Fifteen Years Growing Up with the Children
Raising Funds to Support Chinese and Canadian Students

The annual Fu Hui Gala once again brought together the power of Canadian benefactors working for disadvantaged children in China and Canada, igniting hope, creating opportunity. Over 900 enthusiastic and altruistic guests attended Fu Hui Education Foundation’s 15th annual Fu Hui Gala at the Premiere Ballroom and Convention Centre, generously supporting fundraising for the children of Fu Hui.

To celebrate Fu Hui’s 15th anniversary, the gala’s theme of “Fifteen Years Growing Up with the Children” looked back on the fifteen year journey, to build upon this foundation for the future. In fifteen years, Fu Hui has given out 43,068 grants and scholarships, as well as supported 1,660 Canadian Indigenous students over the past 4 years. Besides improvements in the students’ lives, their communities also benefited, leaving lasting impacts. Fu Hui’s special edition 15th anniversary yearbook highlights the efforts involved and the results. Guests were deeply moved reading through it.

Fu Hui has always believed that knowledge changes destiny, and since reading is a way to gain knowledge, Fu Hui has been setting up Library Corners for students in Fu Hui supported schools in China and rebuilding libraries in 6 Indigenous schools in Canada, in partnership with the Martin Family Initiatives. The children directly benefited from these opportunities to nurture their reading habits. This year’s Fu Hui Gala continued to fund raise for more libraries, and the response was just as encouraging as in past years. As well, the silent auction was just as popular as ever. Centrepieces for this gala were specially designed bonsai arrangements, signifying growth. Gala Co-Chairs Mr. Dennis Poon and Ms Wing-Sze Lee were grateful for all the support; Fu Hui Chair Mr. Stanley Kwan  and President Ms. Judy San pledged to continue to work towards building a better future for children in China and Canada.

As a Canadian charitable organization, Fu Hui is determined to fight for the welfare of Canadian children, having supported nutrition programs and library rebuilding for indigenous children over the past four years. In addition, Fu Hui is patterned with the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (FIFSW) at the University of Toronto in their mutual commitment to improving lives in Indigenous communities in Canada through education and knowledge. Fu Hui is supporting the Faculty’s new two-year Master of Social Work field of study which focuses on the specialized education needed to prepare social work professionals to engage and intervene effectively in the Indigenous communities.This year, University of Toronto teachers and students attended the gala in support of the showing of the video “Fu Hui Indigenous Projects”. President Judy San stated “We will work hard to give back to Canada, continuing to expand the Canadian Indigenous Community funding projects.”

The documentary “ Fu Hui in LiangShan” was also shown at the gala. It chronicles Fu Hui’s work to fund education in LiangShan over 15 years, coordinating with local policies and requirements to implement various programs in China to not only enable students to learn and become independent in society, but also encouraging them to pay it forward to help their community. Fu Hui Chair Stanley Kwan pointed out the reward of watching the improvement in these children’s family and living conditions: “In these 15 years, each of us has grown up with the children, being grateful with them that they are living a contented life. We will continue to work hard because it is all about the children.”

In attendance at this year’s gala were China’s Consul General Han Tao and Consul Yang Baohua. Han appreciated Fu Hui’s contribution to education both in China and Canada. Dr. Carlana Lindeman and Dr. Julia O’Sullivan represented the Paul Martin Family Foundation; Mrs. Eileen McKee represented the University of Toronto’s Social Work Faculty at the gala. Master of Ceremony duties were shared by Richmond Hill City Councillor Mr. Castro Liu and TV host Rebecca Liu. Entertainment was provided by Happy Lindy Dance Studio, Biindigen Healing and Arts & Sacred Spirit Dancers, Mr. Daniel Xie and Lin Xidan Music Centre. The gala ended with an encore of a beloved song  “Liu Ke Ge”.

The gala also thanks all the sponsors: Title Sponsor - Premiere Ballroom and Convention Centre, Production & Entertainment Sponsor - HSBC, Centre Piece Sponsor -  Browne Group Inc, Printing Sponsor -  Creative Path and China Zhongfu Industrial Group, Community Sponsors including Bayridge Investment inc, BLIA, Browne Group Inc, Canada Feng Tai International Inc, The Good Harvest Trust, The Great Lakes College of Toronto, Hillhurst Enterprises Inc, Jay & Chiu – Scotia Wealth Management, Kenny Wan Chartered Accountant, Moon Kin Kwong, Mandarin, MBB Law, NGH-Tai Pan Tours, Peak Garden, Roy Li, Kam Ming Szeto, Torkin Manes LLP, Toronto Sun Wah Trading,  and Tradeworld Realty Inc.

For more photos of the event, please visit Fu Hui facebook page. (www.facebook.com/FuHuiEducationFoundation/)