Sands Cares Ambassadors Do Annual Spring Cleaning for Live-Alone Elderly

10th year of Chinese New Year volunteer activity Benefits Peng On Tung Tele-Assistance programme users  

(Macao, Jan 14, 2019) – Continuing their annual tradition, Sands China’s Sands Cares Ambassadors helped clean the homes of about 100 live-alone elderly at Seac Pai Van public housing in Coloane Saturday in preparation for Chinese New Year.

The spring cleaning activity is also one in a year-long series of celebratory activities leading up to the 10th anniversary of the Sands Cares Ambassador programme in August 2019, with the theme Spreading Love and Embracing Our Community.

It is the 10th year in a row that volunteers from Sands China have visited the homes of live-alone elderly users of the Peng On Tung Tele-Assistance programme organised by The General Union for Neighbourhood Associations. Since it began supporting the programme in 2010, Sands China Ltd. has donated a total of approximately MOP 1.8 million, benefiting nearly 6,800 live-alone elderly to date. The funds are used to support people with financial difficulties to use the service and also go toward helping the programme develop more value-added services.

Sands China Ltd. President Dr. Wilfred Wong, who participated in Saturday’s activity, said: “Engaging with the local Macao community is extremely important to Sands China. The elderly, in particular, are treasured members of the community, and it is our collective responsibility to help care for them in their golden years. Sands China is very proud of our Sands Cares Ambassadors for their continued service to the elderly and to the community at large.”

With cleaning supplies in hand, nearly 150 Sands Cares Ambassadors helped clean and tidy the homes of the elderly residents they visited on Saturday, sweeping, mopping and scrubbing in preparation for the Year of the Pig. They also chatted with the residents and gave out Chinese New Year gift packs purchased from Fuhong Society of Macau, which contain useful staples like oil, grain and noodles.

Leong Heng Kao, president of the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macau (UGAMM), was also present Saturday, and said: “Sands China has been a long-time supporter of our various services. We are always pleased to see their volunteers taking the time to do service in the community, and the elderly residents happily look forward to these spring cleaning visits each year.”

The Sands Cares Ambassador programme was established in August 2009 to give Sands China team members an outlet for serving the local community by organising community activities and initiatives that work toward creating a better Macao. With membership of more than 3,300 volunteers from across all Sands China properties – Sands^® Macao, The Venetian^® Macao, The Plaza^® Macao, Sands^® Cotai Central and The Parisian Macao – the Sands Cares Ambassadors have contributed 94,000 hours of voluntary community service since the programme’s founding.

Sands China’s community work is part of Sands Cares, the global corporate citizenship programme of parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Photo caption: Sands Cares Ambassadors gather outside Seac Pai Van public housing in Coloane Saturday ahead of their 10th annual Chinese New Year spring cleaning service project in conjunction with the Peng On Tung Tele-Assistance programme. Nearly 150 volunteers visited about 100 households of elderly live-alone residents Saturday.

Photo caption: President of UGAMM Leong Heng Kao (right) joins Sands China Ltd. President Dr. Wilfred Wong (centre) to visit an elderly live-alone resident at Seac Pai Van public housing in Coloane Saturday for the traditional Chinese custom of spring cleaning. Nearly 150 Sands Cares Ambassadors spent time with around 100 residents, helping them clean their homes in preparation for the Year of the Pig and sharing Chinese New Year gift packs purchased from Fuhong Society of Macau.

Photo caption: Sands Cares Ambassadors visit elderly live-alone residents at Seac Pai Van public housing in Coloane Saturday for the traditional Chinese custom of spring cleaning. They spent time chatting with the residents, helped them clean their homes in preparation for the Year of the Pig, and shared Chinese New Year gift packs purchased from Fuhong Society of Macau.