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April 28, 2010

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Gala dinner's gift of love and sight

By Nancy Zhang | April 28, 2010, Wednesday | Print Edition

THREE on the Bund will hold a gala charity dinner on May 9 that will mark the opening of a World Expo pavilion for people with disabilities and fund eye surgery.

The dinner will be held on the eve of the opening of the Life and Sunshine Pavilion at the World Expo 2010 in Zone B of the Pudong site, the first pavilion dedicated to people with disabilities in Expo's 160 years.

It will raise funds to finance cataract surgery for needy patients across China; a smaller portion will support disabled people visiting the Expo.

It will be held in collaboration with the city government's charity organizations.

The dinner aims to raise at least 5 million yuan (US$732,000) to support the "Gift of Love, Gift of Sight" initiative funding eye surgery.

The gala is being organized by the China Disabled Persons Federation, the China Foundation for Disabled Persons, and the Life and Sunshine Pavilion of the World Expo 2010.

"We are very honored to be part of this initiative," says Wu Zhimin, Giti Tire Co's executive director of sales and marketing. "Through it we hope that more light will shine into the lives of visually impaired people, and raise awareness of visual impairment in society."

The initiative, held in conjunction with the Life and Sunshine Pavilion, will call on society to better respect and value people with disabilities, stimulate their development and raise money for industries supporting them, says Tang Xiaoquan, council chairperson of the China Foundation for Disabled Persons,

Since May 2006, when the "Gift of Love, Gift of Sight" initiative was launched, treatment facilities have been set up in 21 provinces. More than 100 million yuan has been raised and more than 10,000 operations performed.

It costs just 1,000 yuan (US$146) to restore sight in one eye for a cataract patient. Cataracts affect more than half of the 12.3 million blind and vision-impaired people in China.

The condition is easily treatable and the simple surgery can significantly improve quality of life and help lift people out of poverty.

The dinner will be attended by Chinese and international dignitaries. They include Shanghai Party Secretary Yu Zhengsheng; Deng Pufang, chairman of the China Foundation for Disabled Persons; and Zhang Haidi, chairwoman of the China Disabled Persons Federation. The evening will be co-hosted by World Expo Shanghai ambassador Yang Lan.

Food will be prepared by Michelin star chef Jean-Georges. Entertainment will feature performances by award-winning artists, and an auction of limited-edition Chinese art will be held.

Sponsorship packages start at 100,000 yuan, which includes tickets to the dinner, Expo tickets, a certificate of appreciation, and the chance to remove the bandages from the eyes of a cataract surgery patient.

The 1,200-square-meter Life and Sunshine Pavilion was established by the China Disabled Persons Federation and is hosted by the Shanghai Disabled Persons Federation.

The aim of the pavilion is to promote understanding of people with disabilities, end discrimination, fight poverty and express love for all life.

Three on the Bund, associated with Gitigroup, is a luxury lifestyle and dining center on Shanghai's waterfront. The chairman of Three on the Bund, Cherie Liem, is a trustee of the China Foundation for Disabled Persons. For many years Gitigroup has supported the cause of people with disabilities, including the Gift of Sight campaign.

The latest gala dinner is part of the Three on the Bund's "Three Spirit" initiative - an ongoing commitment to promote the three values of philanthropy, sensitivity and unity in diversity.

Charity Dinner

Date: May 9

Venue: Three on the Bund, 3 Zhongshan Rd E1

Tel: 6323-3355 ext 8301 (Jennie Chan, director of sales and marketing)

E-mail: jennie.chan@on-the-bund.com

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