| Donors and Fund-raisers
The government's HK$1 billion Matching Grant Scheme was launched
on 1 July 2003 and ended on 30 June 2004. This attractive undertaking
saw donations to universities matched dollar-for-dollar by the government
on a first-come-first-served basis, and proved highly successful
for HKUST. As noted by the President, during the 12-month period,
we raised a total of HK$140 million and secured a further HK$130
million in matching funds.
Contributions came from all members of HKUST and a variety of external
donors. Old friends of the University responded generously and new
donors, both local and from overseas, were brought into the HKUST
community.
Inspiring efforts were made by our Court and Council members, past
and present, who led the way by making donations and then used their
initiative and drive to enthuse others. With their wide connections
in the community, they drew the University's needs to the attention
of different sectors and emphasized the importance of research,
student recruitment and the retention of first-rate faculty to HKUST's
future development.
They provided a great example of the HKUST spirit and significant
additional donations were made as a result of their hard work.
Major gifts included HK$30 million for academic and research development
from the Fok Ying Tung Foundation, which expressed its belief in
HKUST's mission to enhance technological development in Hong Kong
and economic development in the Pearl River Delta region.
The University also received HK$20 million from the Joseph Lau
Luen Hung Charitable Trust to establish an endowed scholarship program
to help recruit outstanding undergraduate students, and thus develop
the future leaders of Hong Kong.
Schools and departments actively added to the fund-raising drive
by going out into the community to gain further support for the
University's work. Their commitment and the positive reaction to
the Matching Grant Scheme eventually saw them raise more than HK$12
million.
The in-house Give to UST program and Alumni-Giving Fund saw staff,
faculty, students and alumni rally to the University cause, making
donations themselves and encouraging other people to do the same.
The two schemes were an umbrella for a plethora of fundraising exercises,
including the Adopt-a-Seat program for the Padma and Hari Harilela
Lecture Theater, under which alumni made donations to have a commemorative
name plate affixed to a lecture theater chair; and the MTM Alumni
Association and HKUST Alumni Association's auctions, held at their
annual dinners. Together the Give to UST and Alumni-Giving Fund
generated more than HK$3 million.
Other initiatives saw students, staff and faculty raise funds for
the University in a variety of innovative ways. These included the
Students' Union organizing the first on-campus auction; Prof Ting
Pang-Hsin, Dean of Humanities and Social Science, and his wife,
the celebrated artist Ms Chen Chi, hosting an exhibition of their
paintings and calligraphy — the proceeds from
which they generously donated to support university development;
and the University Library launching its Bookmark Me@UST program. |
