Trusting in a better tomorrow

Since Swire began operating in Hong Kong 150 years ago, the group has been steadfast in its commitment to the city – not just as a long-term investor, but as a supportive and caring corporate citizen. The Swire Group Charitable Trust (“Swire Trust”) is launching a new funding initiative, TrustTomorrow, as part of our ongoing pledge to give back to the community that has helped us to thrive over the past century and a half.

TrustTomorrow’s long-term vision is to support inspirational new projects that aim to motivate positive change in the areas of Education, Marine Conservation and the Arts. At the same time, we are committed to supporting those vulnerable groups in society where help is most needed. In recent months, the global COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted the lives of every single person in Hong Kong. For some in our community, daily life has been a real struggle. As a result, TrustTomorrow’s immediate focus has been on providing practical and timely assistance to those most affected by the pandemic, teaming up with many of our non-profit partners and other change-makers in the social sector.

During the first half of 2020, when we witnessed the early onset of the pandemic, the Swire Trust provided funding amounting to HK$15 million to support projects that benefitted over 122,000 people through more than 400 different organisations.

The latest TrustTomorrow initiatives, to be rolled out in late September, will fund another round of pandemic relief, pledging HK$14 million to support programmes that will benefit over 100,000 Hong Kong people through 85 organisations.

TrustTomorrow programmes are grouped under three themes:

1. Food and hygiene: programmes that aim to supply the underprivileged with basic and immediate needs, such as food support, and antiviral coating spray for special schools and the tenants of subdivided residential units.
   
   
2. Family wellbeing: programmes that address the need for social connection as a result of prolonged social distancing, by providing online leisure activities for children and their families supported by partner NGOs.
   
   
3. Building social capital: programmes that enhance NGOs’ abilities to connect people and provide opportunities, by increasing their digital capacity.

But TrustTomorrow is about more than providing pandemic relief. As we mark Swire’s 150th anniversary in Hong Kong in 2020, we will be adding more new programmes and initiatives to the TrustTomorrow portfolio that reflect our focus on Education, Marine Conservation and the Arts. Our hope is that TrustTomorrow will not only support Hong Kong during the present challenging times, but also bring lasting benefits and opportunities so our children may enjoy a better tomorrow.