Nigel Thrift launches charity in Hong Kong

**President and vice-Chancellor Nigel Thrift launched a new charitable trust in Hong Kong recently.**

The trust, called “The Friends of the University of Warwick in Hong Kong Ltd” is part of the 50 Forward fundraising project and will provide funding for ten academically able Hong Kong students to study at Warwick.

The chair of the Trust Dr Roy Chung attended the evening with the vice-chancellor, accompanied by around one hundred alumni and friends of the University based in Hong Kong. The meeting celebrated the long friendship the two communities have shared with a specially made video.

The vice-chancellor expressed his thanks and said: “The Warwick community in Hong Kong has a very strong track record of giving back. Whether you have given your time, expertise or financial support, the University has been hugely grateful for the contributions you have made to the advancement and promotion of Warwick and our students, both in Hong Kong and the wider region.”

Dr Chung made a personal donation of £50,000 as the first gift to the University. An anonymous Hong Kong donor also contributed £50,000 in support of medical research at the University.

Dr Chung said: “Together, the Hong Kong community can make a big difference and help Warwick reach its goal of raising £50 million pounds by the fiftieth anniversary in 2015. With our support, Warwick will continue to be a leading global University – connected, ambitious, successful and visionary.”

Peter Dunn, the University’s head of communications, noted that Warwick’s fundraising initiatives were long term. He said: “After 2015 (the University’s 50th birthday and deadline to raise £50 million), the Friends Trust will still continue, focusing on Warwick’s strategic goals.

“The main ways to make a donation include the Giving website www.warwick.ac.uk/giving, the alumni magazine Warwick Connect, and alumni website www.warwick.ac.uk/alumni.”