(11 April 2013 – Hong Kong) New World Department Store China Limited (“NWDS” or the “Company”; Hong Kong stock code: 825), one of the largest owners and operators of department stores in the PRC, has completed its nationwide sustainability activity “Care for Schoolchildren” donation campaign in March with flying colors. With enthusiastic support from customers, the campaign has successfully collected approximately 20,000 pieces of school supplies such as books, stationaries, notebooks, computers and chesses while about RMB 35,000 donations were raised by stores in South Eastern China Region. Materials collected have been donated to relevant charitable organizations and schools for further distribution to the schoolchildren-in-need. The overwhelming result does not only demonstrate customers’ endorsement and recognition in NWDS’ sustainability initiatives, but also successfully motivates customers to render support to under-resourced schoolchildren while promoting resource recycling. 

Apart from the wide support from customers, the success of the campaign was also attributed to the enthusiastic participation from staff who self-started to make the first donations and a number of warm-hearted merchants which have made collective donations. NWDS stores in Northern China Region and Central Western China Region held the donation campaign from 8 to 24 March, and participating customers received a caring discount coupon and some free gifts such as high-heel pendant, green pot, pearl necklace, gym card and yoga card etc. in return for their generosity. To give customers a better picture of education conditions in remote mountainous regions, VIP Club of Wuhan New World Department Store - Xudong Branch Store especially held a Joyful Learning “SO EASY” Seminar, inviting child education experts to the store to tell children poverty stories happened in the mountainous area, share happy learning tips and educate them to practice compassion towards others at a young age.

Stores in South Eastern China Region jointly cooperated with Love Children Autism Welfare Center to launch the “Love Makes the Sky Blue” donation campaign from 22 to 31 March in response to the “World Autism Awareness Day” on 2 April and NWDS frontline staff have been mobilized to take part in it by wearing blue silk ribbon on their wrists. In addition to the donation, the Company especially arranged a splendid caring meal for children from the Autism Welfare Center on 31 March, in which children staged a brilliant performance including singing, dancing and striking African drums at Hong Kong New World Department Store - Shanghai Pujian Branch Store in return for the nice treat, further gaining tremendous support and care from customers and staff.

Ms. Rebecca Woo, Director of Corporate Affairs and Chairman of Sustainability Steering Committee of NWDS said, “NWDS has been dedicated to promoting corporate sustainability development. We strive for business growth by delivering customers a comfortable shopping environment while sparing no effort in environmental protection and philanthropy. “Care for Schoolchildren” donation campaign carries deep and broad meaning. It fosters resource recycling by finding abandoned material a second home, to the hands of under-resourced schoolchildren to address their study needs. Another encouraging news is that our store traffic during the campaign period has recorded an increase compared to regular days, in which Wuhan New World Department Store - Wuchang Branch Store reported an over 100% rise in traffic compared to last year, demonstrating the belief and concept of the campaign was fully backed by our customers. In accordance with our corporate image as a social responsible company, NWDS will organize more sustainability activities in multiple themes to give back to society as well as to spread caring message far and wide.”

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