“The Link Together Initiatives”, a charity and community engagement programme launched by The Link REIT (“The Link”), begins accepting applications today. Through the Initiatives, The Link hopes to advance sustainable development for the communities that The Link serves and to further its vision of serving and improving the lives of the people around us. As most of The Link’s properties are located in grassroots communities, donations by The Link through “The Link Together Initiatives” will help to build up a friendlier, healthier and more caring community.
The Link will contribute an amount up to 0.25% of its net property income from the previous financial year to support different varieties of community service projects. For financial year 2011/12, the Initiatives’ total budgeted fund is approximately HK$10 million.
The Initiatives’ service focus will initially support the well-being of the elderly and the education, training and development of children and youth. Service focus areas include elder safety and community involvement, elder health and care, young-old integration, family support, upward mobility of youth, health and sports. The Link hopes elderly residents can enjoy fulfilling and dignified lives, while children can have access to a range of beneficial services in their communities.
The Link has appointed HKCSS WiseGiving Limited (“WiseGiving”), a subsidiary of The Hong Kong Council of Social Service, as consultant and partner. The Link and WiseGiving will invite the 400 agency members of HKCSS, all welfare organisations that are tenants of The Link portfolio and other relevant non-government organisations to submit applications. Each approved project will have a maximum budget of 30% of the total fund (approximately HK$3 million). Any charitable organisation operating in Hong Kong which has received tax-exempt status under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance is eligible to apply.
Deadline for application is
22 March 2013. Interested and eligible charitable organisations should complete and submit the online application form together with a concept paper of the project (not to exceed two A4 pages) at the website of “The Link Together Initiatives” (
www.thelinkreit.com/linktogetherinitiatives).
A briefing session will be held on 5 March 2013 (Tuesday). Interested organisations are welcome to enrol at the above website to learn more about the Initiatives.
