FRIENDS OF HKIS

New nonprofit will strengthen connections for US-based alumni, former faculty and staff members

One important aspect of the HKIS mission is the commitment to an “American-style education”. It’s something that creates a common bond between alumni from the 1970s and students who are now half a century younger, reflecting a legacy that transcends generations.

Over the decades, many HKIS graduates attend top universities in the United States. Now, generations of alumni have established their lives and families in the US, strengthening this bond to the school.

In recent years, alumni and former educators in the US expressed a desire for a more efficient way to support HKIS back in Hong Kong. In late 2023, the school’s Board of Managers collaborated with former parents and board members to establish Friends of HKIS.

This organization can now accept gifts in US dollars from American financial institutions, using the same processes as any other US-based nonprofit. This eliminates concerns about currency conversion and international transfers, allowing donors to contribute directly to Friends of HKIS, which then forwards the gifts to the school.

Like any legal nonprofit in the US, Friends of HKIS has a Board of Directors that provides strategic oversight.

The inaugural board is comprised of experienced individuals passionate about HKIS, like Abigail DeLessio, former Chair of the Board of Managers, and Richard Mueller, former Chair, former Head of School, and retired US General Consul to Hong Kong.

Friends of HKIS simplifies the process for alumni, former parents, and former faculty to make online donations that benefit the students and teachers at HKIS.

Going forward, US-based alumni and former teachers, staff and board members can make their gifts quickly through Friends of HKIS!