On 7 November, Cathay Pacific Airways and UNICEF announced that almost HK$10 million was collected through the "Change for Good" inflight fundraising programme in the 2005/2006 programme period. Most of the money raised will go to UNICEF to help in its projects to improve the lives of underprivileged children around the world. In addition, HK$700,000 of the Change for Good proceeds will be donated to the Cathay Pacific Wheelchair Bank to help local children with neuromuscular diseases.

Cathay Pacific pioneered Change for Good with UNICEF in 1991 and over the past 16 years the airline has raised almost HK$74 million through the programme, in which spare change in foreign currencies is collected from passengers.

A special event was held at Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong today to announce the latest amount raised through Change for Good and to highlight the work UNICEF is doing to help improve the plight of the world's children. Guests included Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Philip Chen; Chairman, Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF Dr. Robert Fung; Chairman, Regular Fundraising Committee, Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF Maggie Koong; and Cathay Pacific General Manager Corporate Communication Dane Cheng. Also present were local celebrities Gigi Leung and Karen Mok who both work as Ambassadors for the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF.

Speaking at the event, Philip Chen said: "The Change for Good concept of collecting spare change from passengers is very simple and at the same time extremely effective in raising vital funds for UNICEF and the Cathay Pacific Wheelchair Bank. We are very pleased to have collected almost HK$10 million in 2005/2006 and we are confident the money will be put to good use in helping to improve the lives of disadvantaged children."

UNICEF's Maggie Koong said: "It was another very impressive year in terms of the money raised for UNICEF through Change for Good. We would like to thank Cathay Pacific and its staff for this great effort, and also all the passengers who have given so generously over the past 16 years."

During the event Ambassadors Gigi and Karen shared some of their experiences of working with UNICEF and urged people to lend their support to Change for Good. Local artiste Ellesmere Choy and a number of Cathay Pacific staff talked about their experiences on a recent Change for Good field trip to the Philippines, where they saw how UNICEF is putting funds to good use in various projects in the Oriental Negros province.

An exhibition at the event showed photos and video highlights from the field trip, which introduced delegates to the work being done in various areas, ranging from support for victims of child abuse to successful education projects in remote, impoverished regions.

The field trip proved to be an eye-opening - and often very emotional - experience for those who took part. Delegate Eric Chan from Cathay Pacific's Airport team said: "I had the opportunity to meet many children during this trip and was able to understand their concerns. They may live in hardship but there is always a sense that things will get better through the help of organisations such as UNICEF." Terri Li, a cabin crew with the airline, said: "Now, whenever I see a UNICEF donation envelope, I will recall the scenes from the Philippines and remind myself that more needs to be done to make this world a better place for all."

Photograph: Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Mr Philip Chen (centre), together with Chairman of Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF, Dr Robert H.P. Fung (3rd from the right), Chairman of Regular Fundraising Committee, Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF Ms Maggie Koong (2rd from the left), UNICEF Hong Kong Committee Ambassadors Gigi Leung, Karen Mok urged the public to lend their support to Change for Good.