Singtel Touching Lives Fund exceeds fund-raising target for fifth straight year 

Singapore, 5 February 2007 – Thanks to the generous support and contribution from its business partners, employees and members of the public, Singtel has again exceeded its target of S$2 million for the Singtel Touching Lives Fund. 

More than 28,000 less privileged children and young people will benefit from the S$2.3 million raised in 2006.

The amount raised will go towards supporting the programmes of five children’s charities that assist or reach out to them:

• Association for Persons with Special Needs - Tanglin School
• Autism Resource Centre – WeCan
• Fei Yue Community Services – eGen
• Singapore Children’s Society - Tinkle Friend
• Students Care Service

These charities are all affiliated to the National Council of Social Service (NCSS). Please see Annex for more information.

Mr Lee Hsien Yang, Singtel’s Group CEO, said: “We have been running the Singtel Touching Lives Fund for five years now. Each year, we set aside a target and involve our business partners, customers, employees and members of the public in our fund-raising efforts.  Every year, this joint effort has helped us to exceed the target and help more children and young persons who are in need.

“I am happy that 2006 continued this tradition of Singtel working successfully with the community to benefit the less privileged in Singapore.”

Rear Admiral Kwek Siew Jin, President of NCSS, said: “Singtel Touching Lives Fund is a good model for many corporates to emulate. Its excellent and creative way of raising funds through engaging corporate partners, employees and the community in doing their bit for the less fortunate and disadvantaged enables many companies to be involved.  

“On behalf of NCSS, Community Chest and the children from the five voluntary welfare organisations receiving the donations, I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to Singtel and applaud its management and staff, and their corporate partners, for their dedication to help the social service sector.”

Fund-raising activities for Singtel Touching Lives Fund 2006 included a Charity Golf game involving Singtel’s business partners which raised more than $570,000 as well as a Fold-A-Heart campaign, which Singtel donated $1 each for the more than 114,000 origami-style paper hearts folded and sent in by the public.

Singtel also matched outright donations to the Fund dollar-for-dollar.

In addition to online donations via the company’s Intranet, Singtel employees organised a Charity Carnival in December 2006. Apart from the food, games and entertainment items, the Charity Carnival saw Singtel’s top executives, including Group CEO, Mr Lee Hsien Yang, getting dunked by enthusiastic members of the public for a good cause.

From its launch in 2002 to date, the Singtel Touching Lives Fund has raised S$10.3 million for the less privileged in Singapore.  

About Singtel Touching Lives Fund

The Singtel Touching Lives Fund is Singtel’s annual corporate philanthropy programme to help the less privileged children and young people in Singapore. It was launched in 2002 to consolidate the Group’s community support activities. Since the Fund’s launch, S$10.3 million has been raised for 18 charities under the auspices of the National Council of Social Service.

Funds raised

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Annex

Beneficiaries ofSingtel Touching Lives Fund 2006

APSN Tanglin School

The school provides special education for children with mild intellectual disability. Its special education programme provides education and training to equip the children with necessary skills, attitude and personality to lead normal independent lives in adulthood.

Autism Resource Centre – WeCan

The WeCan Programme is geared towards preparing young children with autism spectrum disorders for mainstream schools. 

Student Care Services

Its ‘School Social Work’ programme helps students who face difficulties in their developmental process, socio-emotional development or in adjusting to their school life. Another programme is the ‘Educational Psychological Service’ which focuses on diagnosis and intervention for mainstream school students who have difficulties and special needs. Student Care Service operates from three service centres in Clementi, Yishun and Hougang.

Fei Yue Community Services – eGen

eGen uses an integrated blog and e-counselling facility as well as a forum for youths to handle issues such as family problems, boy-girl relationships, suicidal thoughts and difficulties in schools.

Singapore Children’s Society - Tinkle Friend

It offers a national toll-free helpline for primary school students to call when they feel distressed, lonely or afraid and need to talk to someone. The helpline received more than 4,400 calls in 2005. Tinkle Friend’s activities also include talks and newsletters to primary schools to promote the helpline number and a Tinkle Friend Camp for character development and constructive use of time.

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