2020 Mr. Sheldon G. and Dr. Miriam Adelson Citizenship Awards - Meet the Winners From Macao

The Mr. Sheldon G. and Dr. Miriam Adelson Citizenship Award honors Sands Team Members across all our business regions – Las Vegas, Macao and Singapore – who demonstrate a dedication to giving back to local communities and important causes. Presented by Sands Cares, our global corporate giving program, the 2020 Adelson Citizenship Award was presented to nine Team Members. We previously introduced our Las Vegas-based winners. Today, meet our “Sands Cares Heroes” from Macao.

Surya Kumar Thapa (Bryan)
Security Officer

Born in Darjeeling, India, and raised in Nepal, Bryan has been with Sands for nearly nine years. In 2019, he was active with several causes, including the General Volunteers Association of Macao and the Macau Gaming Practitioners Volunteers Association. He still found time to participate in 68 hours of Sands Cares volunteer initiatives, as well.

Bryan faced his biggest life challenge at a young age, leaving home and traveling abroad to find a rewarding career. With a lot of hard work, he was able to achieve his dreams of supporting his family. He credits his parents, especially his father, with inspiring him to make it through even the toughest times. “My father taught me the importance of hard work and determination,” Bryan says. “He is the biggest reason I am the person I am today.”

Other Fast Facts:

What three moments tell the story of your life?
The day I became engaged to my wife, receiving my first salary after a month of hard work and when my first son was born.

Who are you most proud of?
My parents. They are always supportive and, and do all they can to make others around them happy.

What is the best advice you ever received?
Be kind to people, be positive, treat others as you would like to be treated and never give up. I always try to implement these pieces of advice in my own life.

Chao Lai Lin (Lilian)
Senior Convention Services Manager

Lilian has been with the company for over 12 years, and has been a dedicated Sands Cares volunteer throughout that time. In 2019, she logged a 75 volunteer hours for different company-sponsored causes, and many more in her spare time to causes held personally dear, including the Association of Volunteer Social Service Macao and Best Buddies, an international nonprofit dedicated to creating comprehensive opportunities for inclusiveness for individuals with disabilities.

Lilian was born in Guangzhou, but moved to Macao at the age of one. Married for over 20 years with two children, a son and a daughter, Lilian counts her husband as among her chief inspirations to give back to her community: “He helped me learn to focus on doing my part, and on doing it well, and not focus on what other people think.” With her family’s support, Lilian says, she’s been able to pursue two separate diploma courses, and is excited to keep learning new things: “There is no end to learning.”

Other Fast Facts:

What is the best advice you ever received?
A contented mind is like a perpetual feast.

What is one surprising fact about you?
I enjoy studying aromatic oils and making my own essential oil products.

What are you most proud of?
My “can do” attitude. If someone ever thinks I can’t do something, that just makes me try even harder.

Zhou Ya Quing (Sandra)
Casino Operations Pit Manager

Sandra is another long-tenured Sands Team Member, having been with the company for nearly 15 years. She gave nearly 130 hours to Sands Cares volunteer events in 2019, and is also active in Best Buddies, just like Lilian.

Sandra, originally born in Zhuhai, now lives in Macao with her husband, their 12 year-old son and two pet turtles. She takes pride in her family, and in being part of the Sands China team. “I spend a lot of time between working and caring for my son, who has a mild form of autism,” she says. “But I still find time to volunteer whenever I can.” She credits her volunteer experience with helping her understand her son’s unique needs. “After I began volunteering, I started getting in touch with other parents of children with special needs. We’ve exchanged information and knowledge, and that has helped me learn the skills to better care for him.”

Other Fast Facts:

What is the best life advice you ever received?
The most valuable asset in one’s life is one’s interactions with others. You become inspired to learn more skills, gain more knowledge and be empathetic.

Who is your hero?
My mother. She had to take care of an entire family of five children by herself. She passed away not long ago, and I will never forget the values and virtues she taught me.

What do you admire most in others?
I admire people who are cheerful, honest and enthusiastic about helping others, and who take pride in being just and fair.