DONOR STORIES

People preparing to cut a cake (From left) Catherine Loh, William Bird, Minister Grace Fu, Laurence Lien.

Celebrating a decade of inspiring and enabling philanthropy in Singapore

After months of anticipation, CFS’s year-long 10th anniversary celebrations came to a high point on 5 September 2018 at a gala event held at The Arts House. Guest of honour, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu, and 120 guests including donors, charities and other partners, came together to commemorate this major milestone in CFS’s history.In her keynote speech, Minister Fu reflected on philanthropy’s important role in Singapore’s history and its continued

Speech by CEO Catherine Loh at CFS’s 10th anniversary celebrations

Minister Grace Fu, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,The power of informed givingIt’s wonderful to see so many of you here this evening. Thank you for taking the time to join us as CFS celebrates its 10th anniversary.This is an exciting moment in CFS’s history. When I joined CFS six years ago, we had just survived our first few years as a startup. There was an air of promise as we reached out to more donors, but we had much to prove. In those early years, we didn�

Chairman Laurence Lien Speaking in front of the stage

Speech by Chairman Laurence Lien at CFS’s 10th anniversary celebrations

Thank you all for joining us in this celebration.CFS was first incorporated on 8 September 2008; hence our 10th birthday celebrations now. Lehman Brother collapsed on 15 September 2008, so we are also commemorating 10 years of the Global Financial Crisis.I spoke of how we were born in bad times at our Chinese New Year luncheon in March. I will not repeat what I said, except to emphasise again how difficult it was to start up. It was difficult to hire, because we were a start-up

Grace Fu delivering speech at podium to audience.

Speech by Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth at CFS’s 10th anniversary celebrations: Working together to build a caring Singapore

Mr Laurence Lien, Chairman, Community Foundation of SingaporeMs Catherine Loh, CEO, Community Foundation of SingaporeDistinguished GuestsLadies and GentlemenIt is indeed my great pleasure to be here today. First, I would like to congratulate the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS) on its 10th anniversary. Throughout the past decade, CFS has done excellent work in raising funds and giving out grants, as well as in inspiring and enabling giving in Singapore. This is in no sma

A newspaper article showcasing how size is not a hindrance to structured corporate giving. Exploring corporate philanthropy regardless of company scale.

Business Times: Size no barrier to structured corporate giving

Liontrust hopes its charity fund will spur fellow SMEs to make their giving countMany owners of Singapore’s small and medium-sized enterprises would gladly give back to their community. But, without the heft larger corporations have, it is easy for them to resign themselves to thinking that each dollar they give won’t go as far, says Lim Wei-Jen, 47. Read Next He wants his company’s giving to count for more.Mr Lim is the founder of Lion

Media release: Community Foundation of Singapore celebrates 10th anniversary

Over S$60 million in grants have been disbursed by the foundation, which now manages more than 110 funds.Collaboration, legacy, and impact to be of focus in the coming years.September 5, 2018 – The Community Foundation of Singapore (“CFS” or the “Foundation”) turns10 this year and marked the milestone with a celebratory event at the Arts House today. Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu was the guest of honour at the event, which was al

Business Times: As they received, they now give

Education is a force for good and a cause that Trina Liang-Lin and Edmund Lin are passionate about supporting.Education has been pivotal in both their lives, paving stones to their successful careers. Ms Liang-Lin, 47, is the managing director of investment research consulting firm Templebridge Investments, and married to Mr Lin, 49, partner and founding member of Bain & Company’s Singapore office. Read Next She is known for her passion for women’s empo

Asian woman (Ms Loh) in red dress posing for camera.

Portfolio Magazine: Helping others help others

“These six years at CFS have definitely been a fulfilling learning journey for me,” says Ms. Catherine Loh. She smiles for the first time since we sat down to discuss how she traded her successful banking career to one in charity – as CEO of CFS. “I developed greater empathy and learned to see things from another person’s perspective. I’m also humbled by the selflessness displayed by so many in the social sector as they strive daily to help their beneficiaries overc

A snapshot of a newspaper Business Times: The beauty of giving to those you don't know

Business Times: The beauty of giving to those you do not know

Govind Bommi, 71, is well known to regulars at the Metta Day Rehabilitation Centre for the Elderly.The businessman and philanthropist spends his Thursday mornings volunteering at the Tampines centre, befriending seniors who are there to receive physiotherapy or other forms of rehabilitative care after conditions such as a stroke, Parkinson’s or arthritis. Read Next He does not speak Mandarin or any of the Chinese dialects that most of the r

Business Times: Preserving a century-old legacy of giving

Following his great-grandmother’s footsteps, Keith Chua set up a charitable fund to carry on his family’s legacy of giving through the generations.To Keith Chua, the boy, she was the stern matriarch of their large, Peranakan family, to be approached with deference. To the older and bolder teenager, she drew closer – the great-grandmother glad to chat about his day over tea or a shared meal. Read Next But only years after, as an establis