The fundraising group that has raised over HK$ 86 million for the underprivileged children of Hong Kong’s Po Leung Kuk for the past 14 years will host its annual charity ball, the Ruck ‘N’ Roll Charity Ball, supported by the Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) Community Foundation and Po Leung Kuk (PLK) as beneficiary, with a special performance by Don Felder, a former lead guitarist of The Eagles and a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The black tie event will be held on Saturday, the 5th of November 2016, at the Grand Hall, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. The charity ball has established itself as one of the highlights of the Hong Kong social calendar, attended by over 1,300 prominent local and overseas guests.

Grammy winner, Don Felder, is a former lead guitarist of The Eagles, one of the most popular rock groups of our time. He was a member of The Eagles for 27 years and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Felder, who is known for his distinctive guitar style, originated the music and co-wrote the Eagles’ biggest hit song, Hotel California, the iconic song and album of the same name that have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Felder is consistently in the top list of rock’s best lead guitarists.

The annual fundraising event is known for its gourmet dining, great wines, unique live and silent auction items, fabulous prizes, and most specially for its world-class entertainment that has headlined bands like Tears for Fears, the Jacksons, Huey Lewis and the News, INXS, the Doobie Brothers, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, the Beach Boys, Blondie, Charlie Daniels, Sergio Mendes and Jimmy Buffett.

“The Hong Kong Rugby Union is delighted to announce the Ruck ‘N’ Roll Charity Ball with all proceeds to benefit Po Leung Kuk, Hong Kong’s foremost educational charity,” said Pieter Schats, Chairman of the Hong Kong Rugby Union. “The Ruck ‘N’ Roll Charity Ball is an opportunity for the HKRU’s Community Foundation to partner with the wider Hong Kong

community in a glittering evening of entertainment and fun as well as the serious matter of giving back to our youth in need of support.”

“The HKRU Community Foundation has an ongoing partnership with “Tackling Life” schools rugby programme, so working together with Po Leung Kuk on this gala event is a perfect extension of the charity work of both our organisations. The HKRU is proud to be involved with and supporting the PLK’s excellent programmes and invaluable work in our community,” added Schats.

The Ruck ‘N’ Roll Charity Ball will raise funds to support PLK projects that include the Po Leung Kuk/UBS/Hong Kong Rugby Union Language Training Programme, PLK/Bank of America Merrill Lynch/HKRU Children’s Learning Centre, PLK/UBS/HKRU Child Development Programme, PLK/UBS/HKRU Baby College, PLK/Henrik Nielsen/HKRU Scholarship Fund, PLK/Sprouts Foundation/HKRU Education Services Centre and Secondary Education Services Centre, PLK/HKRU Tackling Life and Tackling English and the PLK/HKRU Pitch Perfect.

Four years ago, the HKRU successfully partnered with PLK for the "Tackling Life” and “Tackling English" projects, a notable collaboration that has introduced the game of rugby to over 3,700 PLK youngsters in the residential care centre, language training centres and 15 primary schools. At the same time, the programme develops the children’s English language and communications skills as coaching instructions are done in English.

The PLK/HKRU "Pitch Perfect" project built a rugby pitch at Tai Tong Holiday Camp where the youngsters could come and practice the rugby skills they have learned on the basketball courts of their schools. The children are thrilled to play on a real rugby pitch and the parents have lauded the HKRU-sponsored initiative for the visible changes the sport has made on their children's lives: development of teamwork, self-confidence, self-esteem and respect for each other.

“The Hong Kong Rugby Union has given our children a valuable opportunity to experience the best that the sport of rugby can offer.We are pleased that they have generously taken on the responsibility to support the projects that help educate and provide a better future for the less privileged children in Hong Kong” said Dr. Eleanor Kwok, Po Leung Kuk Chairman.

Tickets for the Ruck ‘N’ Roll Charity Ball are priced at HK$ 2,888 which includes pre-dinner cocktails, four-course dinner complemented by high-quality French and

Italian wines and an unforgettable evening with Don Felder. All drinks are complimentary, courtesy of the charity ball’s generous wine and liquor sponsors.

To reserve tickets, please contact the HK Rugby Union at [email protected]