The Western Academy of Beijing held a glamorous evening charity affair, WAB Gala 2016, at the InterContinental Beijing Sanlitun on November 5. The Gala is an important fundraising event that brings together the school's international community, dignitaries, celebrities and artists from around Beijing to celebrate the unique culture and educational programs that WAB provides to its diverse student body. Fundraising from this year's gala, "Paint the Town Red", will support the school's Duck Lake through the newly-launched Fund for Education and the Environment for Duck Lake (FEED).

Almost 300 guests attended the event. Among the evening's distinguished speakers were Dr. Jane Goodall, world-renowned conservationist, WAB Board Chair Tina Kjaergaard, Dr. J. Courtney Lowe, Director, and WAB students from the Duck Lake group, all of whom spoke on the importance of the environment and the exciting progress being made on the school's lake clean-up initiatives. 1.2 million RMB was donated by 6 WAB families to kickstart the FEED fund. The Gala itself raised over 450,000 RMB from sponsors and donors, including WAB parents and the community, bringing the total to 1.65 million RMB for Duck Lake.

Dr. Jane Goodall, the founder of the Roots and Shoots educational program and long-time friend of WAB, began the evening by sharing an inspirational message about the environment, conservation and hope. Dr. Goodall was instrumental in kick-starting Duck Lake clean-up efforts within the WAB community, and hoped that the initiative would serve as a shining example of what was possible when communities come together:

"Schools like WAB are doing so much to bring this indomitable spirit, to nurture it and help it grow and help other people to achieve their potential by offering them opportunities to make the world a better place. Empowering them, so that they can go, as this group who is cleaning up Duck Lake, is going to other schools, and telling other schools the importance of clean, fresh water."

With a partnership secured between WAB, OriginWater and others to begin large-scale purification works with the company's advanced biotechnology, Dr. Lowe announced the launch of the FEED fund, a sustainable source of income to fuel ongoing clean-up operations, an outdoor laboratory, and wetlands landscaping.

The Gala has a long tradition of fundraising for charitable causes, be they environmental, educational, or purely philanthropic.

"At our last Gala," Dr. Lowe said, "together we raised more than 440,000 RMB to support the WAB Innovation and Creativity Fund, WAB's 20th Anniversary celebrations, and the WheelsPlusWings charity, which supports children with physical disability to achieve their dreams. We know that with everyone's participation at these events, we can truly make a difference."

The school's 7th WAB Gala included dinner, live and silent auctions, games, music and performances. The evening's exhilarating theme, 'Paint the Town Red', celebrated life, community, and the power of positive change, no matter how small. It was an exuberant night, showcasing WAB's very own High School musicians, Jazz Band, and Beijing Dance Theatre. The night also included performances by Nancy and the Fantastic with DJ Phillip Cowell.

To learn more about WAB's charitable projects, click here. To donate to Duck Lake and other WAB causes, click here.