News

The Straits Times: The new philanthropists in town

News

Home Resources News The Straits Times: The new philanthropists in town

News

The Straits Times: The new philanthropists in town

John Doe

by Theresa Tan, 26 June 2016

There is also a growing number of donors who have started charitable funds parked under groups like the Community Foundation of Singapore and the SymAsia Foundation. Both charities manage their donors’ funds and disburse them to each donor’s chosen causes, thus saving the donors the cost and effort of starting their own foundation. A sum of at least $200,000 is required to set up a charitable fund with the Community Foundation, and 82 funds have been formed since it was set up in 2008.

…..Also giving to a specific cause are Mr and Mrs William Bird. They pledged $1 million, through the Community Foundation of Singapore, for outings for frail seniors to attractions such as Gardens by the Bay and the zoo. Mr Bird, a Briton who is now a Singapore citizen, is 70 years old. He made his money from the logistics business. His and his wife Mary have three grown-up children.

Ensuring A Brighter Future for Vulnerable Families and Children

Group of elderly sitting around a round table

Family of Wisdom – Caring for persons with dementia and their caregivers

Three young men playing soccer on a field, displaying teamwork, agility, and passion for the sport.

Changi Foundation – Helping youths to realise their dreams

While visiting some elderly people whom they helped, the couple realised that such seniors felt lonely and isolated, as they were unable to go out. Mr Bird says: “We were affected by the fact that the seniors had such a poor quality of life, and thought more could be done for them to enjoy the golden times of their lives.”

Each year since the Outing for the Elderly Fund was set up in 2010, about 1,600 elderly people a year have benefited. They especially love to visit supermarkets, where they are given $20 to buy whatever they want.

Mr George Phua, a 79-year-old resident of the Ling Kwang Home for Senior Citizens, was taken to a Giant supermarket last month. He was delighted to buy his favourite coffee and chocolates. He tells The Sunday Times: “It’s wonderful.”

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor

John Doe

The competition was organised by City Harvest Community Services Association and received support from FUN! Fund, a Community Impact Fund jointly established by the Community Foundation of Singapore and the Agency for Integrated Care, with the aim of addressing social isolation among the elderly.

Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of National Development Mr Tan Kiat How attended the event. He encouraged the elderly to stay physically and mentally well, as well as urging them to participate in community activities and enjoy their golden years together.

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

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, COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND, DONOR STORIES, DONOR-ADVISED FUND, NEWS, OUTING FOR SENIORS, SENIORS, STORIES OF IMPACT

admin bluecube

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.

Stories Of Impact

2020 Goh Soon Tioe Centenary Award winner Natalie Koh: A talented musician with a heart for children with special needs

John Doe

Natalie’s first steps towards becoming a professional musician weren’t the easiest. Although she began learning violin at the tender age of five at her mother’s behest, Natalie barely passed her ABRSM exams in the fledgling years of learning the instrument. Nevertheless, it was her love for classical music and the violin that allowed her to persevere in her music-learning journey.

It was in her secondary and junior college years that she started developing a more well-rounded education in music.

#MyGivingJourney x Hauw Soo Hoon: Insuring the future for vulnerable students

a group of adults and children posing for a picture

The Spooner Road Project – Reaching children and youths at the margins

#MyGivingJourney x Year of Celebrating SG Women

‘I was in my school’s Higher Music Programme and Concert Band, instead of the obvious choice of String Ensemble. I also decided to involve myself in playing more orchestra and chamber music. I believe these experiences ultimately contributed to my growth as an aspiring musician, and allowed me to be more creative and expressive,’ Natalie explains.

Consequently, it was to her delight that Natalie successfully auditioned into Yong Siew Toh Conservatory back in 2016, where she spent four fruitful and rewarding years.

It was through the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory that the young musician broadened her horizons interacting with children with special needs. The Conservatory was working on a joint project with Superhero Me, an inclusive arts organisation that harnesses the creativity of art to empower children with and without special needs.

‘I realised that there were so many people whom I did not know about and that I did not interact with enough,’ says Natalie.

‘I felt compelled to learn more about the special needs community and connect with them more through art. Hence, I’ve been working primarily with Superhero Me since 2017 to facilitate art workshops and conduct music workshops. This December 2020, we are looking to stage a multi- sensory theatre production for children with autism, of which I am the composer and live musician.’

Whilst pursuing her undergraduate degree, Natalie received opportunities to perform in Japan and Canada in 2019 and 2020; two of the most memorable ones being the Chofu International Music Festival and the Musical Chairs Chamber Music Festival. The Chofu International Music Festival is led by renowned conductors Masaaki Suzuki and Masato Suzuki, and comprising professional musicians from top Japanese orchestras, like the NHK Symphony Orchestra and Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra.

‘I was thoroughly inspired and motivated by the high calibre of orchestra playing, and working side-by-side with professional musicians was unforgettable. The Musical Chairs Chamber Music Festival was held earlier this year in Montreal, Canada and was also coincidentally my last ‘live’ and most memorable performance before the COVID-19 restrictions,’ says the 22 year old musician.

Winning the 2020 Goh Soon Tioe Centenary Award is a great honour for the young musician, and has definitely provided her with a boost of confidence. With the prize money, Natalie plans to fund part of her graduate studies in September 2021.

‘As a recipient of the Award, I will also have the opportunity to perform my own recital. I was supposed to have one as my graduation recital in April 2020 but alas, because of COVID-19 this was not meant to be,’ says Natalie regretfully.

‘I am glad that this opportunity to perform one last time is given to me, before I leave Singapore to pursue my further studies. After completing my Masters, I will return to Singapore and continue to teach the violin. I plan to start my own studio, and continue to perform as a freelancer in orchestras. I also hope to grow my portfolio as a community artist, to continue to share my passion for music with the special needs community and with people from all walks of life.’

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing elit dolor

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, COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND, DONOR STORIES, DONOR-ADVISED FUND, NEWS, OUTING FOR SENIORS, SENIORS, STORIES OF IMPACT

admin bluecube

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/.

Celebrating 15 Years of Impact: CFS Annual Report 2024

Secure And Impactful Philanthropy: CFS Clinches Cyber Essentials Mark

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.

Related Topics For You: AGEING WELL, CHARITY STORIES, COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND, DONOR STORIES, DONOR-ADVISED FUND, NEWS, OUTING FOR SENIORS, SENIORS, STORIES OF IMPACT

News

Our Annual Report 2022 is now available for download

John Doe

We are proud to announce that the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS) Annual Report 2022 has been published.

Download your copy here to learn more about the year’s highlights and our impact on the community.

The CDA top-up programme: Giving support to pre-school children from low-income families

A call for collaborative giving: Join hands to make a difference and contribute towards a common cause.

A Call for Collaborative Giving: Bridging the Divide for Persons with Disabilities

Business Times: Preserving a century-old legacy of giving

Amid continued disruption from COVID-19 and the uneven recovery that followed, we took transformative action to push forward with our donors, charities and partners. We saw a record number of new funds and unprecedented donor generosity. Together, our grantmaking supported the immediate and emergent needs of our beneficiaries and partners.

For the financial year ended 31 March 2022, CFS received a record of $46.6 million in donations. We welcomed 37 givers to our community through the establishment of 24 new donor-advised funds (DAFs). $18.3 million in grants was made to 240 organisations and 14 individuals during the financial year.

The Annual Report contains the following information:

Corporate Information
Growth in Recent Years
Impact Highlights and Transformation
Corporate Sustainability
Forward Vision
Governance and Policies
Financial Statements
Grantees List

CFS is committed to working with donors, charities, partners and various sector leaders in the ecosystem to build a more vibrant, inclusive and caring Singapore. To find out more about CFS, get in touch with us.

Related Topics For You: AGEING WELL, CHARITY STORIES, COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND, DONOR STORIES, DONOR-ADVISED FUND, NEWS, OUTING FOR SENIORS, SENIORS, STORIES OF IMPACT

admin bluecube

Stories Of Impact

#MyGivingJourney X Jenny Wah: Transforming customer experiences to reignite growth

John Doe

#MyGivingJourney is a series by CFS where we feature extraordinary women in Singapore and their efforts in philanthropy. In our last feature, we have one of our own – Jenny Wah, CFS’s Director of Marketing & Communications.

Jenny Wah chalked up over 20 years of marketing experience at several MNC companies. She started in Key Account/Brand Marketing in the FMCG industry with brands such as Coca-Cola & Pokka. Then she spent the bulk of her marketing career in the IT industry with Adobe and Autodesk. She led global teams and worked with diverse clients all over the map. The demands were dizzying, as were her frequent flyer miles.

Celebrating women who give in different ways

KidsExcel – Leaving no child behind

10 charities received donations from Mind the Gap 200 (MtG200) fund at the SG Cares “Celebrating our Culture of Care” closing event at Tampines Hub in August 2019.

Minding the gaps: 10 friends collaborate to take on social issues in Singapore

It was a career that rewarded on many fronts. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, leaving many businesses and employees reeling. The pandemic was called a ‘great equaliser’; however, COVID-19 also revealed glaring inequalities in societies. For her, this was a period of introspection that led to a flash of insight and courage. Jenny recalls: “I found myself wondering, what could I do that can contribute to a more equal society?”

So when the opportunity to join the Community Foundation of Singapore came along, she decided to take up the role of Marketing and Strategic Communication Director.

Equality of opportunity and social mobility have long shaped Jenny’s outlook towards a purposeful life. One of three children of a mechanic and a housewife, she understands the struggles of many lower-income families.

Growing up, Chinese New Year was a particularly poignant time. For her, it was a window into how altruism can uplift lives: each year, the Chinese clans would give out bursaries to help students in need, as well as items like school books, shoes and uniforms. Jenny was one such beneficiary.

Education was Jenny’s springboard to a better future. Armed with a B. Business (Honours) degree from NTU and later an MBA, she embarked on a career in sales and marketing, garnering a reputation for her can-do spirit and creative solutions. She often spearheaded her firms’ corporate social responsibility efforts as well, which she found fulfilling. Four years ago, she started volunteering as a museum host at the National Museum of Singapore, feeding her passion for culture and history.

Crossing over to a nonprofit meant new challenges. Budgets were smaller and there weren’t as many hands on deck. Jenny learnt to work around this by tapping into her network for pro bono services and negotiating goodwill with vendors. She also had to build a team from scratch.

However, all this was made easier by the warmth and commitment of the people she worked with. “Everyone double or triple hats and works together for the collective and greater good, never losing sight of the big picture” she notes. Most importantly, she adds, “I see my work here initiating positive change and making a difference.”

Jenny believes that technology can deliver an impactful customer journey in a consistent, personalized and scalable fashion through transformative concepts such as marketing automation, nurturing through compelling content and relationship marketing.

“For me ‘Customer Experience’ is not marketing fluff, it’s a work ideology that needs to be at the core of everything we do professionally. I believe that both ‘People’ and the ‘Promises’ we make are at the very heart of CFS’s Brand. I am proud to work in CFS which offers the unique opportunity to be a part of something that will profoundly impact society,” she says.

Begin your own journey of giving with CFS. Read more about the #MyGivingJourney series here.

This article was written by Sunita Sue Leng, a former financial analyst and journalist, who believes that the written word can be a force for good. She hopes to someday write something worth plagiarising.