With over 300,000 volunteering hours, Sands China gives back to the Macao community

Sands China has been rooted in the city for two decades and is committed to giving back to the local community that it calls home. The company has been fulfilling its corporate social responsibility with concrete action to support local disadvantaged groups and implement sustainable measures to bring a positive impact to the city – together making Macao an ideal place to live, work and visit. 

Sands Cares Ambassador Program

Since 2005, Sands China team members have been volunteering their time in the community in their off-duty hours to bring warmth and care to vulnerable groups. Sands China formalized those efforts by launching the Sands Cares Ambassador Program in August 2009 as a platform to serve the community. The Sands Cares Ambassadors, now numbering over 3,330, have organized or participated in over 620 community events comprising more than 300,000 hours of volunteer service.

Aligning with the principles of the “Sands Cares” global corporate citizenship programme of parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS), Sands China has been working closely with 520 local community groups and organizations to provide financial giving, community problem solving and collaboration, in-kind donations, and other charity work.

Sands Cares Food Kit Build

In June, the Sands Cares Food Kit Build assembled and distributed food kits to the elderly at Caritas Macau’s Brilho da Vida Elderly Centre, in a mass effort to get food resources to people in need.

The Sands Cares Ambassadors Program will have delivered a total of 3,000 food kits, 21 tons in total, by March 2024, to elderly residents, disabled people, households facing financial difficulties, community organisation users, food bank users and others who need help in Macao. Furthermore, Sands China has donated 960 kg of excess pastries and bakery items to the Macao ECOnscious Association since 2022 in support of the Community Fridge Donation initiative.

Sands Golf Day

In support of the development of local sports talent and to nurture the growth of young athletes, Sands China hosted Sands Golf Day, featuring renowned professional golfers Minjee Lee, Lydia Ko, Minwoo Lee, and Collin Morikawa engaging with the Macau Junior Golf Association. As a platform for mentorship, the event aimed to motivate young athletes to pursue their goals and realise their full potential. Moreover, Sands China donated a total of MOP 100,000 to the Macau Deaf Association and Orbis Macau as part of a friendly competition during the event.

In bringing sporting events and professional athletes to Macao, Sands China is committed to creating opportunities for young people to interact and learn from people like British football icon David Beckham and Minjee Lee. 

Macao International 10K

In March, the Sands China Macao International 10K welcomed nearly 10,000 runners from 37 countries and regions. As title sponsor, Sands China invested MOP 8 million in the event in support of the development of the local sports industry. Over 250 team members participated in the competition, wearing a special t-shirt designed for them by local SMEs.

Sands China also invited families from Macau Special Olympics and Richmond Fellowship of Macau to join the 10K event, with accompaniment by Sands Cares Ambassadors to complete the race together. Furthermore, the Ambassadors offered a series of fun “Family Sports Day” activities at The Venetian Macao to members of the Women’s Association of Macau, and a 10K themed interactive zone at The Venetian Macao allowed residents and visitors to experience the vibrant and joyful atmosphere of the event.

The 70th Macau Grand Prix

Sands China supported the world-famous Macau Grand Prix with a special community outing; a series of Grand Prix themed activities, installations and workshops at The Venetian Macao and at the historic Iec Long Firecracker Factory, which Sands China is revitalising; and concerts on each of the two Grand Prix weekends to promote the integrated development of sports, culture and tourism.

Sands China sponsored the Sheng Kung Hui (SKH) Grand Prix: Parent-child Pair-up, where SKH members visited the Macau Grand Prix museum and spent quality time together enhancing parent-child relationships through interactive games. As the second part of the activity, Sands Cares Ambassadors also invited them to watch the races together, promoting the building of a harmonious and inclusive community.

Environmental protection

Environmental sustainability is core to Sands China’s business practices. The Sands ECO360 global sustainability strategy guides its resorts, and drives sustainable operations, conservation practices and eco-friendly initiatives that minimise environment impact, preserve natural resources and achieve the company’s commitment to protecting the planet.

Sands China executes MICE events with its Green Meetings principles, which utilise proactive measures to minimise the carbon footprint of events. The company’s long-term dedication to sustainable operations led to Macao’s first carbon neutral exhibition, the 2022 and 2023 MIECF, being held at The Venetian Macao’s Cotai Expo.

Responsible Gaming

Responsible gaming is essential for the sustainability of Macao’s gaming industry, and Sands China proactively develops a culture of responsible gaming by promoting activities to increase the public’s understanding of responsible gaming. The company launched a self-exclusion programme in 2004 and established its comprehensive responsible gaming programme in 2007, which includes providing responsible gaming training to all new employees.

Furthermore, Sands China strives to enhance responsible gaming knowledge of its Responsible Gaming Ambassadors and all its team members, supporting the healthy development for the industry and bolstering the health and well-being of gaming practitioners. In support of the Macao government’s “Seeking Help for Winning the Future” responsible gaming campaign, the company held the first ever responsible gaming themed carnival in Macao, in order to develop the concept of smart financial management and increase responsible gaming awareness among families. Sands China also partnered with the University of Macau’s Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming to launch Macao’s first localized responsible gaming ambassador course in 2023, offering a tailored, content-based approach to allow team members to master the necessary skills to assist guests in need.