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The Straits Times – PR gives back by boosting senior welfare

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Home Resources News The Straits Times – PR gives back by boosting senior welfare

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The Straits Times – PR gives back by boosting senior welfare

John Doe

After 20 years in this country, which he now calls home and where he was able to start and grow a successful business in water filtration, Mr Govind Bommi thought it was time to give back.

He called his lawyer in 2015, and said he wanted to start his own charity fund.

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“My lawyer asked me whether I was ready to put in the time and resources to run my own trust fund,” said the 71-year-old permanent resident originally from Bangalore, India. “He asked me not to rush into it.”

The lawyer asked him to contact the Community Foundation of Singapore instead.

He told the foundation he intended to support eldercare services as he felt an affinity for a sector with growing needs.

“I am also a senior, I feel I can do something.”

Mr Bommi is married to a Singaporean. He came to Singapore more than 20 years ago to work for a multinational and decided to settle down here. He has two children and five grandchildren who are living overseas.

Foundation staff took him around to view nursing homes and rehabilitation centres.

A visit to the Metta Day Rehabilitation Centre in Tampines left an impression. “The centre helps seniors discharged from hospitals get back on their feet. Their work is meaningful,” he said.

In March 2016, Mr Bommi set up a $250,000 fund under the care of the foundation to support the centre.

He has since pledged to increase his donation to $1 million over several years to support programmes run by the centre.

Besides making the donation, he also visits the centre every Thursday morning as a volunteer to keep the seniors company. Having the foundation run his donation fund gives him more time to volunteer at the centre, he said.

“Making a one-time donation is easy, but committing time to volunteering is harder.”

When asked why he volunteers then, he replied with a laugh: “Volunteering is more fun.”

中心“常胜将军”胡锦盛：比赛限时反应要快

现年92岁的胡锦盛是最年长的参赛者。自2017年退休后，他几乎每天都到活跃乐龄中心报到，从此爱上了玩拉密，每次可玩上三个小时，在中心是“常胜将军”。

Related Topics For You: AGEING WELL, CHARITY STORIES, DONOR STORIES, DONOR-ADVISED FUND, HEALTH, NEWS, PROMOTING HEALTHCARE, SENIORS, STORIES OF IMPACT

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News

Posts of the late former Law Society President Adrian Tan has been published as a book
律师公会已故前会长陈锦海曾发表贴文已结集成书

March 27, 2024

LinkedIn posts by the late Mr Adrian Tan have recently been compiled and published as a book, titled “If I were King of Singapore”.

All proceeds from the book will go to the Adrian Tan Memorial Fund, which is set up by Mrs Adrian Tan and managed by the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS).

This fund focuses on two primary causes that are close to Adrian’s heart: ensuring marginalised communities have access to legal services through Pro Bono SG and advocating the welfare of migrant workers.

Learn how CFS can support you in making an impact towards the causes that you care about: https://cf.org.sg/donors/how-we-assist-donors/.

LinkedIn posts by the late Mr Adrian Tan have recently been compiled and published as a book, titled “If I were King of Singapore”.

All proceeds from the book will go to the Adrian Tan Memorial Fund, which is set up by Mrs Adrian Tan and managed by the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS).

Learn how CFS can support you in making an impact towards the causes that you care about: https://cf.org.sg/donors/how-we-assist-donors/.

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Set up during the covid-19 pandemic, Sayang Sayang Fund raised $9.7m over three years, supporting over 400,000 lives
应疫情设立 Sayang Sayang基金三年筹970万元惠及40万人

2023年因病过世的新加坡律师公会前会长陈锦海律师，生前在LinkedIn发表的“如果我是新加坡国王”系列贴文已经结集成书，收入全数投入去年以他名义设立的“陈锦海纪念基金”。

陈锦海生前是义正律师事务所（TSMP Law Corporation）的合伙人，遗孀去年通过新加坡社区基金会（The Community Foundation of Singapore），设立纪念基金。

《联合早报》通过义正律所联合管理合伙人张祉盈律师，电邮访问陈锦海的妻子。

不愿具名的陈太太说，纪念基金旨在支持陈锦海撰写文章和社媒贴文常提起值得支持的慈善项目，“继续他的工作和精神遗产是有意义的”。

陈太太不愿透露纪念基金的金额，但根据新加坡社区基金会网站资料，设立基金的门槛为20万元。

基金的指定受益人都是陈锦海生前热衷的慈善项目，包括新加坡法律义务办事处（Pro Bono SG）和客工援助组织“康侍”（Healthserve）。

陈太太说，陈锦海在担任律师公会会长期间，强烈觉得新加坡法律义务办事处援助无力承担法律服务者的工作做得出色，所以基金将给予支持。为客工提供心理健康咨询，也将是基金的支持项目。

在法律界30多年的陈锦海，2022年1月起担任律师公会会长，上任两个月后不幸患癌，去年7月8日与世长辞，得年57岁。

撰写《纯爱手册》畅销书自给自足完成大学教育

1988年，陈锦海在新加坡国立大学法学院念大一时，先后撰写刻画本地初级学院学生生活的《纯爱手册》上下集——“The Teenage Textbook”和“The Teenage Workbook”。

两本书成为畅销书，曾登上舞台剧、拍成电影和电视剧，而他也靠两本书的收入自给自足，完成大学教育。

陈太太说，尽管出身卑微，陈锦海对自己有机会追求法律职业向来很感恩。为了纪念他这份感激之情，她将另设“陈锦海助学金”协助国大的贫困法学生。

陈锦海敢怒敢言，在去世前的三年多，他在社媒积极发表法律相关贴文，旨在提高公众的法律知识。

因笔调活泼，涵盖法律变革、无偿服务和客工课题等的内容生动易读，赢得好评，LinkedIn的追踪者达3万8000个。

陈锦海曾说自己有时要评论新加坡政府的政策，却不想说“如果我是政府”，所以选择以“如果我是新加坡国王”的诙谐方式表达，“因为我们知道，这里暂时还没有国王”。

陈太太说，陈锦海一直想再出书，却被病症阻碍，“他不会想到，自己在LinkedIn发表的系列贴文会取得巨大成功，最终结集成书”。

“他去世后，公众和认识他的人都深切悲痛，许多人，甚至是通过LinkedIn认识他的人，都表示会想念他和他的作品。”

新书让陈锦海的声音永存

陈太太透露，很多人要求保留陈锦海的LinkedIn账户，以便继续阅读他生前的想法。

“这本书就这样出版了。对许多被他感动的人来说，这是让他的声音继续存在的一种方式。”

《如果我是新加坡国王》已在纪伊国屋书店（Kinokuniya）、大众书局、Book Bar和WHSmith樟宜分店出售。

信用：联合早报©新报业媒体有限公司。复制需要许可

This article was originally published in Zaobao here. Source: Zaobao © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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Events

Colabs: doing more for persons with disabilities

John Doe

As persons with disabilities reach age 18 and exit the school system, they face new life challenges, including living their desired life and gaining access to care and support. With a keen eye on identifying opportunities to improve the lives of these individuals, we kicked off the Colabs Disability series which focused on engagement pathways and employment through catalysing cross-sector collaboration.

As part of the series, participants were recently invited to the MINDS’ Idea Employment Development Centre to understand what a sheltered employment workshop in Singapore would look like. Made up of a diverse group, including social enterprises, corporates, philanthropic institutions, government agencies and non-profits, the group bonded over a common desire to learn and do more for persons with disabilities.

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The group took part in various work stations at MINDS, where they interacted and worked alongside their clients. On a daily basis, clients were engaged in a wide range of activities, from seeding, retail, craft and kitchen work, to the packing of edible gifts, bottled water, and disposable earphones.

Next, participants gathered to share their aspirations for persons with disabilities, and their ideas on how the current model of sheltered employment could be improved. For many in the room, it was an eye-opening experience and a great chance to explore opportunities to contribute and collaborate.

Within the context of the sheltered workshop, companies and philanthropists can:

Create greater variety in jobs in workshops, or increase the number of jobs available, by connecting sheltered workshops with potential employers to explore and implement job re-design matched to the abilities of persons with disabilities, or encouraging companies to outsource certain tasks to persons with disabilities (e.g. event decoration, gift preparation, logistics). Much of this can be enabled by education and outreach to potential partners.

Provide a variety of social activities outside of work tasks in sheltered employment workshops, through partnerships with existing non-profits.

Improve the financial sustainability of running sheltered workshops by funding wages or subsidies, providing pro-bono services or skill-based volunteering to sheltered workshops in the marketing of existing products such as bottled water, food and gifts.

Companies and philanthropists interested in understanding how to work together with MINDS can contact the Idea Employment Development Centre to explore possibilities.

If you’re interested in what can be done to support persons with disabilities and their caregivers, the DesignSingapore Council has published an ethnographic study documenting how persons with disabilities live, work and interact with society, along with an illustrated overview of services supporting persons with disabilities.

Some suggestions for collaborative solutions – based on the collective feedback of over 80 participants in the series – are outlined in the Colabs publication ‘A Call for Collaborative Giving: Bridging the Divide for Persons with Disabilities’ which can be downloaded here.

Related Topics For You: AGEING WELL, CHARITY STORIES, DONOR STORIES, DONOR-ADVISED FUND, HEALTH, NEWS, PROMOTING HEALTHCARE, SENIORS, STORIES OF IMPACT

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Stories Of Impact

The REDAS Solidarity Project Fund: Caring for migrant workers affected by COVID-19

John Doe

Among the vulnerable communities in Singapore impacted by COVID-19, it is the community of migrant workers who have toiled invisibly to help build our nation that has been very heavily affected. Infection amongst their community has been widespread, and a large number of them are confined to their dormitories, unable to leave.

It is thus very encouraging that the Singapore government and many other organisations have stepped up to give assistance and support to them in their isolation.

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To help ease their plight, the Real Estate Developers Association of Singapore (REDAS) announced on 30th April the launch of the REDAS Solidarity Project Fund. Its aim is to provide aid and relief to the segments of the community most affected by COVID-19, particularly in the built environment sector where many migrant workers are employed.

So far, more than 50 REDAS members have contributed $760,000 to the Fund, which was also launched to show appreciation for Singapore’s healthcare workers.

Through collaboration with the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS) and other partners such as the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), REDAS was able to promptly roll out the initiative to demonstrate our community’s stand for Singapore’s migrant workers.

“Our migrant workers are the cornerstone of society and it is important to recognise their valuable contributions,’’ says Deputy CEO of CFS Joyce Teo. “CFS fully supports such efforts to ensure that they receive the best possible assistance during their time of need. ’’

To mark the start of their giving, REDAS distributed 200,000 care packs to as many workers in factory-converted dormitories through the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC). These care packs will include toiletries such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, a shaver and a bar of soap. In addition, 800 standing fans will also be donated to dormitories to help improve ventilation for the workers.

“Given the large number of migrant workers under quarantine in dormitories, there is great urgency for us to meet their essential needs amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” says REDAS President Mr Chia Ngiang Hong. “We hope this collective effort to spread a little kindness to the migrant workers will provide the much needed emotional support to help them ride out this difficult period.”

The May Day Gift event to distribute the care packs was graced by National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Secretary-General Mr Ng Chee Meng, and joined by URA Chief Executive Lim Mr Eng Hwee, REDAS President Mr Chia Ngiang Hong and MWC Chairman Mr Yeo Guat Kwang.

“We are very happy to have REDAS partner with us to support our migrant workers in the factory-converted dormitories,’ says MWC Chairman Yeo Guat Kwang. “We are really very thankful to everyone for giving a helping hand to our migrant workers in this challenging time.”

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John Doe

Learn more about FUN! Fund at https://www.cf.org.sg/fun-fund/.

The programme provides the children with a non-threatening platform to connect with peers and have positive conversations. In addition, it exposes them to different people who can assist to broaden their perspectives.
L.S., a volunteer with the Reading Odyssey programme @ Spooner Road

中心“常胜将军”胡锦盛：比赛限时反应要快

Related Topics For You: AGEING WELL, CHARITY STORIES, DONOR STORIES, DONOR-ADVISED FUND, HEALTH, NEWS, PROMOTING HEALTHCARE, SENIORS, STORIES OF IMPACT

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Events

Donor Learning Trip Series: The Art of Mental Well-Being

John Doe

This initiative is part of CFS’s Donor Learning Trips, a series of engagement opportunities that enable donors to personally connect with charities and gain insights into how they support communities in need.

On the afternoon of October 19, 2023, 17 of our donors visited the Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and learned about the work they do.

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Established in 1968, SAMH has been a stalwart in Singapore’s mental health community, improving the lives of persons with mental health issues through rehabilitation and reintegration.

SAMH Space2Connect is a newly established integrated wellness centre that provides mental health services to individuals aged 10 and above, families, and communities. The centre aims to empower clients, improving their well-being and walking with them on their road to recovery; while also serving as a collaborative hub for partners to come together and strengthen community mental health and resilience.

Confronting the realities of youth mental health

SAMH strives to destigmatise mental health amidst rising numbers of youths requiring support, encouraging them to seek help. Statistics highlight the severity of the issue, with suicide being the primary cause of death among 10 to 29-year-olds in Singapore in recent years. According to Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), out of the 476 suicides in 2022, 125 involved those in this age group. This is 13 more than in 2021 and the highest since 2000, which marks SOS’ earliest recorded data.

A substantial number of youths admit they are grappling with mental health symptoms, emphasising the pressing need for support. A recent study conducted by the National University of Singapore reported that one in 10, or 12% of adolescents met full diagnostic criteria for having at least one current mental health disorder. About one in three youth in Singapore reported internalising mental health symptoms such as depression, anxiety and loneliness, with those aged 14 to 16 reporting more serious symptoms. Meanwhile, roughly one in six young people said they experienced externalising mental health symptoms, such as hyperactivity, rule-breaking and aggression.

Through the afternoon, donors heard beneficiaries tell their stories and toured the space. They learnt how their contributions have supported youths particularly through SAMH YouthReach, which offers psychosocial support and recovery programmes for youths aged 12 to 21 facing emotional, psychological, and psychiatric issues. Mental health recovery is often not linear, and SAMH provides ongoing support for clients beyond treatment completion.

“It was inspiring to learn how our giving was making a difference to the lives of the youths supported by SAMH YouthReach, and to understand more about the good work that SAMH is doing,” said a donor from the CKY Foundation, who has been giving with CFS since 2022 after being introduced by the Economic Development Board.

“CFS has helped us work towards our philanthropic goals by making an impact across a range of causes and charities through the insights provided by our fund’s dedicated philanthropy advisor. It is heartening to witness the impact of one’s philanthropy in person, and to meet the people that you have helped.”

A place for community and self-expression

In addition to learning about SAMH’s programmes and services, donors had a chance to experience a therapeutic art activity for themselves as they joined two young adult clients of SAMH YouthReach in an interactive hands-on session. Through the fun, laughter and unleashed creativity, they discovered the potential of creative pursuits as a tool for promoting mental wellbeing.

With funding support, SAMH plans to expand their outreach further, with initiatives focusing on the impact of sleep, nutrition and movement on mental health.

We are grateful for the opportunity to meet the CFS donors, showcase SAMH facilities and programmes to them, and facilitate direct engagement with our beneficiaries. Their contributions empower us in our mission to help and support individuals in our community who face mental health challenges

Ms Ngo Lee Yian, Executive Director of SAMH

CFS would like to express our deep appreciation to SAMH for the remarkable work that they do, and acknowledge our donors for their invaluable support. To find out more about how you can contribute, visit https://www.cf.org.sg/giving/ways-to-give/

References:

HIGHEST RECORDED SUICIDE NUMBERS IN SINGAPORE SINCE 2000

https://medicine.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/PRESS-RELEASE-YEAR-Study-26APR2023-IMMEDIATE-RELEASE.pdf

In 2023, CFS proudly marks our 15-year milestone on a journey dedicated to empowering donors to create meaningful impact. Since its establishment in 2008, we have received over S$292 million in donations and disbursed over S$157 million in grants to support more than 400 charitable partners in Singapore. Join us in shaping a brighter future for worthy causes by becoming a valued donor. Your contribution can make a substantial difference.