ON Tuesday a children’s charity Christmas party was held by Crowne Plaza Hotel & Suites Landmark Shenzhen for children from Shenzhen Welfare Center. More than 60 children and teachers convened at the hotel’s atrium ballroom to celebrate Christmas with the hotel’s general manager Neil Houghton and other staff. The performance began at 11 a.m. with the song “Love, Because in Heart” by four members of the hotel’s staff. After both Houghton and the head of Shenzhen Welfare Center made speeches, the hotel staff choir sang a few Christmas songs. Then it was the children’s turn to perform. Their dance to “Kiss Me If You Love Me” went down well. Then, everybody got together and decorated a Christmas tree before the buffet lunch was served. During the feast, Santa Claus and Mickey Mouse delivered gifts to the children, ensuring that the kids all went home full of Christmas cheer. The hotel has held these parties five times since the inaugural event in 2005. In addition, the hotel launched the nursery room renovation program in April this year after raising 11,856 yuan through fundraising activities. What’s more, staff volunteers completed the renovation, decoration and cleaning themselves. After four months of intense effort, the nursery room was opened to homeless children Aug.17. The following month, on the occasion of its 20th anniversary, Shenzhen Welfare Center awarded the hotel with a gratitude memorial medal. The hotel is known for similar acts of social responsibility. In 2011, the hotel donated 10 desktop computers to the children at Shenzhen Welfare Center on Oct. 25, and another batch of computers was donated to the children of Shenzhen Ping Nan School in December. The hotel has an annual quota of disabled staff that it must employ. Six disabled staff members work at the Shenzhen branch alongside regular employees. “Our hotel will continue focusing on welfare and supporting Shenzhen Welfare Center, and will always be committed to social responsibility,” Houghton said. (Amber Zhang) | 