Maovember 2019 Officially Launches This Friday With a Hulu Terrace Party

It’s that time of the year again folks! When leaves start to change, we trade in our tank tops for sweaters, and men all over the world grow out their mustaches for a good cause. That’s right, it’s Movember! Or as it’s more commonly known here in Beijing, Maovember; a playful portmanteau that combines the international title for the fundraising effort and the "mao," a coin worth one-tenth of the yuan.

The idea behind calling this month-long event Maovember is not only to work a little Beijing flavor into the mix, but rather to suggest that even the smallest donations can add up to big results. Put another way, the organizers hope that enough small change will instigate big changes.

This year, the volunteers behind Maovember have teamed up with The Library Project, an organization that, since its founding in 2006, has furnished more than 2,000 Chinese libraries with books, tables, chairs, and shelves. Maovember is dedicated to working with groups that display the utmost transparency so that participants can see tangible results from the work they do and the money they raise. Last year, this resulted in raising enough funds to buy and donate a delivery van and baking equipment to Bread of Life Bakery, an organization that employs orphans who suffer from brittle bone disease.

Although the festivities will be raging – and the funds a’ raising – all month long, Maovember officially kicks off this Friday, Nov 1 with a launch party at Hulu. Beginning at 6.30pm, folks are invited to the Terrace Party, where for RMB 150 you’ll get one hot drink or wine, a 2019 Maovember pin, and snacks, with more drinks available throughout the night. Of course, all the money for this event will be going to The Library Project. What’s more, there’ll be games to round the whole thing out, with the chance to win boozy prizes to boot!

It would be great to start the good-will celebrations off strong with a big turnout at Hulu, but if you can’t make it that evening, fear not: Maovember will be running all month long with a number of restaurants, bars, suppliers, and customers joining together for the good cause. Each event will feature food and drink deals, as well as fun activities such as beer or wine tastings, quiz nights, and sporty contests, with all proceeds going to The Library Project.

There are also plenty of other ways to support, such as purchasing an official Maovember pin (RMB 50), spreading the word on social media, or making a direct contribution to The Library Project (ID: TheLibraryProject).

This year's Maovember launch party will take place at Hulu on Friday, Nov 1 at 6.30pm. To RSVP, email nihao@maovember.com. For more information about The Library Project, click here.

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This article originally appeared on our sister site beijingkids.

Photos: Lex Faure (via Unsplash), courtesy of Maovember, The Library Project