International Care Ministries (ICM) is hosting its Global Fundraising Banquets in five cities to raise money and awareness for families in poverty in the Philippines. The banquets, which gather over 1,500 esteemed guests and influencers, will take place in Singapore, Hong Kong, Manila, New York, and Washington, D.C. The 20th Hong Kong Banquet is a philanthropic event, with ICM hosting one of the grandest fundraising dinners in Hong Kong for the past two decades. With over 30 years of experience serving the ultra-poor, ICM established its fundraising office in Hong Kong in 2006.
The annual banquet has gathered Hong Kong’s top business executives, philanthropists, and big names in society. All for one cause: to help address the suffering of the Philippines’ ultra-poor.
The first Hong Kong banquet was held in October 2004, a gathering of more than 300 guests whose generosity exceeded the volunteers’ expectations as they gave resources to support Filipinos. After the surprise success of this first event, there was no looking back—year after year, the ICM banquet has become one of the most anticipated charity events among Hong Kong’s high society.
On 7th September 2024, the 20th Hong Kong banquet was held at the JW Marriott. Over 300 guests gathered, raising HK$12.5m (P87.5m) in one evening!
“I’m so thrilled that we have so many guests and people who kindly donated to ICM. I wish ICM greater success. I’m so encouraged by their dedication to helping the ultra-poor and am blessed to be a part of ICM as a messenger of hope and love,” shared Guangjie Hopton, a consultant at the Alibaba Group. She is also a member of the ICM Board of Directors.
Benny Chuchen and Jessie Ng, ICM Hong Kong Board of Advisors, are regulars at the annual banquets. They shared, “Congratulations on the 20th banquet! We have been great supporters of ICM for many years now. We hope that we beat the fundraising record 20 times over!”
This year marks the third ICM Manila Banquet at the Shangri-La The Fort. Over 700 guests, including some of Manila’s most influential business people and social personalities, philanthropists, and top leaders from partner organizations, gathered to build support and celebrate ICM’s impact over the past 12 months. It was an evening of celebration, inspiring stories, live bidding, and overflowing generosity from ICM’s partners and friends, raising P17.1m in one night! All proceeds will bring ICM’s evidence-based transformative programs to the poorest areas across Visayas and Mindanao.
Parts of the program were hosted by long-time ICM supporters: Miriam Quiambao-Roberto, TV host and former Ms. Universe runner-up; Ardy Roberto, Co-founder of Salt and Light Ventures; and Charlie Rufino, former CEO of NEO Group of Companies. Other personalities and influencers in the business sector who graced the event were Mike Aguilar, President and CEO Bank of Commerce; Jim Aboitiz, former COO of Aboitiz Power, and his wife Bernie; Santi Elizalde, President and CEO of Roxaco Land and AHG Hotels & Resorts; Kata Inocencio, broadcast journalist, child rights advocate, television producer and host; Pastor Peter Tan-chi Jr. of Christ’s Commission Fellowship; and Atty. Chel Diokno is a lawyer, educator, and human rights and justice advocate, among others.
A highlight of the night was the exciting live auction bidding on two items, a stunning phoenix tail diamond necklace and a vacation package at the tranquil island of Amanpulo. The auction was led by US National Champion auctioneer Kristine Fladeboe-Duininck, herself a supporter of ICM, who flew in for the event. Other silent auction items included art pieces generously donated by renowned artists including, Christian Mirang, Jinggoy Salcedo, Sam Penaso, and Addie Cukingnan; plus items from famed jewelers, top resorts, and luxury brands. The live and silent auctions raised P2.7m.
Throughout the program, ICM beneficiaries were highlighted with dignity and spoke with courage. Eulamy Canomy, a savings group leader shared about the P800,000 that their community have saved and invested together. And the Philippine premiere of What Tomorrow Will Bring, a film by ICM’s media team, showcased the reality of life of ICM’s target beneficiaries, the ultra-poor. In David Sutherland’s (ICM CEO) keynote speech, he highlighted the great needs and the great impact of ICM’s strategies, sharing, “By the end of Transform, participants finally have accumulated savings that they can use for medical emergencies, growing their businesses, building homes, and paying for their children’s education. For many families, this is the first time they have ever had savings.”
ICM is a non-profit organization that has its roots in Bacolod, Philippines. Since 1992, ICM steadily grew to touch and change the lives of over 2 million people through its core poverty alleviation program, Transform. ICM targets the absolute poorest people in every community. These are the hardest to reach, most marginalized, and therefore most at risk. 95% of ICM participants live in extreme poverty. 30% live in the haunting level of ultra-poverty.
The World Bank defines extreme poverty as those who live on less than $1 per day (inflation adjusted to $2.15). Extreme poverty threatens survival. Below that is ultra-poverty, where people live on less than P30 ($0.50) per day. Those ICM serve lack clean water, proper sanitation, good roads, safe housing, access to healthcare and education. They have little reason to hope for their futures. But ICM has changed that for tens of thousands of families providing them with the tools, skills, and opportunities to progress out of ultra-poverty.
ICM is celebrating the amazing milestone of reaching 2 million Filipinos through Transform! Fifty-nine-year-old Lorna is ICM’s two millionth recipient. She and her family live in Barangay San Roque in Surigao. Life was a constant struggle for them. Lorna’s husband is deaf which has made it difficult for him to find employment. Their daily sustenance was hard to get by. To make things worse, in 2021, their home was greatly damaged by super typhoon Odette. But the disaster had a silver lining for Lorna. Months after the typhoon, she was introduced to Transform where she received the tools and support to begin turning her life around.
After joining and completing the four-month program, Lorna joined a savings group. Together, the group thrived—growing their savings to over P45,000 in just six months. Soon, they started a group business selling cleaning products. Lorna invested her savings into a small business selling puto cheese (steamed rice cake snacks), a recipe she learned in Transform. She has since been earning a steady income for her family and has been able to slowly rebuild their home.
Now more than ever, Lorna is determined to succeed. Armed with the skills and opportunities provided by ICM, she is working hard to uplift her family’s life. “We have been transformed! Before, we did not know any kind of business. We are very proud of ICM’s Transform program. Thank you for the help you gave to us,” Lorna shares.
ICM thanks its partners, donors, and friends for supporting its work to help end ultra-poverty for millions of Filipinos. To know more about ICM and its programs, visit caremin.com.
