Charity project raises RM117,000 for single mothers in the country many of whom lost their jobs and were unable to support their children during the Movement Control Order caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. RCA President and Organising Chairperson of the project Shirley Tay thanked all who had supported and contributed to the Single Mother Charity Fundraising Project. “Without your support, we would not have been able to exceed our target and we are delighted to inform that we have managed to raise RM117,000, before tax deduction,” she said. At a media conference held in August when the charity project was launched, Shirley Tay said MRCA started the initiative to “soften the blow that this pandemic has left on single mothers as many have lost their jobs during the MCO and must continue to support and fend for their children on their own”. A survey conducted by Selangor’s Women Empowerment Institute saw a majority of single mothers earning less than RM3,000 a month; at least 40% of them were forced to either take unpaid leave or close their businesses during the MCO. “Raising children is not easy, even more so to do it alone while struggling to put food on the table and maintain the roof over their heads. “Love Touches Lives” will be of help to single mothers regardless of race, ethnicity, and religion,” said Shirley Tay who is also the Regional Corporate Director (Southeast Asia) of Sunrider International (M) Sdn Bhd.
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MRCA has done numerous philanthropy projects in the past. Over the past five years, MRCA, through its Branding Education Charity Foundation, which was set up in 2010, has contributed more than RM1 million to many charitable causes. Donations from the charity drive will be channelled to six single mothers’ organisations. They are Great Heart Charity Association, Kassim Chin Humanity Foundation, Persatuan Ibu Tunggal Spring Malaysia, Association of Social Services and Community Development of Gombak District, Selangor (PSPK), Persatuan Wanita & Ibu Tunggal Nur Iman KL & Selangor (WITUS) and Women of Will. “We feel that it is our social responsibility as an association to give back to society. MRCA hopes to
continuously provide support and aid to the underprivileged in our nation. Through the ‘Love Touches Lives’ charity project, MRCA hopes to also rekindle the spirit of charity in the hearts of Malaysians as it serves as a platform for them to donate for a good cause,” said Shirley Tay. MRCA also launched the Women’s Division which will be helmed by the Association’s Treasurer General Dato’ Winnie Lim, at the event. With its tagline: “Empower Women, Build Nation”, this division aims to promote and advance the personal and professional development of women in the Association. It also looks to equip female entrepreneurs with knowledge of the right skills, information and training to expand and develop their businesses.
Malaysia Retailer Vol 8 No 3
Feature
MRCA’s Love Touches Lives
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