The Chinese University has launched the I‧CARE Programme to promote students’ holistic development through social and civic engagements in Hong Kong, mainland China and overseas. The programme has been well received by the community since its launch in September 2011. On 14 February, the Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation made a generous pledge of HK$10 million to inspire CUHK alumni to support this meaningful cause. Under this ‘Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation Alumni Challenge’, every dollar an alumnus gives will be matched dollar for dollar up to a sum of HK$10 million.

On 20 January, Prof. Yau Shing-tung, Distinguished Professor-at-Large of CUHK, appealed to all alumni to donate the extra money they receive from the HKSAR Government’s ‘Scheme $6,000’ to their alma mater in support of the I‧CARE Programme. In response to Professor Yau’s appeal, Prof. Joseph J.Y. Sung, CUHK Vice-Chancellor, together with all Pro-Vice-Chancellors and Faculty deans joined hands to each donate a ‘red packet’ of $1,000 to the programme at the Spring Media Reception on 30 January. They expressed their hopes that 10,000 alumni will follow suit to donate HK$1,000 each, which will inject another $10 million into the I‧CARE Programme.

Mr. Cheng Kar-shing Peter, chairman of Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation, said, ‘The foundation identifies with the vision of the I‧CARE Programme and is impressed by the alumni’s fundraising initiatives. We are pleased to make a pledge of HK$10 million to match the alumni’s donation on a dollar-to-dollar basis, with the hope that more CUHK alumni can support this meaningful cause.’

Professor Sung is grateful for the recognition and support from the Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation. ‘The donation is particularly significant with the recent proposal of the Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government that the sixth round of the Matching Grant Scheme will take place in July this year. The University will apply for the matching fund, with donation cheques received by the end of June and the donation from the Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation, on the commencement day of the Matching Grant Scheme. Therefore, this campaign is particularly meaningful as every dollar donated by our alumni will actually be worth $3 ($1 from Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation and $1 from HKSAR Government matching fund).’