The Christmas of Make-A-Wish® Hong Kong

The Christmas of Make-A-Wish^® Hong Kong

Make-A-Wish^® Hong Kong (MAWHK) is excited to welcome Christmas every year. It is because “Share the Joy of a Wish” and the “Tree of Hope” will be coming back to celebrate this joyful festival with us.

You may know that Christmas is always our high season of the year because of the above-mentioned two activities. We are not going to report again the event background or the donations raised here, but we would like to share with you some interesting memories.

“Share the Joy of a Wish”

The main focus of this event was if you donate HK$20, you may write your wish on a Wish Ribbon, and then hang it on the Christmas tree nearby our counter. We have a number of long-term supporters who would come to the Landmark and make their wishes. Every year, the event would end on the night of 26 December.  This year, our colleague received a telephone enquiry on 28 December. A gentleman asked if he could still come and make his wish. We appreciated his support very much. In this circumstance, we cordially invited him to go to the Peninsula Hong Kong and support the “Tree of Hope”. We all found his call very touching.

Every Christmas, Hongkong Land would decorate their properties with new Christmas Trees. The one near our counter was a specially selected one. Next year when you are visiting us, you may try to smell the fragrant rosin that surrounds the venue.

Support from volunteers is the major factor to the smooth running of this and all our events. They contribute not only their time, but also their own donations because they usually buy those boutique items that are available for their own use. We may add a remark - “Attention: Please get ready if you are a fans of boutique items” in our Guideline to Volunteers. To this end, we give thanks for the support from our volunteers.

To be a volunteer at the Landmark, in addition to knowing the location of our counter, volunteers have to know the location of the washrooms. It is not because of the need of volunteers, but because there are a lot of tourists asking “where is the washroom?” Also, some may ask for the location of various luxury shops, and some even ask “where is the Avenue of Stars?” If we cannot provide the answers, we shall advise them to approach the customer service counter of the Landmark.

“Tree of Hope”

This event station in the Peninsula Hong Kong lasts for a month every year. Though it is comparatively small and quiet, it still has fun. The coffee shop in the Lobby is a gathering place of some famous stars and celebrities. Some volunteers reported that they had seen some renowned persons. If you are participating in the “Tree of Hope” next year, you may even find some Hollywood stars passing by.

Everybody knows that the hotel is place for banquet gathering. The Peninsula Hong Kong is one of the choices of some wedding couples. Last December, some volunteers were invited to join the games and presented wishes to the couples on behalf of MAWHK. Thanks to volunteers for using their talents; apart from handling donors’ enquiries, there are always some unexpected issues that have to be dealt with.

The Christmas Party is usually arranged for the mid-day of one Saturday/Sunday during the period of “Tree of Hope”. Many Wish Children had not visited this legendary hotel with its history of 82 years before, and thus they would take pictures in the Lobby. Volunteers can then talk with the children and present their blessings directly.

Sharing of Colleagues

Family members and friends would usually ask, before festivals and long holidays, questions, like “How would you celebrate the Christmas?” or” Do you have any travelling plans during this holiday?” Colleagues are also being asked these questions. Our answer is “We work overtime on holidays.” There are no negative meanings to this; it’s just that we are so proud of arranging different kinds of activities for Wish Children on holidays. We believe that Christmas is full of love and blessings, and thus it is meaningful to spend the holiday with children.