( Macao , July 4, 2012) - President and Chief Executive Officer of Sands China Ltd., Edward Tracy, presented a cheque of MOP 900,000 to the Macau Ecological Society for the establishment of the Sands China Green Fund in a ceremony held at the Adelson Advanced Education Center at The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel Wednesday. The Sands China Green Fund, to be managed also by the Macau Ecological Society, aims at cultivating local talent in environmental management, and also supporting and promoting green initiatives in Macao . Half of the money was raised at the May 26 Venetian Carnival Mardi Gras Costume Charity Ball and Sands China also matched dollar-for-dollar all funds raised at the event, thus doubling the total amount of donation to MOP 900,000.
"Sands China Ltd. is proud to support the work of the Macau Ecological Society and to acknowledge its dedication to environmental protection, research and education. Sands China believes that this donation will make all the difference to the work of the Macau Ecological Society and will be able to further increase the awareness of environmental protection in the local community, especially among our young generation," Tracy said at the cheque presentation ceremony Wednesday.
Over 1,000 guests, including Macao government officials, celebrities, business partners and community initiative supporters participated in the Mardi Gras Costume Charity Ball as part of the Venetian Carnival 2012 at The Venetian Macao on May 26. Thanks to their generosity and great support, the charity auction and the raffle draw held at the Charity Ball event as well as the ten per cent proceeds of table sales successfully raised MOP 450,000 for the Macau Ecological Society. And on top of that, Sands China was also delighted to match dollar-for-dollar all funds raised at the Charity Ball in order to maximize the fundraising potential of the event.
Dr. Ho Wai Tim, Chairman of the Macau Ecological Society, also said, "We thank Sands China Ltd. for realising its environmental commitment and actively performing its corporate social responsibility. Today I did not only receive a cheque from Mr. Edward Tracy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sands China Ltd., but also a responsibility. The Macau Ecological Society will use this donation to set up the Sands China Green Fund to cultivate green management talent in Macao and support environmental education. We hope to continue to cooperate with Sands China Ltd. through this Green Fund in the future and join the local schools and government departments to make Macao a green world centre of tourism and leisure."
The Macau Ecological Society is going to invite public figures from Macao and representatives from Sands China Ltd. to form a Sands China Green Fund Advisory Board, which will provide opinions and guidance for the fund's operation. Dr. Ho also announced at the ceremony the launch of an education scholarship programme and a sponsorship programme for the publication and printing of materials to promote green awareness in Macao . The 2011/2012 scholarships will be open for applications between July 9 and October 15, 2012 from Macao tertiary education students studying Ecological and Environmental Sciences either in Macao or abroad. This year the programme will offer 48 places with a total scholarship amount of MOP 145,000.
The sponsorship programme, meanwhile, is open to all Macao residents all year round, and is accepting applications now. Applicants will have to design their own publicity materials, with the objective to increase local green awareness, to submit to the Macau Ecological Society for evaluation by a panel of representatives from the Environmental Advisory Committee of the Macao SAR government. Each selected entry will receive a sponsorship from the Sands China Green Fund of up to MOP 50,000 to cover the publishing and printing costs of the publicity materials.
The Macau Ecological Society was chosen as the beneficiary of the Venetian Carnival Mardi Gras Costume Charity Ball this year since its passion is closely aligned with Las Vegas Sands Corp.'s Sands Eco 360° global sustainability programme, with the same objective to care for and preserve the environment. With environmental sustainability such an important aspect of the whole company's operations, the Charity Ball gave Sands China a perfect opportunity to advance its corporate social responsibility efforts in Macao . Sands China has stated its firm commitment to support local organizations and environmental conservation.
.JPG "Sands China Ltd. President and CEO Mr. Edward Tracy delivers his opening remarks at the Cheque Presentation Ceremony for the Sands China Green Fund at The Venetian Macao-Hotel-Resort Wednesday")
Photo caption: Sands China Ltd. President and CEO Mr. Edward Tracy delivers his opening remarks at the Cheque Presentation Ceremony for the Sands China Green Fund at The Venetian Macao-Hotel-Resort Wednesday. May's Charity Ball at the Venetian Carnival raised MOP 900,000, including a dollar-for-dollar match by Sands China, for the establishment and management of the fund by the Macau Ecological Society.
Photo caption: Chairman of the Macau Ecological Society Dr. Ho Wai Tim speaks to the audience assembled at The Venetian Macau Wednesday for the Cheque Presentation Ceremony for the Sands China Green Fund. Made possible by a MOP 900,000 donation from Sands China, the fund will be established and managed by the Macau Ecological Society, with the goals of cultivating local talent in environmental management, and supporting and promoting green initiatives in Macao .
Photo caption: Chairman of the Macau Ecological Society Dr. Ho Wai Tim and Sands China Ltd. President and CEO Mr. Edward Tracy participate in a Cheque Presentation Ceremony for the Sands China Green Fund at The Venetian Macao-Hotel-Resort Wednesday.
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About Sands China Ltd.
Sands China Ltd. (HKSE: 1928, Sands China or Company) is a subsidiary of global resort developer Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS), and a listed company on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. Sands China is the largest operator of integrated resorts in Macao . The Company owns and operates THE VENETIAN® Macao-Resort-Hotel, THE PLAZA™ Macao and SANDS® COTAI CENTRAL at the COTAI STRIP® development and SANDS® Macao Hotel on the Macao peninsula. The Company's integrated resorts contain a diversified mix of leisure and business attractions and transportation operations, including large meeting and convention facilities, a wide range of restaurants, shopping malls, world-class entertainment at the CotaiArena™ and high-speed CotaiJet™ ferry service between Hong Kong and Macao . The Company's property development projects on Cotai have the goal of transforming Cotai into Asia 's premier entertainment and business destination.
About the Macau Ecological Society
The Macau Ecological Society (MES) is a non-governmental organization dedicated to local environmental protection, ecological research and environmental education. The organization has established an Environmental Education College of Macao, and was the winner of the 4th China Environment Prize. MES takes an active role in promoting environmental conservation among local environmental organizations. The Chairman of the Macau Ecological Society, Dr. Ho Wai Tim, is also a member of the Environmental Advisory Committee of the Macao SAR government.