February 11, 2020 – Galaxy Entertainment Group (“GEG”) announced a subsidy scheme targeting young children to assist local schools and nursery service users amid the pneumonia outbreak caused by novel coronavirus. Initiated by the Galaxy Entertainment Group Foundation (“the Foundation”) and upon consultation with the relevant departments of the Macau SAR Government, the scheme will provide a one-off subsidy of MOP30,000 to over 30 local schools to carry out necessary infection prevention measures, and a one-off subsidy of MOP2,000 to children registered at Macau’s 20 non-government subsidized nurseries. The scheme is part of the Foundation’s MOP25 million commitment aimed to support the novel coronavirus infection prevention efforts in the Macau community and Hubei Province. 

Through the subsidies, the Foundation aims to provide funding subsidy for kindergartens and primary schools to carry out necessary infection prevention measures to ensure a safe and healthy environment for students when classes resume. In addition, the Foundation aims to help relieve the financial pressure for parents whose child is registered at non-government-subsidized nurseries, and expects to benefit over 900 families with babies or young children.

In a hope to accelerate the implementation of initiatives that support the community in virus prevention, a special task force of GEG has been in close contact with different organizations. Earlier, GEG had donated disinfection and hygiene products to the Women's General Association of Macau and the Fuhong Society of Macau to better prepare their staff in providing assistance with the sales of surgical masks to the public. In addition, prior to the Chinese New Year, GEG delivered surgical masks, alcohol-based hand sanitizers and electronic thermometers to 40 elderly users of Peng On Tung Tele-Assistance Service. GEG will continue to work together with the Macau SAR Government and the community, and strictly follow the guidelines of the authorities to execute its preventive and other efforts.  

Upholding the philosophy of “what is taken from the community is to be used for the good of the community,” GEG advocates care and support for the community. In 2015, GEG established the Foundation, which focuses on philanthropic activities that nurtures young people, enabling them to become responsible citizens in their communities. Among the Foundation’s projects that targets young children and students, the Chinese Literacy Development Pilot Scheme conducted assessment for almost 1,000 children at two local seed kindergartens and provided special assistance for students at risk of language and literacy problems. In addition, advanced training was also provided for teachers and a series of parent seminars were also held to help parents build their child’s language skills. The scheme will roll out its second phase to benefit more students this year, in which several more local schools will join as seed schools. Meanwhile, the GEG Sign Bilingualism Co-enrolment Pilot Scheme was trailed at one nursery and one kindergarten in 2016 to enable deaf and hearing children to learn together in inclusive classrooms with both spoken and sign languages and enhance social inclusion.