SHANGHAI – In a significant demonstration of corporate-philanthropic partnership, Marriott International’s Central China Business Council and the Yao Foundation have successfully concluded their landmark 10th Annual Charity Night. The prestigious event, held at The St. Regis Shanghai Jing’an, brought together business leaders and sports icons in a unified mission to transform educational opportunities for rural Chinese youth.
The gala attracted prominent figures including Michael Malik, Chief Operations Officer for Greater China at Marriott International, alongside basketball legend Yao Ming who serves as Chairman of the Yao Foundation, and Ye Li, the Foundation’s Honorary Chairman. This convergence of hospitality leadership and sports advocacy highlighted the growing synergy between corporate social responsibility and athletic development initiatives.
Proceeds from the 2025 fundraising initiative will be exclusively directed toward enhancing sports education infrastructure in China’s underserved rural communities. This strategic focus addresses the critical need for holistic youth development programs that combine physical education with academic growth, recognizing sports as a vital component of comprehensive childhood development.
Michael Malik emphasized the philosophical alignment between the organizations, stating: ‘Our collaboration with Yao Foundation leverages collective strengths to instill hope through educational empowerment. Guided by Marriott’s core values of ‘Put People First’ and ‘Serve Our World’, and through our ‘Serve 360’ Sustainability and Social Impact Platform, we remain committed to creating lasting positive impact in the communities we serve.’
The decade-long partnership represents one of China’s most sustained corporate-philanthropic initiatives, having consistently channeled resources toward narrowing the educational divide between urban and rural regions. This year’s event particularly focused on sports education’s role in developing teamwork, discipline, and health awareness among young students in areas where such programs are often underfunded or unavailable.
The Charity Night has established itself as a cornerstone event in China’s philanthropic calendar, demonstrating how sustained corporate engagement can drive meaningful social change while inspiring other organizations to develop similar long-term commitment to educational equity.