Singtel raises $2.2 million for beneficiaries
Singtel Touching Lives Fund receives generous and unwavering support despite economic downturn
Singapore, 2 April 2009 – Singapore Telecommunications Limited (Singtel) is pleased to announce today that the Singtel Touching Lives Fund, its philanthropy programme, has successfully raised a total of $2.2 million in 2008.
This has been made possible with the generosity and unwavering support of its business partners, customers, employees and members of the public. Singtel also matched dollar for dollar outright cash donations.
The $2.2 million was raised through various activities including the Singtel Charity Golf, Fold-A-Heart event and Singtel Charity Food and Fun Fair.
Every dollar raised by the Singtel Touching Lives Fund in 2008 will go to the six beneficiaries – APSN Tanglin School, Autism Resource Centre, Fei Yue Community Services, Milk Fund, Singapore Children’s Society and Students Care Service – to help them in their work.
At a ceremony held today at the APSN Tanglin School, Ms Chua Sock Koong, Singtel Group CEO, presented a cheque for $2.2million to His Excellency, Mr S R Nathan, President of Singapore, who accepted it on behalf of the Fund’s beneficiaries.
Speaking at the event, Ms Chua said: "Singtel Touching Lives Fund has been a great success since the launch in 2002 and the programme continues to grow from strength to strength through our combined efforts to engage the community.
“2008 was no different. Although the impact of the financial downturn was starting to be felt in Singapore, our stakeholders continued to rally behind us. “
The funds will touch the lives of about 30,000 less privileged children and youths between the ages of 2 and 25, with programmes such as training and special education for the intellectually challenged, school social work and counselling for youth from challenging family circumstances or those with learning difficulties and counselling services through telephone or the Internet.
Since its launch, the Singtel Touching Lives Fund has raised a total of more than $14 million for 19 charities affiliated to the National Council of Social Service.
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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’slaunch, S$14 million has been raised for 19 charities under the auspices of the National Council of Social Service.
Beneficiaries of Singtel Touching Lives Fund 2008
APSN Tanglin School
Tanglin School, managed and run by the Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN), provides special education for children and youths with mild intellectual disabilities. Its training programme aims to equip them with the necessary skills, attitude and personality to lead independent lives in adulthood.
The School runs the BEST (Basic Education for Skills Training) Programme for English and Mathematics with an emphasis on computer literacy. The School also provides co-curricular activities in the form of a choir, dancing, guitar club, scouting and sports for pupils with special interests and abilities.
This special School serves 462 beneficiaries aged between 13 and 16 years.
Website:
www.apsn.org.sg
Autism Resource Centre – WeCan
The WeCan Early Intervention Programme, offered by the Autism Resource Centre, provides a curriculum that is geared towards preparing young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) for mainstream schools.
The programme is targeted at children with ASD, aged 2 to 6 years old. It also offers training for the caregivers of these children.
The WeCan Early Intervention Programme serves the needs of 134 children and their caregivers.
Website:
www.wecaneip.com/arc/web/
Fei Yue Community Services – eGen
eGen uses an integrated blog and e-counselling facility as well as a forum for youths to tackle issues such as family problems, boy-girl relationships, suicidal thoughts and difficulties in schools.
eGen is the first local blog community with an in-built online counseling facility for youths and young adults in Singapore. The site was started by Project180 (Youth Services under the umbrella of Fei Yue Community Services) as an alternative platform to encourage expressions of different life issues among youths.
The service targets youths aged 13 to 25 years old.
Website:
www.fycs.org/
Milk Fund
MILK (Mainly I Love Kids) Fund is a charity organisation, which reaches out to disadvantaged children in the hope of developing them into contributing members of society. These children come from troubled or low-income families, suffer from chronic illnesses, physically challenged and often caught in a downward cycle that their circumstances destine them to.
Registered in June 2004, MILK Fund is a charity organisation that was set up to reach out and help disadvantaged children who “fall through the cracks” of our social safety net. MILK works alongside mainstream programmes, through our partners, to plug the gaps and provide a holistic approach that guide these disadvantaged children back to mainstream society.
MILK helps disadvantaged children and youth, both Singapore and overseas. These children come from troubled families or impoverished communities, suffer from chronic illnesses or are physically challenged. We support them in their education, care and guidance, vocational and livelihood development, medical treatment or other special needs so as to help them break out of the disadvantaged circumstances they were born into.
MILK helps disadvantaged children and youth, both Singapore and overseas. These children come from troubled families or impoverished communities, suffer from chronic illnesses or are physically challenged. We support them in their education, care and guidance, vocational and livelihood development, medical treatment or other special needs so as to help them break out of the disadvantaged circumstances they were born into.
Website:
www.milk.org.sg/milk/index.php
Singapore Children’s Society - Tinkle Friend
The Tinkle Friend Helpline is a toll-free helpline operated by Singapore Children’s Society for primary school pupils to call when they feel distressed, lonely or afraid and need to talk to someone. The Helpline received more than 4,400 calls in 2006.
The Tinkle Friend Programme also organises talks and distributes newsletters to reach out to primary schools to promote awareness of the Tinkle Friend Helpline. In 2006, Tinkle Friend Programme reached out to 63,880 children through 50 schools.
Other outreach activities include the Tinkle Friend Camp which aims to provide children with opportunities for character development and the constructive use of time.
Students Care Service
Students Care Service is a community-based social service agency. There are two services run by the Students Care Service that are funded by NCSS, namely the School Social Work and Educational Psychological Service.
School Social Work helps students who face difficulties in their developmental process, socio-emotional development or in adjusting to school life.
Educational Psychological Service is a learning support programme for mainstream school students who have learning difficulties and/or have special needs. The programme focuses on diagnosis and intervention for these students.
Students Care Service operates from three service centres in Clementi, Yishun and Hougang.
It serves the needs of 20,676 children and young people aged 5 to 18 years old.
Website:
www.students.org.sg
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