld Alliance for UNICEF," will see seven airlines supporting UNICEF through the Change for Good programme and other fundraising efforts.