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HONG KONG, 2 October 2011 - Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF (HKCU) announced today the appointment of Mr Aaron Kwok, renowned artist and HKCU Ambassador as UNICEF Regional Ambassador for the East Asia and Pacific Region.

Aaron earns his fame in the Region with his excellent achievements in the entertainment field.  Since his appointment as HKCU Ambassador in 2009, he has been actively contributing to advocacy and fundraising initiatives for global children issues by using his popularity and personal influence.
Judy Chen, Chairman of HKCU and Geoffrey Keele, Communication Specialist of UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office jointly presented the Certificate of Appointment to Aaron Kwok today, in the presence of HKCU Vice Chairman Johnny Ng and Fundraising Committee Chairman Gilbert Mo.

“Aaron is a real champion for children.  His passion to work for children is well demonstrated in his tremendous contribution to HKCU in the past years as HKCU Ambassador, and has deeply impressed all of us here at HKCU,” said Judy Chen.  “We are delighted that Aaron has accepted our invitation as UNICEF Regional Ambassador to help us spread powerful messages to reach the heart and minds of people in Asia and the Pacific. I look forward to working with him more in advancing the cause for children.”

“We are honoured that Aaron Kwok will be joining our team in Asia and the Pacific.  A superstar like Aaron is constantly juggling demands as he builds his legacy in so many different art forms,” said Geoffrey.  “So we are extremely grateful that he is volunteering his time and lending his voice to the many issues affecting children in this region.”

Besides presenting the Certificate of Appointment to Aaron today, Gilbert Mo also gave a UNICEF Inspired Gift – a life-saving supply for children in need to Aaron to thank his enthusiastic support towards UNICEF, as well as to celeate his birthday in October on behalf of HKCU.

“This is a unique offering from UNICEF.  The gift contains two blessings.  The e-card sends the blessing from all of us at HKCU to Aaron to wish him happiness and good health.  The other blessing will be sent to needy children in one of the developing countries at the same time when the life-saving supplies will be physically dispatched.  Because of Aaron, many lives of deprived children in the world will be rescued as they receive the supplies from UNICEF,” Gilbert explained.
“Thanks to HKCU for giving me such a meaningful gift.  Nothing can be better than this gift for my birthday as it sends loves and tangible assistance miles away to children in need. I hope UNICEF Inspired Gifts will become popular gift items for all festive and celeatory occasions so more needy children can be benefited,” Aaron acknowledged the gift and immediately bought his first UNICEF Inspired Gift – ‘School-in-a-box’ to enlighten the lives of needy children.  “I believe all children deserve our greatest love and care, no matter who they are, where they live.  With my expanded role, I am committed to contributing more time and efforts to help UNICEF accomplish the challenging work of building a better world for children,” continued Aaron.

The newly appointed Regional Ambassador Aaron Kwok has a strong track record of work with HKCU.  In the summer of 2009, Aaron examined UNICEF’s work in the field the first time when he visited Northern Thailand, one of the least developed areas in the Region and raised more than HK$2 million for education projects in Northern Thailand.  Then, he has continued to raise big funds for UNICEF through his involvement in HSBC Champion Charity Golf Day, ‘Change for Children’ hotel fundraising campaign, etc.

About UNICEF Inspired Gifts UNICEF Inspired Gifts are gifts with double value: they make meaningful presents to friends and family and at the same time allow UNICEF to provide essential support to children in need. The supporter can choose from a wide range of life-saving and life-changing suppliers such as vaccines or school supplies and help funding one of the thousands of items dispatched from our Copenhagen warehouse each year.  UNICEF Inspired Gifts have a competitive advantage over many other virtual gifts from other organisations:  they are real pieces of equipment, driven by needs in the field.

Steps to buy UNICEF Inspired Gifts 1.    Buy an Inspired Gift online for children in need 2.    Dedicate the gift to a friend or family and select an e-card to send 3.    An e-card will be sent to the person you picked 4.    The UNICEF Inspired Gift will then be dispatched to those children most imperilled