FROM May 8 to 10, The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou will be participating in the Smile Asia Week with other Ritz-Carlton hotels in the Asia Pacific to raise funds for the Smile Mission for fourth year in a row.

    To make the event more meaningful and more interactive with the local community, the hotel is partnering with a local art studio, Yunzi Artistry, to host the “Smile Again” painting campaign.

    Yunzi Artistry offers a smile painting workshop, available at a special price to guests who purchase the cake designed for the Smile Asia Week. Part of the proceeds from the painting class will go to the Smile Mission. Guests are also invited to make DIY smile cards, which will be displayed at the Pearl Lounge, and take smile photos to share on their social media channels.

    Calvin Sia, the executive pastry chef of The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou, recommends this specially prepared cake — the Valrhona chocolate banana cake, which features a delectable taste that is sure to delight tastebuds.

    The flavor evokes images of children laughing and jumping in happiness. Customers can order cakes for the coming Mother’s Day or have them delivered to their families or close friends to pass on their act of goodwill. The cakes are sold through the website www.smileasiaweek.org, or at the Pearl Lounge of the hotel. All proceeds go directly to the charity and will be used to send medical volunteers on surgical missions across Asia.

    Volunteer hotel staff members utilize the skills they normally use in their day-to-day work providing guest services across all departments, taking their attitude and values to serving in these remote and impoverished areas. Their talents are used to support the primary care teams with setting mobile surgery stations, patient registration and the numerous tasks required to aid the success of each Smile Asia medical mission.

    “The Ritz-Carlton has always had a cornerstone guiding principle of striving to make a difference in the communities where we operate. Smile Asia Week is an annual signature event and is just one way our Ladies and Gentlemen can share their skills and knowledge to lift up communities in Asia and inspire our guests to join us in this sustainable effort,” said Matthias Vogt, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou. “I am delighted that Smile Asia is able to change so many lives with our contribution.”

    To date, the funds raised in the past three years have totaled US$1,250,154 and have supported almost 1,515 operations.

    (SD News)