Sands China Team Members Perform at Company Talent Show

Show raises MOP 280,000 for charity  

(Macao, Feb 3, 2019) – Sands China team members took the stage at the Cotai Arena Friday night for the Start Your Show team member talent competition.

It is the sixth time Sands China has held this signature team member event, giving them an opportunity to perform at The Venetian^® Macao’s Cotai Arena in front of their fellow peers and invited guests. This year, the show was titled Start Your Show + Sands Cares, adding a charity element to bring team members and the community together to enjoy a show for a good cause.

Hosted by Hong Kong television presenters Paisley Wu and Marcus Kwok, Friday’s show featured a theme of “Shine on Stage, Show We Care,” highlighting the importance of giving back to the community. The event included a video presentation showcasing 10 years of Sands China’s community affairs efforts, including past and current volunteer events and initiatives, typhoon relief work, financial assistance to worthwhile causes, and other initiatives of Sands Cares, the global corporate citizenship programme of parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp.

“Our team members are not only dedicated professionals, but individuals with a wide variety of talents, and Sands China is pleased to give them this chance to shine on the Cotai Arena stage,” said Dr. Wilfred Wong, president of Sands China Ltd. “We are also very pleased to use this opportunity to highlight how our team members have volunteered their time and energy to serve the Macao community over the years. Sands China is very proud of them, and we will continue to support the Macao community as we carry out our corporate social responsibility.”

All proceeds from ticket sales for the event are being donated to Macau Red Cross, with Sands China Ltd. also making an additional donation for each ticket sold. Additional funds were raised through game booths and special sales at team member back-of-house areas, and food booths near the arena. Sands China presented a ceremonial donation cheque for MOP 280,000 to Macau Red Cross during Friday night’s event. The funds will be used for the joint preparation of typhoon emergency kits – which will be distributed in advance to families in need by Macau Red Cross in cooperation with Sands Cares Ambassadors.

In addition, Fuhong Society of Macau, Macau IC2 Association, and the Macau Association of Parents of Mentally Handicapped held charity sales at the arena concourse before the show.

Start Your Show’s opening ceremony was officiated by guests of honour from the Macao government, higher education institutes and local NGO partners – who were also part of a group of around 150 guests invited to enjoy the show.

A total of 81 acts comprising 207 team members auditioned for Start Your Show, with finalists competing in front of an audience of around 3,000 in five categories, including a People’s Choice Award, which gave team members a chance to vote for their favourite acts. Winners were awarded over MOP 100,000 in cash and prizes.

Special performances were also given by team members from Sands China’s International Strategic Leadership Programme, by winners from Marina Bay Sands’ team member talent show, and by homegrown Macao pop-trio MFM, who sang “Be With You” – a theme song for the 10th anniversary of the Sands Cares Ambassador volunteer programme, which is being celebrated this year.

Winners:

Best Team	SCL All Stars (cross-departmental collaboration between Floral Operations, Housekeeping and Banquet)
Best Performance	Mark Castro (Food and Beverage)
People’s Choice	Mark Castro (Food and Beverage)
Best Cheering Team	Conventions and Exhibitions Banquet

Photo caption: Guests of honour officiate Friday night’s Start Your Show team member talent competition at The Venetian Macao. The show gives Sands China team members a chance to perform on stage at the Cotai Arena in front of their fellow peers and invited guests, while bringing team members and the community together to enjoy a show for a good cause.

Front row, left to right: Robert Chan, secretary general of the council of the City University of Macau; Alvaro Barbosa, vice rector of the University of Saint Joseph; Chang Tak Toi, president of the general assembly of the Association of the Parents of the People with Intellectual Disabilities of Macau; Hetzer Siu, chief executive officer of Macau Special Olympics; Pun Chi Meng, secretary general of Caritas Macau; Maria Fatima Salvador Dos Santos Ferreira, president of the general assembly of Fuhong Society of Macau; Vong Kok Seng, president of the directive council of the Charity Fund from the Readers of Macao Daily News; Ng Siu Lai, president of the board of directors of the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macau; Serene Chan, head of the research and investigation department of the Macao SAR Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau; Zhu Hong, deputy director of the Economic Affairs Department of the Central People's Government Liaison Office; Dr. Wilfred Wong, president of Sands China Ltd.; Shuen Ka Hung, director general of the Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Center; Wong Vai Ian, head of the skills training division of the vocational training department of the Macao SAR Labour Affairs Bureau; Chan Kam Meng, president of the Macau Federation of Trade Unions; António Jose de Freita, president of Macau Holy House of Mercy; Quin Va, president of the directive council of Macau Red Cross; Juliana Devoy, director of Good Shepherd Sisters Macau; Lou Weng Hang, president of Macau Deaf Association; Ping Lou, vice president of the Women's General Association of Macau; Diamantina do Rosario Sa Coimbra, director of the tourism and hotel school of the Institute for Tourism Studies; Wang Chang Bin, director of the gaming teaching and research centre of the Macao Polytechnic Institute

Back row, left to right: Tang Sin U, administrative assistant of Yat On Responsible Gambling Counselling Centre; Pekkle Ku, centre-in-charge of Centro de Dia Alvorada of the Richmond Fellowship of Macau; Tam Shu Ming, representative of the director of the Centre for Continuing Education of the University of Macau; Elizabeth Tsui, executive director of Best Buddies Macao Association; Lao Sio Fun, chairman of executive board of Macau Down Syndrome Association; Wallace Kwah, president of Macao Heritage Ambassadors Association; Lao Mui Kuai, president of Associacao de idosos, deficientes intelectuais e seus familiars; Lee Kwok Hoo, service director of the Sheng Kung Hui Macau Social Service Coordination Office; Maria Alice Baladas, president of Associacao de Feliz Paraiso; Cherry Chen, president of the Macau Special Educational Needs Student Advancement Association; Chan Kuong In, vice president of the Macau Association for the Mentally Handicapped; Heidi Ho, principal secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association of Macau; Yedda Ieong, centre-in-charge of the Macao Catholic Family Advisory Council; Stella O, director of Christian New Life Fellowship

Photo caption: Sands China Ltd. President Dr. Wilfred Wong (left) presents a ceremonial cheque to Macau Red Cross at Friday night’s Start Your Show team member talent competition at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Arena. The show raised funds for Macau Red Cross through ticket sales and other means.

Photo caption: A panel of judges weight their decisions at Friday night’s Start Your Show team member talent competition at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Arena.

Left to right: Rony Chan, television producer at TDM; Sean McCreery, senior vice president of tables games for Venetian Macau Limited; Dr. Wilfred Wong, president of Sands China Ltd.; Wen Hongyan, senior vice president of human resources for Sands China Ltd.; Lee Chong Cheng, vice president of the Macau Federation of Trade Unions

Photo caption: Winners, finalists, performers, judges and special guests gather together on stage after performing at Friday night’s Start Your Show team member talent competition at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Arena.

Photo caption: Fuhong Society of Macau, Macau IC2 Association, and the Macau Association of Parents of Mentally Handicapped hold charity sales at the Cotai Arena concourse before Friday night’s Start Your Show team member talent competition at The Venetian Macao.