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"Home for CNY" raises $0.5m for the needy
By Lynda Hong | Posted: 29 January 2011 2122 hrs
SINGAPORE: Corporate social responsibility (CSR) can help promote a company's image.
But in a charity drive that raised half a million dollars, its donors - corporate or individuals - chose not to be in the limelight.
The auditorium at Methodist Girls' School was turned into a mini shopping centre for a day.
1,400 needy Singaporeans - whose monthly combined household income is below S$1,200 - could pick two items of clothing each without paying for them.
Not only that, a S$100 hongbao awaited each recipient.
For some, the money comes in handy for their school-going children.
A recipient, 46-year-old Jeffrey Lim, plans to use the cash for his primary school-going son's pocket money, school bus fees, and some extra food for the Lunar New Year.
"At this point in time I am in dire strait and I am in a very serious financial difficulty. So with all this (help), it does help me," he said.
The help comes from the "Home for CNY" project organised by the "One Dream" Initiative. The project started more than three weeks ago, raising half a million dollars in cash and kind.
One donor even contributed S$150,000 in cash. All donors want to be anonymous.
The leader of the "One Dream" Initiative, Peter Ong, said the "Home for CNY" project simply wants to inspire hope and memories in Singaporeans.
"We are not in it for glory. Why name ourselves to distract from the coverage of the event or for the total feeling for what we are actually after? Our home project came about because many people have lost a sense of what 'home' really means. Singapore should be a place of hope, should be a place of about memories. One shouldn't just fight or defend the country for physical assets," said Mr Ong.
The "One Dream" Initiative has some 200 volunteers so far. They come from all walks of life, some of whom are leaders in the public sector, multinational companies and volunteer voluntary welfare organisations.
- CNA/ir
By Lynda Hong | Posted: 29 January 2011 2122 hrs
SINGAPORE: Corporate social responsibility (CSR) can help promote a company's image.
But in a charity drive that raised half a million dollars, its donors - corporate or individuals - chose not to be in the limelight.
The auditorium at Methodist Girls' School was turned into a mini shopping centre for a day.
1,400 needy Singaporeans - whose monthly combined household income is below S$1,200 - could pick two items of clothing each without paying for them.
Not only that, a S$100 hongbao awaited each recipient.
For some, the money comes in handy for their school-going children.
A recipient, 46-year-old Jeffrey Lim, plans to use the cash for his primary school-going son's pocket money, school bus fees, and some extra food for the Lunar New Year.
"At this point in time I am in dire strait and I am in a very serious financial difficulty. So with all this (help), it does help me," he said.
The help comes from the "Home for CNY" project organised by the "One Dream" Initiative. The project started more than three weeks ago, raising half a million dollars in cash and kind.
One donor even contributed S$150,000 in cash. All donors want to be anonymous.
The leader of the "One Dream" Initiative, Peter Ong, said the "Home for CNY" project simply wants to inspire hope and memories in Singaporeans.
"We are not in it for glory. Why name ourselves to distract from the coverage of the event or for the total feeling for what we are actually after? Our home project came about because many people have lost a sense of what 'home' really means. Singapore should be a place of hope, should be a place of about memories. One shouldn't just fight or defend the country for physical assets," said Mr Ong.
The "One Dream" Initiative has some 200 volunteers so far. They come from all walks of life, some of whom are leaders in the public sector, multinational companies and volunteer voluntary welfare organisations.
- CNA/ir
