Oct 22, 2014 To support poorer communities in Western China as winter approaches, members of the Reed Exhibitions Global family contributed toward the costs of buying new jackets to give to underprivileged children as part of Sending Love to Children – Reed’s primary charity initiative for 2014. The donation drive came in the wake of another project earlier this year in which the exhibition organizer sponsored a charity golf event to raise funds for underprivileged communities in Shanghai.
Sending Love to Children is a collaborative effort between Reed Exhibitions Greater China, China’s premier exhibition organizer of industry-defining trade events, and Sowers Action, a Hong-Kong based charity committed to promoting educational aid in rural China. The initiative sees Reed join in donating warm fleece jackets to school children in Zhaotong, Yunnan Province, where a powerful earthquake killed more than 600 people and injured nearly 2,000 more in August. Come winter, the Southwest Chinese city of Zhaotong endures high altitude temperatures between 1-12°C. Many of the city’s residents are poor, with only thin clothing for protection against the bitter cold.
Reed staff in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Zhengzhou offices, together with International Sales Group China team and members of the Reed global management team donated 458 jackets, valued at RMB 54,960 (USD 9,000) for the cause. The charity drive also extends to stationery and other everyday school items, including schoolbags, computer bags, pencils, color pens, pen refills, highlighters, pencil lead, pencil sharpeners, notebooks, erasers, reading books, toys and more.
“Reed’s growth is driven by insight and by partnership. It is also fueled by placing people as a top priority, whether they are from within our organization or outside. That is why we are so passionate about showing a true commitment to the community in which we work. The Sending Love to Children program is our way of demonstrating our commitment to Chinese society, where we have made a home for close to 30 years now,” said Nat Wong, Reed Exhibitions Greater China President, speaking of the company’s decision to partner with Sowers Action to provide direct assistance to less fortunate members of society.
Reed Exhibitions’ staff members care about their work, each other and the communities around them. It is no surprise, therefore, that after the donation drive came to an end, members of the Reed team enthusiastically volunteered to travel to Zhaotong in Yunnan Province to visit the school children and distribute the collected items in person, together with the Sowers Action team, in late October.For more information, visit www.reedexpo.com.cn.
