MACAO, MARCH 4, 2014  - Best Buddies International, a groundbreaking nonprofit founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is pleased to announce that the Venetian Ball 2014: A Night of Glitz and Glamour will take place at The Venetian Macao on Saturday, March 15.  

 

The Venetian Ball, a star-studded Great Gatsby-themed affair, will celebrate the launch of Best Buddies Macao Association. It will feature a gourmet meal, an incredible auction experience, and live entertainment by Academy Award winning actor and long-time Best Buddies supporter Kevin Spacey, who will perform his internationally acclaimed nightclub act. The evening's entertainment also includes performances by live bands and Hong Kong singer-songwriter Anthony Lun.

 

"We enthusiastically look forward to celebrating the launch of our Macao programs with Sands China Ltd., developer and operator of The Venetian Macao," said Kennedy Shriver, Founder and Chairman of Best Buddies International. "Sands China's parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp. has been a magnificent corporate friend to Best Buddies for many years, and we are eternally grateful for the incredible generosity it has bestowed upon us. Its long-standing commitment to supporting our mission of friendship and inclusion has allowed us to increase our outreach to people with special needs in America at unprecedented levels, illustrating the true spirit of what Best Buddies is all about to greater number of citizens, while further illuminating Sands' exemplary corporate social responsibility. We are very happy to now be working with Sands China to bring Best Buddies to Macao."

 

Best Buddies Macao Association has operated since January 2014 and will officially launch in March 2014, with 6 initial participants in both the Friendship and Jobs Programs. It will be led by Elizabeth Yanming Tsui, Executive Director. The program was created given a founding leadership ongoing grant from Sands China Ltd. Its contribution to the establishment of Best Buddies Macao Association will enable local Macao community associations to benefit from the invaluable services provided by Best Buddies.

 

"Sands China created the Venetian Ball to raise funds for a noteworthy cause, and we are very pleased to raise funds this year for the establishment of Best Buddies in Macao," said Edward Tracy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sands China Ltd. "Sands China believes in providing equal opportunity for all and in active engagement with the community in Macao. By supporting Best Buddies, we are able to bring both of those beliefs together in a very meaningful way for the benefit of our community here in Macao."

 

Best Buddies Macao Association is further honored to initially be collaborating with the Associacao dos Familiares Encarregados dos Deficientes Mentais de Macau, Fuhong Society Macau, and the Macau Down Syndrome Association.

 

The Venetian Ball will bring together Macao's most notable residents and celebrities from around the globe.

There will also be a number of one-of-a-kind items up for live auction, including a special Audemars Piguet white gold case watch, the Rolling Stones' signed Fender electric guitar framed on a custom matboard, Andy Warhol's "Marilyn" (a set of 10 lithographs), three replica tennis racquets signed by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in a box frame, and a stunning Tiffany five-bar drop pendant in platinum with round brilliant diamonds.

 

Besides the live auction, there will be items available for ballot bidding, and the charity dinner will also raise funds through lucky draw prizes and raffle tickets, where 50 per cent of the proceeds will go to Best Buddies, and the remaining half will go to a single lucky winner.

 

Event Details:

Theme:                 The Venetian Ball 2014: A Night of Glitz and Glamour

Date:                      Saturday, March 15, 2014

Venue:                  The Venetian Ballroom, The Venetian Macao

Time:                     Cocktails               6:30 p.m.

Dinner                    7:30 p.m.

Enquiries:            +853 8117 2000 / RSVP@venetian.com.mo  

 

Tickets are priced at MOP 1,500 per head; 10 per cent discount offered for a table purchase (10 pax).

 

In addition, various sponsorship packages are available for commercial enterprises or individuals wishing to support this meaningful event. Sponsorship categories available are Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Presenting.

 

Please visit www.bestbuddies.org for more information or visit www.cotaiticketing.com for tickets to the exciting Venetian Ball 2014 and help raise funds for Best Buddies Macao Association.

 

ABOUT BEST BUDDIES INTERNATIONAL:

Best Buddies® is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant organization that has grown from one original chapter to more than 1,700 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Today, Best Buddies' eight formal programs — Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies® , Jobs, Ambassadors, and Promoters — engage participants in each of the 50 states and in over 50 countries, positively impacting the lives of more than 800,000 people with and without disabilities around the world. In many cases, as a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, become inspirational leaders, and make lifelong friendships.

 

For more information, please visit www.bestbuddies.org, facebook.com/bestbuddies or twitter.com/bestbuddies.

 

ABOUT THE VENETIAN® MACAO-RESORT-HOTEL:

Opened in 2007, The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel is Macao's first integrated resort featuring stunning replicas of the famous canals and architectural icons of Venice, Italy. The Venetian Macao features 3,000 suites, 1.2 million square feet (111,000 square metres) of convention and meeting facilities as well as a 15,000-seat Cotai Arena designed for world-class sports events and electrifying entertainment. The Venetian Macao is also home to the unique, 1,800-seat luxury Venetian Theatre, hosting the best in international and Chinese entertainment; more than 30 renowned restaurants; TAIVEXMALO Day Hospital & Spa; the incredibly fun QUBE indoor playground and more than 330 retailers at Shoppes at Venetian. Outdoor recreation areas include swimming pools and cabanas and a mini-golf course.

 

For more information, please visit www.venetianmacao.com.

ABOUT SANDS CHINA LTD.:

Sands China Ltd. (HKEx: 1928, Sands China or the Company) is a Cayman Islands registered company and is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. Sands China is the largest operator of integrated resorts in Macao. The Company's Cotai Strip Resorts Macao is comprised of The Venetian® Macao-Resort-Hotel, The Plaza™ Macao and Sands® Cotai Central. The Company also owns and operates Sands® Macao on the Macao peninsula. The Company's integrated resorts contain a diversified mix of leisure and business attractions and transportation operations, including large meeting and convention facilities, a wide range of restaurants, shopping malls, world-class entertainment at the Cotai Arena and the Venetian Theatre, and a high-speed Cotai Water Jet ferry service between Hong Kong and Macao. The Company's property development projects on Cotai have the goal of transforming it into Asia's premier entertainment and business destination. Sands China is a subsidiary of global resort developer Las Vegas Sands Corp.

 

For more information, please visit www.sandschinaltd.com.

For tickets or to become a Gala sponsor:

+853 8117 2000 

RSVP@venetian.com.mo

 

For media inquiries (including requests for credentials):    
Lily Cheng with Venetian Macau Limited

 +853 8118 2013

lily.sw.cheng@sands.com.mo

 

Heather Schatz with Best Buddies                      

305-374-2233 ext. 207                                                      

HeatherSchatz@bestbuddies.org            

 

 

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