On 22 March 2025, the Rotary Club of Bangkok held its annual gala at the Grand Hyatt Erawan. Thailand's first pop-opera group performed. The night raised over a million baht for the Club's community projects.
There's a particular kind of Bangkok evening — dressed up, Grand Hyatt, a full room, something unexpected on the stage — that people talk about for months afterwards. "Spread the Magic" on 22 March 2025 was that kind of evening.
The Night
The headline act was FIVERA — Thailand's first and only pop-opera group. Five voices, ranging from classical operatic technique to contemporary pop. For guests expecting a standard charity dinner programme, it was a genuine surprise. Live classical singing makes a room go quiet in a way that most entertainment can't.
The rest followed the Club's established formula for its signature annual event: dinner at the Grand Hyatt Erawan, sponsored tables filled by Rotarians and their guests, a charity raffle with donated prizes, and a programme that aims to be as enjoyable as it is purposeful.
Sponsors included Taisei (Thailand) Co. Ltd., B. Grimm Power Public Co. Ltd., JNP Legal Co. Ltd., and Wissen & Co. Ltd. Raffle prizes were donated by the Hansar Bangkok Hotel, Thai Ocean Co. Ltd., Worita Cove Hotel in Chonburi, and Moracea by Khao Lak Resort. Contributions came from Rotarians in Bangkok, and — showing the reach of our network — from the Rotary Club of Kowloon East and the Rotary Club of Taipei South World.
The Number That Matters
Net proceeds from ticket sales, sponsorship, member donations, and the charity raffle: 1,224,186 Baht.
That money goes directly to our community projects — clean water systems, support for stateless children, scholarship programmes.
The Team
Fundraising Director Rtn Angus Lin ran the event, with Deputy Director Rtn Dr. Sayel Cortes. The committee included PP Linda Cheng, PP Kallaya Leeissarapong, PP Maleeratna Plumchitchom, and PP Chiemi Svensson. Rotaractors from the Rotaract Clubs of Mahidol University and Chulalongkorn University provided event staff — a contribution that goes well beyond its practical value.
The Case for Galas
Some argue that fundraising events are an inefficient way to raise money. The counter-argument is that a gala does more than one thing. It raises funds. It brings new people into contact with the Club's work. It gives corporate sponsors a reason to engage. It creates an evening that members bring their most interesting contacts to, and that those contacts remember.
The 2024–25 gala raised over a million baht from people who had a genuinely good time doing it.
The Rotary Club of Bangkok's annual fundraising gala is held each year, typically in March. Corporate sponsorship packages are available. Visit RCBFoundation.org for more.