This Year’s American Ball in Beijing to be A White Tie Affair

 

April 23, 2015 –This year’s American Ball in Beijing, hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in China at the Winter Garden of INDIGO, will be A White Tie Affair. Following the success of the American Ball last year, this year’s is shaping up to be even bigger and better.

Date: Saturday, May 23, 2015
Time: 6:30pm till late
Place: Winter Garden, INDIGO

This year the proceeds from sponsored tables as well as live and silent auctions will be donated to charities chosen by the three platinum sponsors.

Beijing United Family Hospital has selected the United Foundation for China’s Health (UFCH) as its charity. UFCH develops programs that provide access to innovative healthcare for vulnerable populations, such as Chinese orphans, poor children with congenital medical defects, abused women, migrant workers, and the disabled, in China. Wheels for Life – the UFCH Community Health Bus – launching September 2015, will be a model for mobile community healthcare in Beijing.  UFCH’s strategy is to build community trust and desire to get medical help for chronic disease and preventative care by offering a convenient, friendly, clean, and expert environment through the Wheels for Life initiative. Wheels for Life will be the first mobile unit worldwide to use the new GE ABUS Breast Ultrasound, which will provide women with the highest quality screening for breast cancer. Orphans and migrant school children, their caregivers and teachers will receive continuity of care and health checks via Wheels for Life. You can learn more about this and other programs run by United Foundation for China’s Health at www.unitedfoundation.org.

The NBA, also a sponsor for last year’s ball, has again selected the Yao Foundation. Yao Foundation is a specialized fund established in 2008 by Yao Ming under the auspices of The China Youth Development Foundation and aims at promoting the all-around development of Chinese youth by providing them the opportunities to improve their education, sports skills, health and self-esteem. In the past few years, Yao Foundation funded the construction of 18 Hope Primary Schools in the rural areas of China, benefiting more than 10,000 Chinese rural youth. In 2012, Yao Foundation initiated a new program called the “Yao Foundation Hope Primary School Basketball Season.” Besides providing basketball equipment including basketball stands, basketballs, sports uniforms and sports shoes to the schools in poor regions of China, the program also brings basketball-majored college volunteers to the schools. By 2014, the program has involved 151,500 participants from 22 provinces. More importantly, it helps the children build self-confidence and learn sportsmanship which will be crucial for their development in the future.

Another company offering continued support to the American Ball is ConocoPhillips, which has chosen The Love & Hope Project. The Love & Hope Project was developed by the China Association of Social Workers and the TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital of Tianjin to fund heart surgeries for 2-14-year-old children who are born with heart conditions or suffer from heart disease. The project is specifically aimed towards helping those orphans and children who may come from deprived or disadvantaged families. Between 2008 and 2014, ConocoPhillips China has donated over RMB 4.65mm (US$730,000) to fund heart surgeries for 330 underprivileged children born with congenital heart disease. In addition to donations, the company has supported the Employee Volunteer Committee, which often finds employee volunteers to visit and play with the children receiving treatment at the hospital.

The proceeds from the raffle will go to 100,000 Strong Foundation, AmCham China’s chosen charity. The 100,000 Strong Foundation’s mission is to strengthen US-China relations through Mandarin language learning and study abroad.  The Foundation is leading a national movement to ensure that the next generation of Americans is equipped to engage effectively with China.

AmCham China has been holding charity balls in Beijing since 2003. Over the years, these events have raised more than RMB 8.5 million, helping more than 20 charities.

For this year’s American Ball, sponsorships are still available. For more information, please visit the website, email theamericanball@amchamchina.org, or call 133-8107-1835.

About AmCham China

The American Chamber of Commerce in the People's Republic of China is a non-profit, non-governmental organization whose membership comprises more than 3,800 individuals from over 1,000 companies operating across China. The chamber's nationwide mission is to help American companies succeed in China through advocacy, information, networking and business support services. AmCham China is the only officially recognized chamber of commerce representing American business in mainland China. With offices in Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Shenyang and Wuhan, AmCham China has more than 60 working groups, and holds more than 300 events each year. Visit: www.amchamchina.org