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For Volunteers, Donors and Nonprofits

What Gives?

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No. 7 Jan-Feb 2005

Chipping In HP Innovates

NVPC’s Philanthropic Survey

Animal Farm More than the Fuzzies

Delivery Angels Food from the Heart

An Exclusive Interview with Dr Lee Seng Gee

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contents

SALT No. 7 Jan-Feb 2005

G VES? What

ON THE COVER Christine and Henry Laimer’s simple idea of distributing unwanted bread to the less fortunate has taken on a life of its own.

Story on page 32.

Photographed for SALT by Andy Wong, RAVE Photography.

Hair and makeup by Cindy Goh.

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The Philanthropic Landscape NVPC releases the first part of its study on individual, corporate and foundation giving. LUI SUIT CHENG dissects the results.

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ANIMAL HOUSE 24 SALT SHAKERS AND MOVERS

Rock Solid Foundation MONICA GWEE has a heart-to-heart with Dr Lee Seng Gee of Lee Foundation, the NVPC Special Recognition Award winner.

Is enough being done about the state of animal welfare in Singapore?

JAFRI MOHAMED investigates the rising number of abandoned and mistreated animals.

DEPARTMENTS 2

LETTER FROM SALT

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MAILBAG

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NEWS BRIEFS A wrap-up of events, programmes and activities in the People Sector.

PEOPLE MOVEMENTS Appointments and new postings in the People Sector.

11 VOLUNTEER PROFILE Kenneth Tan of Singapore Film Society screens his life’s work.

13 PEOPLE SECTOR PEOPLE Alfred Tan gives Singapore’s children a much needed platform from which they can be heard.

21 MEASURE OF SALT Spotlight on key players in the animal sector.

22 WALK THE TALK NVPC Corporate Citizen Award winner Hewlett-Packard Singapore showcases its heartware to make a difference.

29 SALT AND PEPPER Do NPOs need to adopt a more commercial mindset? Mayank Parekh of McKinsey says yes.

31 SALT TALKS Charity isn’t about giving until it hurts, argues Monica Gwee.

32 NEW SALT Break bread with Food from the Heart, the NVPC New Nonprofit Inititative Award winner.

34 SCENE AND SEEN

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The Inaugural NVPC Awards 2004

38 CALENDAR

A memorable evening at the Istana.

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SALT is a nonprofit magazine with a managed circulation for members of nonprofit organisations, grant-makers and companies in Singapore.

Those interested in receiving a copy, please email salt@nvpc.org.sg.

We regret that the print run prevents fulfilling all requests.

International readers please email subscriber requests and mailing details.

There will be an annual postage and handling charge for all international subscribers.

MANAGING EDITOR Monica Gwee

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Daven Wu Brenda Yeo

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Suzanne Lim

PUBLISHING CONSULTANT AND MEDIA REPRESENTATIVE Epigram SALT is published bi-monthly by the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre 7 Maxwell Road #05-01 Annex B, MND Complex Singapore 069111 Tel: 6550 9595 Fax: 6221 0625 Website: www.nvpc.org.sg Email: salt@nvpc.org.sg Copyright is held by the publisher.

All rights reserved.

Production in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

The views and opinions expressed or implied in SALT are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.

Printed by Fabulous Printers MITA (P) 027/11/2004 To advertise, please call Suzanne Lim at tel: 6550 9563 Email: suzanne@nvpc.org.sg or Cynthia Tay at tel: 6292 4456 Email: cynthia@epigram.com.sg

The launch of SALT on 13 January 2004.

hew, what a year it has been. It does not seem like such a long time ago when we first launched SALT in January 2004. Most of us at the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) never truly appreciated the size of the undertaking when we took on the publication of SALT. Producing a regular magazine is hard work. Seeking to make it the definitive publication for happenings and issues on the nonprofit space makes it all the more challenging.

We could not have done so without the contributions of news and articles from many of you out there. The flow of information on happenings on the nonprofit scene has been great – we usually have much more than we have allocated pages for.

To our contributors, thank you. And our apologies if we are unable to always give you the space you would have liked. This is a bumper anniversary issue to capture some of the year-end happenings.

Obtaining views and thought leading perspectives on issues has been more challenging. We would welcome more in this area.

We have specific columns (Salt & Pepper, Shakers & Movers, People Sector People) that seek to home in on thought provoking perspectives and personalities.

Our lead stories seek to provide insights on significant matters and happenings in the giving area. In the coming year, we will introduce a series of lead articles on the landscape of giving in Singapore. It will feature survey findings not previously available. In this issue, we start with highlights on philanthropic giving by individuals.

I would like to thank Chee Koon and the team at NVPC who never say “no” and have learned to work with the publishing deadlines over and above their regular work commitments. There were times when NVPC’s office must have looked like the quintessential newsroom. We were fortunate that we had on board Monica Gwee who in addition to her Marketing and Community Partnership hat at NVPC, was also managing editor for the magazine. With her publishing background, she helped us hit the road running.

Many thanks also to Edmund Wee and his team at Epigram, our publishing consultant and media representative. They shared the vision, and did their part to make this a community effort and ensure that every issue is a high quality one, not just in content, but also in design.

Finally, thanks to all you readers out there for your encouragement and keeping us relevant. Let us know if we are or not meeting your expectations. Keep those suggestions, information and letters coming. Most importantly, keep reading. And when you are done, pass it on to others who might benefit from SALT. A little goes a long way.

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Willie Cheng Chairman National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre

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MAILBAG

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE? We welcome your letters, news of upcoming events and pictures. Please send them to SALT, 7 Maxwell Road, #05-01 Annex B, MND Complex, Singapore 069111; or email salt@nvpc.org.sg. Please include your name, address and daytime phone number. Letters and articles may be edited for space and clarity.

Dear SALT, nly when I first read SALT magazine did I realise how vibrant the volunteer scene is in Singapore. As a Singaporean, it warms my heart that many Singaporeans out there are actively involved in volunteerism and contributing immensely to other people’s lives.

In today’s modern society, the pursuit for higher educational levels, higher paying jobs, and higher profit margins etc leads us to place much less emphasis on our contributions to others’ lives. SALT serves as a strong reminder about the need for this contribution. I was especially impressed by Ms Nurulasyiqah Mohammad Taha, featured in the Sep-Oct issue. Even though she is confined to a wheelchair, her indomitable giving spirit puts many able-bodied men and women to shame.

Thanks to SALT, our company is now looking into contributing to the volunteer scene in Singapore by linking up with NVPC to channel the graduates of our transformational courses into various social projects.

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Ignatius Yong, Director, Powerworks Development Systems

BB Sharity Gift Box Dear SALT, would like to share my experience during the recent festive season when I was dropping off some grocery bags at the Boys’ Brigade Sharity Gift Box along Orchard Boulevard.

The enthusiasm and appreciative smiles of the two BB boys tending the Gift Box touched me greatly, as did the valiant efforts of a third BB boy who was braving the hot sun to publicise the initiative to a busy and sometimes oblivious lunch crowd. We should be very proud of these young men and their perseverance, reminding the rest of us of how much more we can be doing for those less fortunate than ourselves.

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Cindy Chou A grateful member of the public

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Dear SALT, would just like to congratulate NVPC for the excellent SALT magazine. I read the Sep-Oct 2004 issue and found it interesting and informative. I believe SALT is fulfilling a definite need for a forum for information exchange between the nonprofit organisations.

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Dr Fong Ngan Phoon Executive/Medical Director, St. Luke’s Hospital

National Volunteerism and Philanthropy Awards 2004 Dear SALT, n behalf of The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund team, thank you for a most memorable evening at the Istana on 23 November 2004. We applaud and congratulate your team for the successful running of the Inaugural National Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards. Thank you for providing the platform for us to serve.

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Peter Khoo Organising Chairman, The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund

Editor’s note: Check out pages 36-37 to find out what went on at the Inaugural National Volunteerism and Philanthropy Awards.

CGIPC Recommendations Dear SALT, read with interest your article in the Nov-Dec issue regarding the recommendations of The Council on Governance of Institutions of Public Character (CGIPC). It was very well balanced regarding some of the issues that IPCs will face in the future if these recommendations are adopted. I applaud the changes requiring increased disclosure by IPCs to increase the level of transparency and accountability. I am a board member of the International Association of Fundraising Professionals and we endorse 10 specific rights of donors and prospective donors to ensure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public.

I agree that remuneration is somewhat private information. I was glad to see that the CGIPC’s recommendation followed the Canadian model of disclosure, asking only for top executive compensation in broad bands as opposed to the US model of specific information.

Mr Willie Cheng’s comments were spot on regarding the costs of fundraising. North America has been wrestling with this issue for years! The costs are dependent on the type and size of the organisation, the maturity of their programmes, and what programmes are being conducted. For example, special events are a much more costly method of fundraising, but awareness about the organisation is created that is worth some dollar value to the organisation.

My only concern about the recommendations is that they fall short for grant makers.

For example, in a hospital foundation, a donor may make a gift for research. However, that particular research will be conducted over a period of years and not one year only.

Also, the recommendations do not encourage reserves, but any organisation that wants to ensure its long-term sustainability should have reserves.

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Maretta Emery Head of Philanthropy Services, South Asia, MeesPierson

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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH volunteers from the Singapore International Foundation’s Volunteers Overseas (SVO) programme were honoured at an appreciation dinner at the Singapore Art Museum on 9 October.

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A WRAP-UP OF HAPPENINGS AROUND SINGAPORE

Girl Power f there is power in overcoming adversity, then Mary Lee qualifies for the role of Wonder Woman.

Widowed at 29, Madam Lee worked on rubber plantations, sewed, operated a drinks stall and washed clothes to feed and raise her four children and later, her grandchildren.

In an emotional ceremony on 4 November attended by her family and friends, the spunky, genial 84-year old grandmother of 13 and great-grandmother of four was honoured for her life’s work and considerable achievement. She was named the NTUC FairPrice Grandparent of the Year at the Senior Citizens Awards 2004. In the process, she beat a formidable field of 300 other nominees.

The award, presented by Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports, came with a prize of $10,000.

Said Ms Kaini Low, Madam Lee’s grand-daughter, “I nominated her, thinking if she won, it would be a great birthday gift.”

Madam Lee celebrated her birthday on 30 November.

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SIF volunteers share their experiences.

Grandparent of the Year Mary Lee (R) is congratulated by Active Senior Citizen of the Year, Dr Anamah Tan.

PAINTING BY NUMBERS ccounting giant Pricewaterhouse-Coopers turned the numbers game to the advantage of the children at Child @ Street 11.

PWC auctioned off 18 paintings by the budding young artists at Street 11 at its annual Dinner & Dance on 17 September. In all, the auction raised an impressive $56,850.

The cheque was presented at an afternoon tea reception hosted by PWC Chairman, Mr Gautam Banerjee.

Also present at the event was Mr Inderjit Singh, MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, committee members and donors.

Street 11 targets low income families and aims to provide quality education for children in need.

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PWC Chairperson Gautam Banerjee flexes his artistic muscles.

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The SIF is a nonprofit, non-government organisation whose mission is to build goodwill and establish Singapore as a responsible world citizen. The SVO is just one of the SIF’s international volunteerism and networking programmes.

Officiated by Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and Senior Minister for Trade and Industry, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, the event recognised the volunteers’ contributions to overseas communities in need.

The volunteers had lent their skills and professional expertise to such countries as Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan and Vietnam. Dr Tan Tay Keong, the SIF’s executive director, lauded their efforts as “especially important and significant given an extremely volatile world faced with threats of terrorism, disease and economic instability”.

END OF THE ROAD? or five years now, the Youth Expedition Programme (YEP), which runs overseas humanitarian programmes – has been managed by the Singapore International Foundation.

The National Youth Council (NYC) provides funding for the YEP. Late last year, the NYC indicated that it would be reviewing YEP’s funding, which is due to end this March.

At press time, the NYC has not released details of that review.

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Turning the Tables

The busy bees of

aced with the uphill task of finding jobs for their children with MINDS Food. intellectual or learning disabilities, ten parents from the Caregivers’ Support Group of the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) banded together with the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports to set up the aptly named, MINDS Food.

Run out of a kitchen in Queenstown, the catering company is operated by parents and staffed by the children, some of whom have Down’s Syndrome or autism.

Currently numbering around 10, staff strength is expected to grow to around 25.

Brightly illustrated step-by-step diagrams and a host of ingeniously modified kitchen equipment help the staff produce tasty treats such as fried noodles, custard tarts and rissoles.

For the moment, the kitchen caters for MINDS events, but there are plans to accept orders from the public soon.

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POLICE MATTERS n between keeping our streets and homes safe, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) still found the energy to raise around $1 million for the Community Chest in 2004.

The raft of fundraising events organised in during One for the album – Members of SPF pose with President and the year included the Charity Mrs S R Nathan.

Adventure (which raised $260,000) and a two-day concert ($380,000). Our men and women in blue also donated a portion of their salaries to the Community Chest.

The SPF’s community programmes are overseen by the Committee on Societal Responsibility, which was set up four years ago. Since then, the Force has managed to raise on average $500,000 each year, making it one of the leading donors to Community Chest.

In recognition of their efforts, Community Chest pinned on the Force 33 Community Chest Awards.

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PEOPLE MOVEMENTS Sandra Loke joined the Retired & Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP) on 1 November 2004 as its General Manager. Her responsibilities cover not just RSVP, but also the running of RSVP ProGuide Pte Ltd as its Administrative Director and Consultant.

Sandra was with the Community Chest of Singapore for 14 years, the last six as Head of ComChest, the fundraising arm of the National Council of Social Service. She also spent three years with Sathya Sai Social Service as its Executive Director, managing Sheltered Homes and outreach programmes for the destitute and the needy elderly.

RSVP Singapore is a nonprofit organisation launched in 1998. RSVP’s community service programmes are managed on a day-to-day basis by volunteers and all RSVP programmes are focused on promoting active ageing, lifelong learning and intergeneration integration.

Tel: 63374145, email: sandraloke@rsvp.org.sg Prior to joining NVPC as its Chief Operating Officer on 8 November 2004, Ho Sun Yee was the Director of Jurong HealthConnect, a pilot project of the Ministry of Health to transform existing healthcare services in Jurong into a patient-centric, seamless and accessible healthcare network.

Before joining Jurong HealthConnext, Sun Yee served as the Chief Executive Officer of the YMCA of Singapore for four years, where he was responsible for remaking the Y to be relevant and responsive to the changing needs of the community. During his tenure, the Y broadened its community outreach programmes and introduced innovative programmes in youth development and cultural exchanges, sports and recreation.

Sun Yee also serves on the Board of Directors of Focus On The Family, Auston International, and as an EXCO member of SAFRA Toa Payoh. Tel: 65509578, email: sunyee@nvpc.org.sg Desmond Koh was appointed Executive Director (Designate) of The Boys’ Brigade in Singapore (BB) on 1 November 2004. He takes over from ED Albert Ching on 15 January 2005. A homegrown BB boy (he joined the BB as a schoolboy back in St. Andrew’s Secondary School), Desmond joined the BB full-time as a programme officer in July 1996, rising to the position of manager of the Programmes Department before assuming his current position.

Founded in 1883 in Glasgow, Scotland,

by Sir William Alexander Smith to fulfil the need of engaging boys in meaningful and purposeful activities, the first BB Company in Singapore was established in 1930. There are currently more than 6,000 officers and 92 BB Companies in Singapore. Tel: 67370377, email: desmond@bb.org.sg Jan-Feb 2005 S A LT •

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Hope Springs Eternal

MORE THAN SKIN DEEP hen the nine new Nominated MPs (NMPs) were announced, many were surprised by the sudden spike in glamour.

The new line-up of NMPs includes Eunice Olsen. The former beauty queen and ex co-host of the TV game show Wheel of Fortune is, at 27, the youngest of the crop.

A veteran volunteer well regarded for her involvement with various homes for troubled teenage girls, Ms Olsen has indicated her intention to focus on youth and volunteer issues – including the perception, promotion and sustaining of volunteerism in her new Parliamentary role.

Ms Olsen was also appointed NVPC’s Youth Volunteerism Ambassador on 5 December 2004 – International Volunteer Day. “I hope to work closely with NVPC to help spread the word about volunteerism to Singaporeans, especially the youth. This appointment is a great opportunity for me to reach out to them and encourage them to experience volunteering for themselves,” she said.

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echnology that allows the severely disabled to manipulate computers sans hands, legs or voice and using only brainwaves. A device that permits the intellectually disabled or patients with cerebal palsy to communicate effectively using picture icons that convert to speech or voice text. Too far-fetched? Not if Beneficiaries of Samsung DigitAll Hope include Society for the the good folks at Samsung have Physically Disabled (front row). anything to say about it.

On 22 November last year, Samsung announced two grants to develop just such technology. The grants will be disbursed under their DigitAll Hope programme.

The first goes to the Society for the Physically Disabled and its research partner, Institute for Infocomm Research for development of the Brainy Communicator. The Singapore Polytechnic Centre for Applications in Rehabilitation Engineering gets the second grant to develop the Picture-to-Speech Communicator. In all, the research grants were worth $192,000.

Samsung hopes that these projects will call attention to the daily needs of, and challenges faced by, the disabled.

Russel Wong

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LEAD THE WAY hat does it take to be a leader in the new millennium? To start, a desire to Youth Power: Members of make a real difference and to achieve Young Leaders Foundation Singapore at South West one’s dreams, however small or big those Young Leaders’ Day. dreams may be.

That was one of the revelations at the South West Young Leaders’ Day event, jointly organised by the Young Leaders Foundation Singapore (YLFS) and Singapore Polytechnic, with support from South West Community Development Council.

Held on 3 November, the event aimed to promote and support student initiatives that make a difference in schools and to the community, the nation and fellow global citizens. Participants were challenged not only to reach their personal goals but also the goals of those they lead.

Ms Natasha Kwan, General Manager of Microsoft Asia Pacific and Mr James Wong, national discus champ and 2003 Sportsman of the Year spoke at the gathering.

The YLFS is a new NPO initiative with its head chapter operating in Australia and New Zealand.

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Tsunami Crisis Relief

Unites Singapore

s the year closed and just before SALT hit the stands, tsunamis hit the coastal regions of Sumatra, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India and Malaysia. The death toll is still being tallied, but it is expected to be more than 100,000, including those of unsuspecting holiday makers from Europe, America, Australia and Singapore.

Singaporeans from all walks of life showed their concern for the victims devastated by the tsunamis of 26 December 2004 by donating money and various goods to the Singapore Red Cross, Mercy Relief, and Singapore International Foundation. Donations in kind of food items, medical supplies, clothes and blankets also poured into collection centres across Singapore, where hundreds of volunteers assisted with the sorting and packing in preparation for airfreight to the affected countries. Missions comprising of volunteer doctors and nurses from Singapore departed for Aceh in Sumatra and Phuket in Thailand within days of the disaster.

With the generous support of corporate partner NTUC Income, through its CallCentre One, a 24-hour Tsunami Crisis Relief hotline was set up by NVPC to provide the latest information to the public about how and where they can do their bit to help the disaster victims, as well as to facilitate the matching of needs by relief organisations, volunteers and donors. The latest information is also posted on NVPC’s website, where interested members of the public can register online as Tsunami Crisis Relief volunteers.

For more information on how you can help, call the Tsunami Crisis Relief hotline at 64166655/63250965 or visit www.nvpc.org.sg.

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Ready for His Close Up When Kenneth Tan joined the Singapore Film Society at 17, few imagined the contribution he would make to the country’s film culture. DAVEN WU settles in with a bag of popcorn.

enneth Tan is a walking encyclopedia of television and the cinema. With very little effort, he is able to dredge up arcania and studied discourses on everything from new wave French films to characters in the 70s TV series Space: 1999. In fact, his ebullient passion for this genre is so self-evident that it comes as little surprise to learn that he is the chairman of the Singapore Film Society (SFS), a position he has held since 1984.

It is the latter role that has most defined his career – and his public persona. In May 1982, aged 17, Tan joined the SFS as a subscribing member.

The SFS was, and remains today, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to the appreciation of film and run entirely by volunteers. “I liked movies,” Tan says.

“I was interested in the whole eco-system.

I talked to everyone and began helping out in small ways, even taking buses to pick up film from a distributor.”

Tan’s enthusiasm was evident. A year later, he was nominated SFS secretary, which he recalls as both a daunting and motivating experience. “It was a fabulous learning experience.

The secretary is the one who does all the paperwork, writes to film distributors, prepares booking contracts. I got my hands dirty. I did so much work and learnt so much. I ran the door and sold tickets. In the end, there wasn’t a thing about the SFS administration that I did not know.”

When the time came in 1984 to find a replacement for the outgoing chairman, there seems to have been very little debate that Tan would be just the man for the job. He was 19.

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partnership with Golden Village in 1992, moving SFS screenings from multi-purpose halls, the RELC auditorium in Orange Grove Road and the Jubilee Hall in Raffles Hotel to decidedly more commercial spaces.

Suddenly, the Singapore cinema viewer had the option of spending an evening at the British Film Festival straight Real life: Kenneth Tan (R) after a session of the Hollywood For Tan, this was the with the Dutch Ambassador, Hendrik J Van blockbuster Speed. For die-hard start of a career arc that Pesch at an SFF event. conservatives, it was a glaring included heading up a juxtaposition. There were accusations that consumer research firm and tenures Tan had sold out and gone commercial. overseeing TV and radio as Chief His reply was simple and to the Operating Officer and Chief Executive point. “My view was that if our product Officer respectively at MediaCorp.

– the film – is as good as ever, I see no Recently, that arc came full circle with harm in packaging that offering in an his appointment as managing director of attractive way.” cinema operator, Golden Village.

Tan’s stewardship of the SFS Throughout, he has maintained requires the juggling of several balls in firm links with the SFS. the air. At least two nights a week are “My volunteer work with the SFS devoted to SFS events, with around 100 has always been very public,” says Tan. meetings a year. There are 200 films a “I’ve been blessed with bosses who said year to promote, brochures to write, to me that as long as I deliver my work, film retrospectives to organise plus the my time is my own.” usual operations and administrative Tan’s achievements with the SFS tasks. This, on top of his day job and are evident only with the benefit of the serving on the boards of the Singapore distance of years. “At the time of my Film Commission and Promote appointment as chairman, the SFS was Mandarin Council. essentially a club and it had a craft, Daunting? Perhaps. But it is abunhome-made feel to it.” dantly clear that there is ebullience, To this, Tan overlaid his training in passion and commitment in equal parts. marketing. “I began to change the way “I knew I would love beyond measure the SFS was run.” He networked madly. what I’m doing now,” he says simply.

With a self-confessed combination of All that remains now is that gung-ho, practice and guts, he forged close-up. ✩ partnerships with charities, multi-national For more information on the Singacorporations, overseas film institutes and pore Film Society, visit www.sfs.org.sg. embassies. He began a highly successful

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Lend Me Your Ears Singapore’s children need a platform for their problems or at least, someone who can make a difference to their lives. DAVEN WU listens in on Alfred Tan’s message from the Singapore Children’s Society.

lfred Tan’s tale is an increasingly common one among former corporate high-flyers. He had a good paying job, heading up courier company DHL’s sales and marketing department in Singapore; the proverbial wife, family and car. Yet, after a while, the unsettling question persisted: Is that it?

“It wasn’t exciting anymore,” Tan recalls. “It was a sign to look for something else.”

That something else turned out to be the Singapore Children’s Society, though to hear Tan tell it, he knew nothing about Voluntary Welfare Organisations and was merely replying, on a whim, to an ad in the paper seeking an Executive Director. “I thought that with my background, I could contribute my skills,” he says modestly.

That was in 1999.

Today, Tan heads a team of 85 staff and oversees eight Children’s Society Centres. The Society works to bring emotional and social relief to children in need as well as to promote their wellbeing. Tan’s role is to support the staff and to work closely with the five standing committees, all of which are run by volunteers, to insure proper integration and co-ordination between the Society’s work and policies.

It is not an easy task. Beneath the orderliness and the structured regularity on the surface of life in Singapore, there are an estimated 12,000 children in

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he says. “It’s mental and psychological. My job is to help fine-tune the operational issues, to translate strategies.

We keep communication channels very flat here.”

The issues too are more heart-felt. He doesn’t miss the number crunching. “In social work, things are more qualifiable. You see the impact on Reach out: Alfred Tan with the lives and it’s far more rewarding need and at-risk youth. The children at Henderson Centre, a centre supported by the than seeing the bottom line.

Society defines a child as Singapore Children’s Society supports low income How do you quantify a child any one below the age of 14, that children and families. that has been abused?” although its mandate extends This introspection extends into his to every child below 16 years. Each year, personal life, and in particular to his the Society’s help line receives 6,000 calls. own children, aged 15 and 10. “I’m now According to Tan, the problems facing more aware of the issues facing my own today’s young vary from simple boredom kids. I’ve learnt to communicate more. and loneliness to educational stresses, I’ve learnt that you cannot replace bullies in school, suicidal tendencies and spending time with your own family. I’ve depression. Sometimes, all they want is always been a family man and now [in a listening ear. And, more than that, an my job] I have to be more of a role model. understanding ear, something that many If I cannot fix my own family, how can maids – today’s de facto parents – are I tell other people how to fix theirs?” not always equipped to supply.

Certainly, answers are not easily “Once a kid rang to play a piece on forthcoming. So much work needs to be his violin over the phone,” Tan says. “He done in this sector covering everything just wanted to have someone to listen. from compulsory education (1,700 chilEven if it was a stranger. That’s the price dren do not attend school in Singapore), to pay in a highly developed society to advocacy, to youth hostels, shelters such as ours.” and family services. At the core are the Tan’s background in a multi-national beneficiaries of the Children’s Society. corporation has proved invaluable for “Children in Singapore,” says Tan, his work with the Society. “need a little more voice. They should “Social work today is more subtle,” be given a platform for talking to adults, or at least to someone who can make a difference.” ✩ For more information on the Singapore Children’s Society, visit www.childrensociety.org.sg.

“Once a kid rang to play a piece on his violin over the phone. He just wanted to have someone to listen.

Even if it was a stranger. That’s the price to pay in a highly developed society such as ours.”

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G VES? NVPC’S NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY SURVEY

What

The National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre’s (NVPC) landmark philanthropy survey of 2004 put individual, corporate and foundation giving under the microscope. In the first of three SALT features, LUI SUIT CHENG dissects individual giving.

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Reaching out – Tireless youths volunteer to do their bit.

Picture courtesy of Heartware Network

fficial numbers, thus far, have only hinted at the scale of individual giving here. People sector planners and fundraisers looking to divine the depth of donors’ pockets, relied primarily on the tally of donations to Institutions of Public Character (IPCs), tracked and reported by the Inland Revenue Authority (IRAS). IRAS pegged the value of donations by individuals to IPCs at $202 million in 2003.

NVPC’s maiden philanthropy survey, with its wide focus lens, brought non-IPCs – religious organisations among them – into the picture.

The broader snapshot revealed that 97% of Singaporeans aged 15 years or more donated their dollars in 2003, giving a seemingly hefty $438 million to their causes.

Singaporeans gave on flag days, through payroll, to fund-raisers of various ilk, sprang to the call of myriad appeals that came to their mailboxes and via mass media, bought donation tickets and more. But the bulk of the $438 million pot (52%), went to places of worship, in the form of tithes to churches, “oil money” to temples and zakat by Muslims.

By numbers, it appears more Singaporeans are donating compared to their counterparts in the United States and United Kingdom. In the US, 69% of households gave to charitable and nonprofit causes in 2003 and 67% of individuals in the UK donated in 2002.

Clearly, plenty of Singaporeans are giving. But are they really giving plenty?

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SMALL SUMS Plump as the charity purse seems, it would appear that there is potential for Singaporeans to give more, much more.

In a 12-month period, donations averaged out at $155 per donor. This works out to $12.92 a month or just about 40 cents a day.

“This doesn’t buy half a cup of coffee a day, much less a bowl of noodles, which costs $2,” notes Mr Liak Teng Lit, CEO of Alexandra Hospital. “We don’t seem to be giving at full capacity.”

Findings revealed that low-income earners gave proportionately more of their pay packet than higher income earners. Individuals earning less than $1,000 donated an average of 1.6% of their income – four times more than those who earned between $3,000 and $4,000, who gave 0.4% of their income.

“ Donors gave an average of $12.92 a month or just about 40 cents a day. This doesn’t buy half a cup of coffee a day, much less a bowl of noodles, which costs $2.”

Mr Liak Teng Lit, CEO of Alexandra Hospital

Jan-Feb 2005 S A LT •

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It’s not the first time that similar observations have come to light. “In dealing with volunteers and donors from various parts of our organisation, I’m especially impressed and touched by the generosity of our factory employees. They are also enthusiastic volunteers and willing to commit their personal time for community service,” says Mr Paul Chan, Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director of Hewlett Packard, Asia Pacific and Japan. The IT giant was the winner of the 2004 National Volunteerism and Philanthropy Award for corporate citizenship.

“We could be more generous in our giving,” adds Mr Liak. With average monthly earnings of $3,213 in 2003, donating $60 a month or a bowl of noodles a day, is well within means.

“IT’S NOT ENOUGH” The survey also showed that the need to tap latent donor dollars is pressing. It’s no secret that the scramble for the charity pie has grown ever keener over the years.

True, charitable giving has grown. Individual donations accounted for 22% of total donations to IPCs in 2001.

By 2003, the proportion had grown to 39% in 2003.

Then again, societal demands have blazed ahead just as aggressively. Consider the ballooning number of charities. As at December 2004, registered charities listed on the IRAS website numbered 1,791 – a huge hike from just 400 registered charities in 1983.

“We see governments all around the world struggling to meet growing social needs. If international precedents are a signal of things to come, it [current levels of giving] is not enough,” comments Mrs Tan Chee Koon, NVPC’s Chief Executive Officer. “And we have the prospect of a rapidly ageing population to deal with.”

Mrs Tan is, however, optimistic that the charity purse can grow. “We need to plug the message hard enough and alert donors to the fact that they have the capacity to give more.

“For instance, if donors in the higher income bands can be persuaded to give the same proportion of their income as those in the lower income bands, it could mean an $87 million top-up to the charity purse.”

GIVING FOR THE RIGHT REASONS Mrs Tan believes that successful shaping of giving behaviour will be a key determinant in boosting charity dollars.

The survey identifies the majority of donors (88%) to be reactive givers – they give when asked or pressed to do so. Case in point: donors accosted by ‘tin can’ fundraisers who throng Orchard Road on flag days.

A ubiquitous feature of the fundraising landscape, flag days seem to be occurring almost every weekend. A check with the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) revealed that the two weekends per month currently allocated to NCSS members for flag days in 2005 have already been “fully booked”.

Some donors interviewed confessed to giving in such instances out of sympathy for fundraisers plying the streets. Others like George Ng, financial controller of an American subsidiary, view such donations as a means to “get out of being pestered”. Many conceded they had no understanding of the cause they gave to or who the beneficiaries were.

More than selling flags – Charity gift packs are just one of the fundraising methods used. Picture courtesy of Heartware Network

“ We need to plug the message hard enough and alert donors to the fact that they have capacity to give more. If donors in the higher income bands can be persuaded to give the same proportion of their income as those in the lower income bands (1.6%), it could mean a $87 million top-up to the charity purse.”

Mrs Tan Chee Koon, Chief Executive Officer, NVPC

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Starting young – Youthful volunteers plan donation strategies.

Picture courtesy of Singapore Children’s Society

Only 9% of donors claimed they planned or were proactive in their giving.

“We need to get nonprofits out of the hit-and-run mode, and encourage donors to seek out the causes they believe in and conscientiously set aside a portion of income to support them,” argues Mrs Tan. The challenge, say some nonprofits, is perhaps finding the right buttons to push.

PUSHING THE RIGHT BUTTONS The survey findings have flagged a couple of possibilities.

Capturing donor mindshare with stronger and more prominent profiles, for starters. 43% of respondents based giving decisions on the name of the organisation seeking the donation.

“When you think about phone-ordering fast food, you probably think Pizza Hut straight away,” observes Ms Irene Han, General Manager of the Kidney Dialysis Foundation (KDF). “It’s no different for nonprofits.

Profile and brand building are critical. We have to capture the time and attention of donors – that’s our challenge.” says Ms Han. Making information available could also go a long way in galvanising givers. 72% of donors interviewed said they could be persuaded to give more with more information about how donations are utilised, and 65% claimed more information about recipient organisations would up their giving.

“ When you think about phoneordering fast food, you probably think Pizza Hut straight away. It’s no different for nonprofits.

Profile and brand building are critical.”

Ms Irene Han, General Manager, Kidney Dialysis Foundation

While findings give teeth to recent calls for informed giving, nonprofits say there is a balance to be struck.

“Information needs to be transparent, representative and sufficient – we don’t want to overload donors either,” cautions Ms Han. Still, says Mrs Tan, “It’s a strong signal to nonprofits hoping to nab themselves a generous slice of the charity pie. Clearly, charities engage donors when they make the effort to educate donors on their activities, and even on their financials. And that may get them more sustained and involved support.”

At the very least, the effort might elicit the equivalent of a bowl of noodles. ✩ Additional reporting by Brenda Yeo.

Jan-Feb 2005 S A LT •

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INDIVIDUAL GIVING AT A GLANCE The Individual Giving Pie

1

Donors’ Behaviour Where are they giving? % among donors

IPC

Religious organisations

Non-IPC

46%

54%

(S$202m)

66% 65%

Health

(S$236m)

39%

Education

33%

Civic/Self-help

Total: S$438m

29%

Social service

What would make them give more?

Country Comparisons

% among donors

Singapore (2003)

Donor participation rate

97%

UK (2002)

USA (2003)

67%

69%*

More information about how donation is utilised

72%

More information about receiving organisation

65%

More appreciation from receiving organisation

Donations as % of per capita GNI

0.28%

0.73%

1.64%

Total donations (S$m)

438

19,626

312,551

48%

What is their giving pattern? 3

* % of households

% among donors

Annual Donation Amount

88%

Reactive giving S$ 200

Proactive giving

11%

S$155 150

What affects their giving decisions? % among donors

100 Name of organisation asking

S$602 50

Organisation’s activities and programmes Name of supported charity/NPO

0 Average

Median

Donations as % of Income

21%

% among those who seek information

1.6%

67%

Mass media

57%

Personal contacts

1.0

0.7%

0.6%

Charity/NPO

0.6%

32%

0.4%

0.5

1

Survey conducted by Market Probe-Precision Research Pte Ltd, based on the responses of 1,698 individuals. Survey covered the period between April 2003 and April 2004.

2

Median refers to the mid-point value of all responses from surveyed individuals.

3

Reactive giving: Definition includes donations made at a box or at the request of someone.

Proactive giving: Refers to unsolicited donations where donors approached organisations.

0.0 <$1000

$1000 – <$2000

$2000 – <$3000

$3000 – <$4000

Monthly Income

• S A LT Jan-Feb 2005

22%

Where do they obtain information on receiving organisations?

% 2.0

1.5

18

43%

$4000 – <$5000

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AniMaL

Pictures courtesy of SPCA

hOuSe

What is the state of animal welfare in Singapore?

JAFRI MOHAMED comes to grips with rising cases of abandoned and mistreated animals each year.

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ompassion, conscience and creatures. A fairly good judge of how much a society has progressed over time is how it treats its animals. Or not.

There have been an increasing number of animal cruelty cases in recent years, with many media stories highlighting indiscriminate and reckless breeding, animals abandoned when the novelty of keeping a pet wears thin, and a stock of gruesome tales.

These have included a cat found with rubber bands tied around its neck, live turtles tossed into storm drains, stray dogs dying as a result of eating poisoned food, and pet rabbits and hamsters abandoned or confined in severely cramped cages.

Higher up the chain, pet shops have not fared not much better in the animal welfare polls. In the past year alone,

complaints to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) about conditions in pet shops rose by almost 40 per cent to over 80 reports. There was also an increase in complaints received by the Society about rabbits and hamsters kept in filthy, cramped conditions in common corridor areas of Housing Board blocks.

In 2003, officers from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) picked up around 35 stray or abandoned cats and dogs on a daily basis, compared to about 27 a day in 2002.

In a move aimed at stemming the tide, the AVA, the main government body in charge of animal welfare, and other regulatory bodies, have dedicated themselves to implementing policies, regulations and campaigns targeted at achieving long-term results. More animal welfare groups have also been formed to help care for strays, raise public awareness, and assist in the care and sterilisation of animals.

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SOCIAL ILL – DUMPED PETS

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Anyone keeping a wild animal without an AVA license can also be fined a maximum of $1,000 per animal under the Wild Animals and Birds Act. In 1993, a woman was prosecuted for having a sun bear and a monkey in her Pasir Panjang home.

She was fined $2,000 and the animals were confiscated. In November 2004, volunteers from the Animals Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) went in search of a tiger suspected of being kept in captivity in the Sixth Avenue area.

The proliferation of pet shops in many neighbourhoods may also have led to the higher rate of abandonment.

Although all pet shops are inspected yearly to ensure they comply with licensing conditions, these measures have limited success because some animals may be bought on a whim, then abandoned, or given up when the owners can no longer cope.

Pet shops may not be doing enough to ensure that the buyer receives sufficient information on pet care and responsibility.

Singapore does not have any permanent animal shelters at present, but it does have commercial boarding establishments for pets such as dogs and cats. These establishments require a license to operate.

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At the recent launch of the AVA’s public education drive, Second Minister for National Development Lim Swee Say raised pet abandonment as a social problem. Some pet owners, he said, were simply being irresponsible. Mr Ngiam Tong Tau, AVA’s Chief Executive, cites lack of knowledge about the costs and responsibilities of pet ownership as the key reason for such behaviour.

“One of AVA’s goals is to safeguard and promote animal welfare. We do this by enforcing strict regulations to protect animals against cruelty, licensing pet shops and animal exhibitions, and by educating the public on responsible pet ownership,” says Dr Leow Su Hua, head of the AVA’s Animal Welfare Education Branch, “A major challenge we currently face is the control of the population of stray animals,” she continues. “Pet abandonment is one contributing factor to the problem of strays and it stems mainly from lack of knowledge on pet care.”

Dr Leow says pointedly that abandoned pets cannot fend for themselves. “They endure starvation, suffer injuries, diseases and traffic accidents. Many of these animals die. It is an offence to abandon a pet. Anyone convicted of abandoning an animal or of cruelty to it, can be fined up to $10,000, or jailed up to 12 months, or both.”

There are no accurate statistics on the total number of abandoned animals and only the most severe cases of mistreatment make it onto the media. Cats appear to have it worst.

Mr Lim revealed at AVA’s public education launch that the number of stray and abandoned cats is multiplying by around 20 per cent yearly, and presently, there are about 60,000 stray cats on the island.

Indications from individual welfare groups are sobering. The SPCA for instance, takes in about 500 stray or abandoned cats every month. Every year, the society recovers over 10,000 animals. For a variety of reasons, holding space being the most pressing, most of these animals are put down.

The AVA has set up an Animal Welfare Education Branch to actively promote the message of animal welfare and responsible pet ownership to schools and the public. To complement its public educational talks and exhibitions, pet adoption drives, and counseling on pets, it produces and distributes educational materials to schools, pet shops, veterinary clinics and the public. It also touches base with town councils and animal welfare groups.

Exotic animals have not been forgotten. Animals such as sun bears, monkeys and tigers are just three species among the 30,000 animals and plants protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites). Singapore is a signatory.

Under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, anyone caught in possession of an illegally imported specimen on the Cites list can be fined up to $5,000 and jailed for a year. In the last four years, eight people have been jailed for such offences.

MUCH MORE THAN FUZZY FEELINGS

Animal welfare groups work closely with the AVA in promoting the message of responsible pet ownership and animal welfare, mainly through public exhibitions on pet related themes and pet adoption drives. When unwanted animals are impounded, many of these welfare groups try to facilitate the adoption of these creatures.

But beyond the feel-good nature of these measures, the driving concern is one of very limited resources. There are too many abandoned or mistreated animals that require help and not enough shelters or helping hands.

The welfare groups themselves are made up mostly of volunteers, who come from all walks of life. Drawn together by a common cause, they tackle fundraising, operating costs, administrative work and manual chores A rescued cat with a mangled paw that had with admirable zest and enthusiasm. Some, to be amputated. such as K9 Love, are run and entirely Picture courtesy of Animal Lovers League funded by single-minded animal lovers out of their own pockets and the charity of friends and family. It is a constant, uphill struggle to stay afloat and remain viable.

“More people are speaking up for animals now, but there’s still a long way to go. Even if people don’t love animals, they must at least respect them,” Deirdre Moss, Executive Officer of the SPCA notes.

She says one of society’s most vital roles is to educate people about responsible pet ownership and to be kind to animals. To this end, the SPCA conducts in-depth talks, visits and exhibitions at venues ranging from schools and libraries to multi-national companies and corporations.

The SPCA takes in around 1,000 unwanted animals every month, many found abandoned on the streets. Says Ms Moss, “Animal welfare still has a long way to go. People need to sterilise their pets to avoid unwanted litters being born. They should also be adopting more animals rather than just buying from pet shops.

“More members of the public are already speaking up against animal abuse, so that’s good. Still, for things to improve, society as a whole needs to take a hard look at itself.”

Dr Lynn Yeo, one of the founding members and an expresident of the Cat Welfare Society, is emphatic that she would like to see more compassion and respect for animals.

“It’s very important that animal welfare be put on a high priority list in Singapore,” she stresses. The society, formed in

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1999, is run almost entirely by volunteers, who work determinedly to improve the welfare of stray cats in Singapore.

Animals Lovers League president Cathy Strong’s heartfelt wish is that “one day, cats and dogs, all sterilised, can run free in the street”. The league, formed over two years ago, recently set up a low-cost boarding facility called Pets Villa at Pasir Ris. “Pets Villa is a viable and humane alternative to putting unwanted animals down,” Ms Strong declares.

It’s been said that the eyes offer a window into the deepest emotions – joy, fear, love. If this is so, what then do we see when society looks into the soft brown eyes of an abandoned dog? Intense pain and sorrow, yet a glimmer of hope? Its welfare is in our hands. ✩

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In this issue, SALT highlights five nonprofit players in the animal welfare sector.

Animal Welfare Organisations All inputs provided by the societies and associations

General Date of establishment Constitution Registered charity IPC Website Organisation Chairman Executive Director No. of full-time staff equivalent No. of volunteers Key programme/Activity

Finances (S$’000) Income – Donations – Grants/Sponsorships – Membership fees – Other incomei Expenditure – Programme expenses ii – Operating expenses – Fundraising expenses – Other expenses iii Surplus/Deficit Reserves/Accumulated Funds (S$’000) i. Includes investment income

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Singapore)

Cat Welfare Society

House Rabbit Society (Singapore)

Action for Singapore Dogs Society

Animal Concerns Research and Education Society

1961 Society Yes Yes

1999 Society Yes No

2002 Society No No

2002 Society No No

2001 Society No No

www.spca.org.sg

www.catwelfare.org

www.hrss.net

www.asdsingapore.com

www.acres.org.sg

Carla Barker Deirdre Moss

Wee Liang Tong Dawn Kua 1 150-200 Sterilisation

Teeny Teh (President) – – 30 Rabbit rescue and rehoming Conducting educational talks at schools and public events Campaigning against animal abuse

Ricky Yeo (President) Arul Inthirarajah (VP) 1 40 Rehoming Rescue Adoption Sterilisation Education Touch & Talk therapy programme (Pet Assisted Therapy)

Louis Ng (President) – 4 30 Wildlife rescue Undercover investigations Animal welfare campaigning Education outreach programme

(2002)

(2003)

(2003)

(2003)

26 400 24-hour emergency service for injured and very young animals Investigation of cruelty complaints Collection of unwanted pets and confined strays on designated days Rehoming of animals through adoption scheme Conducting educational talks at schools and organisations (2003) 1,413 829 – 72 512 1,509 978 474 4 53 (96)

101 44 – 18 39 114 94 11 – 9 (13)

21 4 3 3 11 17 13 3 – 1 4

79 48 – 5 26 30 24 3 3 – 49

49 46 – 3 – 42 24 14 – 4 7

5,950

29

9

70

17

ii. Also known as direct charitable expenses

iii. Includes publicity, capital expenses and all other expenses

Research compiled by TAN TZE HOONG, Sector Development, NVPC Jan-Feb 2005 S A LT •

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Hardware+Heartware Time and again, Hewlett-Packard combines technological hardware with unapologetic heartware. The 2004 Corporate Citizen Award winner shows just how, ‘Everything is Possible’. DAVEN WU logs on for a remarkable story.

t is hardly coincidental that an integral part of Hewlett-Packard’s branding is their “+hp” graphic device. Everything about this company is upbeat and positive, from its delightfully provocative print-ads and commercials to its suite of high-technology applications.

Indeed, its corporate motto, ‘Everything is Possible’, spills over into every aspect of the company’s operations, not least of which is the company’s less publicised role as corporate citizen.

“HP has always held the view that the company should make an active contribution to the community in which it operates,” says Paul Chan, HP’s Senior Vice President & Managing Director for Asia Pacific and Japan. “Doing well in business is the same as doing good.”

In Singapore, the company’s Community Activities Committee (CAC) was set up in 1977. Under the supervision of the CAC, HP’s community involvement portfolio today encompasses an employee volunteering programme for its 6,000 strong staff and strategic giving programmes.

The latter is particularly noteworthy. Over the years, HP Singapore has contributed nearly $20 million in resources to enable students, teachers, community residents as well as nonprofit organisations, to solve some of their most fundamental challenges such as training and learning programmes.

Here, the company’s philanthropy and community outreach programmes have a strong educational focus.

For instance, Adaptive Enterprise @ Singapore is an $11 million commitment

I

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• S A LT Jan-Feb 2005

to develop grid and utility technology in Singapore as part of HP’s $22 million joint collaboration with the Infocomm Development Authority over the next three years.

In 2003, the Hewlett Packard Mobility Grant provided Nanyang Technological University with $250,000 to develop technology and provide training and support for a wireless mobile campus. Last year, the Grant awarded Singapore Management University $200,000 in cash and equipment to

“We trade in the currency of knowledge and ideas. You have to go beyond yourself, making a difference where it counts. It makes for a better community.

Once people get engaged, the momentum gets going.” develop an enhanced wireless learning and teaching environment. Meanwhile, an outreach joint venture with the People’s Association and community e-clubs provides basic IT training to heartlanders.

In the past three years, HP helped raised over $3 million for the President’s Challenge and during the SARS outbreak, it contributed nearly $130,000 in cash and equipment to Tan Tock Seng and Singapore General Hospitals.

Elsewhere, the employee volunteering programme records an average

take-up rate of 70%. Employees are given a day off a year to volunteer at a CAC-sanctioned charity or NPO. There are annual community activities including visits to homes, blood donation drives and collection of clothes and food for the underprivileged. The CAC collects nearly $400,000 annually towards local charities with a company matching donation programme of up to US$100,000 annually. To date, HP has contributed over $8.5 million in community services sponsorship.

It is clear that HP’s investment in the community is neither inconsiderable nor a token effort in an attempt to grab some PR-generating news coverage. Year after year, the commitment is apparent.

Indeed, the company sees little difference in its business model of hardware and the somewhat intangible qualities of heartware.

“We trade in the currency of knowledge and ideas,” says Chan, who also mentors the CAC. This is not to say that the process is entirely altruistic and to his credit, Chan is engagingly upfront on this, referring to the fact that the higher the level of a community’s ITsavvyness, the better, ultimately, for the company’s business bottom line.

“Corporate social responsibility should be on the agenda of all CEOs,” he adds. “Life is about more than just working and being successful. You have to go beyond yourself, making a difference where it counts. It makes for a better community. Once people get engaged, the momentum gets going.”

In recognition of HP Singapore’s contributions in this area, the National

< At your service: VP and MD for Singapore and South East Asia Sanjiv Aiyar served food to employees to raise funds for Junglathon (2004). > Gladiator for a day: SVP and MD for Asia Pacific and Japan Paul Chan (second from left) battled it out in the name of charity for Gladiathon (2003).

< HP employees gave blood during the SARS period – there was a massive blood shortage as people were afraid to go to hospitals.

> eClub@teckGhee put to use by the community. >> HP volunteers relaxing after a morning’s work.

Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre conferred on the company the 2004 Corporate Citizen Award on 23 November at the Istana. In doing so, the selection panel explicitly recognised that “through good times and tough times, [HP’s] commitment remains unwavering. The company’s strategic giving programmes seek to leverage on its core competencies through long-range programmes, some of them multi-million dollar commit-

ments focused notably, on bridging the digital divide.”

Says Mrs Tan Chee Koon, NVPC’s CEO, “HP applied its innovative use of IT to empower communities. This award recognizes its corporate citizen role as well as its purposeful giving of company time and company dollars in a most strategic and impactful way. The company has kept faith with its founders’ vision of a company that gives

part of its wealth to every community in which it operates.

“I would not be surprised that HP’s success as a leading global company is due, in no small way, to this subtly powerful corporate philosophy that sees community giveback as an integral part of sharing its success.”

All this from a company that, essentially, sells computers. Everything is possible. ✩

Jan-Feb 2005 S A LT •

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S A L T S H A K E R S & M O V E R S

Rock Solid Foundation Famously low-profile, Dr Lee Seng Gee of the Lee Foundation almost never grants interviews.

In this exclusive midnight dialogue, MONICA GWEE discovers why Singapore’s most generous philanthropist doesn’t take holidays and takes risks on possible cheats.

J

ust to give one example of what Dr Lee Seng Gee’s work schedule is like, this interview was re-scheduled four times and finally took place on a Sunday night that had eventually turned into 1am on Monday.

It followed a full evening hosting a 10-course dinner for a visiting Chinese government delegation. The fact that Dr Lee, Chairman of the Lee Foundation, and his wife, Della, consented to an interview at such an eccentric hour, attests to the graciousness typical of the personality behind, arguably, Singapore’s most generous family foundation.

The Lee Foundation was the unanimous choice for the Special Recognition Award at the Inaugural National Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards held on 23 November at the Istana. Dr Lee Seng Gee, the eldest of three sons of the Lee Foundation’s founder, Dr Lee Kong Chian, is so low-key, he has only given three interviews in his 83 years.

This is the third.

The Lee Foundation boasts no website, and email is simply not entertained. Fax is the preferred communication mode and its office is somewhere behind the working ranks of Lee Rubber and Lee Pineapple company staff in its OCBC Bank premises in Chulia Street.

Notorious for a polite detachment with all media, the Foundation has managed to continue its work uninterrupted since 1952 with minimum hoo-ha and maximum impact.

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• S A LT Jan-Feb 2005

Major gifts in recent years made headlines, notably $60 million to the new-generation National Library Board Building in 2003, and the $50 million granted to the Singapore Management University. Matched 3:1 by the government, the gift became the largest, one-time gift of $200 million ever given to an academic institution anywhere.

But much of the real work of the Lee Foundation is below the public radar. Social workers have been known to tap into the Foundation’s “float” fund to supplement government welfare cheques when they encounter families simply unable to survive from month to month.

The small sums ranging from $200 to $400 per family are professionally and quietly processed, providing a safety net to help those in desperate straits.

Such unpublicised and consistent work is done without song or fanfare. It is also Dr Lee’s personal area of concern.

The poor, after all, are famously invisible in affluent Singapore.

“It’s very bad. There is an underclass which most of us have no contact with.

I had no contact with them until I began my work in the Foundation. Some families need just another $100 to $150 a month to survive,” Dr Lee noted.

“But they may be illiterate and don’t know how to write in, they don’t know how to get help. You would be surprised how many people are poor in Singapore and who don’t know where they can go for help.”

Because the Lee Foundation has been around for half a century, it’s often the first call for anyone needing funds.

Indeed, the Foundation receives over 100 requests and appeal letters a day.

The task of deciding who and what to give to is a huge one made more challenging by the very private nature of the Foundation and the changing needs of modern Singapore. Over time, decisionmaking styles have also changed.

“My father was quite poor when he was young. He built up the family fortune, so it was harder for him to part with money. I am more free and liberal in giving than he would have been,” Dr Lee said.

“We are from different generations.

I inherited the status, I’m quite used to having money from a fairly young age.

But it’s not easy to give away money.

It’s easy to throw it away, so you have to be careful.

Giving money wisely is harder than making money,” he pointed out.

The Foundation was established in 1952 with a capital sum of $3.5 million. While his father focused on “purely human needs” such as education and social welfare, Dr Lee has broadened the giving scope of the Lee Foundation to include new

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areas such as the arts. It means different assessment procedures and needs analysis from the heart-tugging appeals of charities catering to sick children, the elderly and healthcare, for example.

As a working principle, the Foundation does not donate to individuals.

Formal application procedures require

Specialists in Philanthropy Management STRUCTURING • FINANCING • TRUST AND CORPORATE SERVICES • INVESTMENTS • INSURANCE • REAL ESTATE

individual cases to work through official agencies that will provide due diligence and checks on genuine need.

“Life and death and education are far easier to give to. Something like the arts is harder to decide,” Dr Lee admitted. “I try not to make individual decisions. I involve my Board in interviews with applicants. And I always ask Della for her advice,” he said.

Mrs Lee’s Indonesian Chinese grandfather and father were also philanthropists in Medan who built schools in Indonesia and in China. She has been

“We’ve been cheated sometimes.

But you have to take risks. If you are too rigid and too careful, you’ll never give anything away.”

learning the workings of the Foundation from her husband. Dr Lee, then a widower, married Della in 1991 and many credit Mrs Lee for the expansion of the Foundation’s giving portfolio.

“He has taught me how to give more, and how to give less,” said Mrs Lee, a medical doctor who trained in Indonesia.

“She must give me a good reason if she disagrees with my decision,” her husband said firmly. However, disagreements on major gifts are almost nonexistent as Board members, including Dr Lee’s two brothers, Seng Tee and Seng Wee, are involved in the final decision. “Anyway, a man must always listen to his wife!” Dr Lee joked.

In honour of their 13th wedding anniversary in January last year, Dr Lee gave Mrs Lee US$1 million. She immediately donated the money as capital for her own foundation called D S Lee Foundation. The “D”, she jokes, stands for the French article “de” or “the”, and “S” for “small”.

“It’s ‘the small Lee Foundation’ and hopefully, one day, it can do as much good as the Lee Foundation. This is just a start, I can give more later,” she said.

The D S Lee Foundation will provide funds for training specialist nurses, notably those for home private nursing.

On the Board is Prof Tan Ser Kiat, Group CEO of SingHealth, who will help select the nurses.

Mrs Lee, using her medical background, will also be involved in upgrading nursing skills up to degree level for selected nurses.

After so many years of dealing with countless appeals, can he immediately sniff a suspect request like a bad deal?

“Not always,” he said frankly. “Generally, the more convincing the

Jan-Feb 2005 S A LT •

25

appeal is, the more suspicious I tend to be.”

“We’ve been cheated sometimes.

You’ve given the money and they disappear, or the person who applied, resigned or moved away. Or you don’t hear from them again, or they don’t use the money the way they said they would. But you have to take risks.”

Like in business, you win some, you lose some, and Dr Lee would rather lose some than block help to those who need it most by being overly cautious. “If you are too rigid and too careful, you’ll never give anything away,” he noted.

“You have to use balance and judgment. In some cases, by the time you think everything through and decide, it’s too late, the need for the money is no longer there.”

He cites the simple example of students who are unable to take exams because their families failed to raise the money for exam fees. Or urgent medical cases referred by hospitals where slow decisions simply result in death.

The art of giving is also the management of hard calls, grey areas and borderline cases. Precisely because human needs are involved, placing an appropriate

“People usually set up family foundations for tax reasons.

It’s not necessarily a bad reason, but it is not the best reason…

It’s not about tax exemptions.” cash value on a need requires perhaps, the same skills and acumen of a brilliant entrepreneur. This trait is arguably, very evident in the Lee family line.

Yet, Dr Lee places no pressure on his children to get involved in the Foundation. “They would have to have a key interest in helping in the Foundation

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before I ask them to come in. You must really have the interest for this sort of work,” Dr Lee emphasised.

The experience of the Great Depression had a powerful influence on his father’s and his own mission for the Foundation. Dr Lee recognises his children have grown up in a vastly different era of plenty. The Foundation’s giving values are not dissimilar to the Lee family’s values of thrift, hard work and the responsibilities of wealth and privilege.

“If you are lucky enough to have excess wealth, there is no point just locking up the money in the bank. Give it away to help others who need it,” Dr Lee said.

“People usually set up family foundations for tax reasons. It’s not necessarily a bad reason, but it is not the best reason. Family foundations result from more excess funds than you actually require. Start from there and you have a freer hand in deciding what to do with the money. It’s not about tax exemptions,” he emphasised.

For that reason, Dr Lee believes the management decisions for the Foundation should remain within the family. Currently, he is primarily the

Dr Lee Seng Gee

head and heart of and his wife Della. the Foundation where he spends 65 to 70 per cent of his work hours.

“The Foundation is one part of our organisation, we can’t just give it to anybody. Each person has his own ideas and their own prejudices. If you allow other people to manage it, they may not do the right thing. You should do it yourself to ensure you give wisely,” he said.

Even with his wife’s help, the Foundation’s work is considerable. “You have to be prepared to spend long hours reading appeal letters and doing checks,” Mrs Lee noted. “It’s hard work, but it’s satisfying.”

And hard work, so much a part of his father’s character, is an enduring family value. “My work is not so taxing that I need holidays. Normally, I don’t take holidays. What would you do on holiday anyway?” he asked.

“We have to make a living. I’ve been working since I was 18, it’s become a habit. When I don’t work, I spend time with my wife. Apart from working, what would you do with your time?” he challenged.

Point taken. The interview ended at 2.30am. ✩

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How toThink‘‘Business’’

NPOs are ill-equipped to compete in an increasingly difficult environment.

So says Mayank Parekh, the managing partner of McKinsey. He points the way ahead.

BY

MAYANK PAREKH MANAGING PARTNER M C K INSEY & C OMPANY, S INGAPORE

onprofits today operate in a very tough environment. With the continued retreat by governments and an increasingly demanding donor base, the quest to secure funding remains an ongoing battle.

The “bar” for worthy causes continues to rise with greater transparency, globalisation and the continued growth of the nonprofit sector. The number of players in this sector has also increased, heightening competition. Competition, traditionally limited to other nonprofits, now includes commercial enterprises with enlarged social agendas, and that is increasingly a competitor in services such as health and education, traditionally government funded.

Most NPOs are ill-equipped to operate in today’s increasingly difficult environment. They face three key challenges: 1) Ineffective governance: Often through lack of consensus about missions, poorly constituted boards, and limited performance monitoring, NPO governance is significantly challenged. A recent McKinsey survey of executives and directors of nonprofit social service organisations found that only 17% felt their boards were effective.

2) Fragmentation: The nonprofit sector is dominated by tiny institutions.

Many work in isolation. Efforts are often duplicated and the transfer or development of best practices rarely occurs. Their efforts remain inefficient with management time typically

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misallocated. Moreover, most donors give money earmarked for specific programmes and shun the long-term investments – such as IT systems, staff development processes, and management capacity – that are required to invest in the organisation’s badly needed infrastructure.

(3) Inefficient social capital market: Philanthropy is largely a one-way street and gifts come only after a nonprofit goes out of its way, often at great expense. The lack of a uniform standard of accounting and reporting has resulted in the social capital market lacking a robust information flow.

Donors often fend for themselves in seeking information – most find it hard to tell if a charity asking for contributions is legitimate.

Further, the allocation process is not value driven. Donor decisions are often based on institutional loyalty or belief in a cause, not financial and organisational performance, and potential social impact.

Finally, the social capital market is neither flexible nor responsive.

Contribution decisions are largely final and irreversible, unlike the for-profit market, where investors can withdraw funds from low-return investments and redistribute them to higher-return investments.

To meet these challenges, NPOs must adopt a commercial mindset: 1) Governance: To improve the governance of nonprofits, their boards must venture beyond the traditional focus of raising funds, selecting CEOs and setting high-level policy. Our research indicates that the best boards also

provide a clear vision, professional expertise, represent the interests of their nonprofits to community leaders, recruit new talent to the organisation. They also provide the more rigorous management and performance oversight that donors increasingly demand. Rising to this level of performance takes time but nailing down these basics enable directors to avoid wasting time and energy.

2) Funding: For the nonprofit sector to have a greater social impact, donors must provide longer-term support, focusing on building capabilities and results. They must recognise that improving performance costs money but that such investments will actually improve programme outcomes in the long run.

Donors must also more actively encourage NPOs to consolidate and cooperate with one another. Making these investments requires a change in mind-set for many nonprofits and their executives who are reluctant to take time and money away from programmes to make short-term investments. They must appreciate that investing in their organisations is not a “betrayal of the cause” but will actually enhance their effectiveness.

3) Overcoming inefficiencies: NPOs should consider curing the underlying inefficiencies of the social capital market by establishing “fund of funds” to maximize capital raising efficiency. Such funds allocate assets to high performing organisations, and provide flexibility to donors. In addition, NPOs need to develop and enforce uniform operating and accounting standards. ✩

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Giving Till It Hurts?

Somewhere along the line, we’ve developed a fixed belief that it is perfectly in order to ask for everything free – in the name of charity.

BY

MONICA GWEE DIRECTOR, M ARKETING & C OMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS , NVPC

uy mattress, get free handphone leh!” That’s the opening sales pitch for one of the most endearingly Singapore commercials still airing on prime time TV. Endearing and perhaps, seriously askew.

We recognise with equal irritation and fondness, the national passion for demanding a lot more than a fair price.

This free gift, discount culture, this “must get more value than what I am asked for” expectation is pervasive and widespread, from nonprofits and charities to ministries and government agencies.

It is with some exasperation that I raise this issue among those working in nonprofits and charities whose mandate is to negotiate donations in cash, goods and services for good causes.

Somewhere along the line, those who ask seem to have developed a belief that it is perfectly in order to ask for and expect everything for free – in the name of charity. As the charity scene becomes tougher, many sponsors are beginning to choke at what is expected of them as more and more demanding calls are made on their purses.

National charity drives are all the rage, often backed by government agencies and media owners. Corporates and donors are besieged by donation calls, often without taking a breath after their last donation, and with every call for help a worthy cause.

In such an environment, the notion of “giving until it hurts” is becoming too familiar for many donors. Apart from donations and sponsorships in cash or

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kind, time is also a major gift. Volunteers and voluntary work, contrary to widespread belief, are not “free”. It’s just that a volunteer’s time is not charged, but it still has significant financial value – to the one who gives it. It’s not unusual for nonprofits who accept the services of volunteers, to also expect their volunteers to pay for transport, out of pocket expenses, international calls made on behalf of the organisation, and so on.

Most people don’t begrudge the extra give, but let’s not take unconditional largesse for granted. The charity and nonprofit sector is already full of goodnatured and not so good-natured armtwisting. You twist my arm for this cause, I’ll twist yours for another. Very soon, this collective arm twisting is going to dislocate some very reliable joints in the skeleton of significant donors. You can hear the barely stifled groans from one golf course to the next, one charity event to the other.

These are wobbly premises on which to build good, fair and sustainable relationships. It would seem few know where to draw the line between a good ask, and a fair give.

Take for example, a proposal for the staging of a grand charity show. The venue, as part of the beneficiary process, is expected to be free, or there should be a huge discount, or rental shouldn’t even come up. However you start the negotiation, it is seldom on reasonable ground. After all, it’s for charity!

Arts groups and professional entertainers and emcees struggle with “volunteering” their talents to grace charity events because they are so often exploited by nonprofits or charities who refuse to consider any fees for their work. Volunteers are not slaves, and professional

volunteers recruited to support someone else’s charity cause other than their own preferred cause, have a right to ask at least for an honorarium. They do not ask for market rate fees, but a token is an act of reciprocal respect from the asker to the donor.

This is fair trade and the nonprofit sector is not above practicing fair trade principles in its dealings with the private sector, or suppliers of goods, cash and services in the name of charitable and community work.

The nonprofit sector does itself no credit and wins itself no new supporters if it insists on treating donor parties like cash dispensers to be hit until the machine breaks down. More than any other partnership, this is one relationship dynamic that can only benefit from a little graciousness in the give and take process.

And here may be where the government and its numerous agencies scouting around for sponsorships for countless events and activities, may consider a leadership role. Premise 1: People want to give generously. Premise 2: No matter what they say, donors and sponsors don’t like being forced to accede to unreasonable demands in the name of a VVIP. Often the pressure from the VVIP’s henchmen is heavier than the cause.

What this practice means is that charities and nonprofits truly strapped for cash, are less likely to benefit from the free services they deserve. The donors are already bleeding from stretching limited donation resources every which way.

There is emotional value in work, time and goods given. When people give freely and willingly, it’s not an open opportunity for the asker to be greedy. It leaves an unpleasant aftertaste. ✩

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Bread to Win

It began with shock at how much food was wasted in Singapore daily, and it took two Austrians to deliver food from the heart to Singapore’s needy. Today, Food From The Heart is so much more than just a bread line. JOAN HO breaks bread with founders Christine and Henry Laimer.

f manna droppeth from heaven, then Christine Laimer and her team of volunteers must be the delivery angels. Since February 2003, Food from the Heart (FFTH), a nonprofit organisation founded by Christine Laimer and her businessman husband Henry, has been distributing unwanted bread from local bakeries to charities and welfare homes around Singapore.

At last count, FFTH had 1,400 active volunteers collecting food from contributing suppliers. They distribute them to about 95 welfare institutions such as nurseries, day-care centres and old folks homes.

The reach and impact of this inspired volunteer idea is considerable,

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“Of course I still have to oversee our business.

We have to eat! Or else we have to eat the bread we collect!”

Henry Laimer

especially given the simplicity of its beginnings. It all started with an article in The Straits Times in November 2002.

“When I read about how local bakeries were dumping their unsold bread in huge quantities, I thought, why is this bread being wasted? Surely there are people out there who need it? I decided that this was something where I could help because of my background in logistics, and if I got the help and support of Singaporeans,” Christine recalled.

She started the ball rolling by contacting business associates, the media, and bakeries. She also enlisted the help of a lawyer friend to help sort out the legal implications. Then, she obtained a list of welfare homes and marked out the most needy ones as beneficiaries. She put the word out that she needed help for the cause.

And the country responded. Singaporeans came forward in overwhelming numbers. “In the first few days when we started, I got about 180 calls a day.

My baby was eight months old, I had no maid and my phone was ringing constantly!” she said incredulously. “I

was surprised by the response and am constantly inspired by the volunteers’ enthusiasm.”

The volunteers came from all walks of life. They delivered bread by car, van, taxi, and even by scooter!

Managers, freelance writers, CEOs, housewives, pilots, and students – they all came. And still do.

The Laimers went through a steep learning curve. They invested over $70,000 of their own money into the venture, and struggled to find the $250,000 FFTH needed to sustain itself on a continuing basis. They almost had to cease operations. Timely funding arrived from the President’s Challenge, NVPC’s New Initiative Grant and a stable of loyal corporate supporters.

Operating costs still remain a challenge.

The Laimers offer an unusual and inspiring story of expatriate commitment to the community of Singapore they have lived in for seven years.

“We were newcomers to charity work when we first started FFTH,” said Christine. “Today, we distribute 20 tonnes of food each month. I’m very

(L) Baked goods: FFTH volunteers show off their collection. (C) Door-to-door: A grateful recipient of FFTH’s Food Goodie Bags delivery service.

(R) One of FFTH’s latest initiatives is Toys From The Heart, a festive season project that distributes toys to needy children.

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impressed at how Singaporeans have responded, with everyone willing to go that extra mile.”

She thinks Europe’s welfare system takes care of the needy so volunteerism is less developed. “This bread collection scheme also wouldn’t work in Europe because the consumer behaviour there is different. In Singapore, bakeries bake until closing time as people like to see the shelves full of bread, so there are a lot of leftovers. In Europe, bakeries close at 6pm and bakers don’t bother to bake bread right to the last minute,” Christine noted.

Apart from bread, FFTH has diversified its operations and now also distributes school assessment books and non-perishable food items packed into goodie bags for needy families.

“We haven’t been sitting on our laurels. We’re targeting food industries and manufacturers to donate their food. Recently, we also succeeded in recruiting hotels such as the Grand Hyatt, Shangri-La, Ritz-Carlton and the Marriott to our cause.”

Christine Laimer may be the most visible spokesperson for FFTH, but she readily admits that were it not for the support of her husband Henry – who runs their logistics-related business – she couldn’t have started, let alone continue operating, FFTH. “He comes to the important meetings, especially the ones where the clients are a bit more conservative and prefer to see a man!”

The demands of FFTH consume much of Christine’s waking day. She estimates she spends around eight to 10 hours daily coordinating FFTH activities from its United Square office and attending meetings.

What new targets has she set for herself? “More sleep,” she joked. “I would also like to spend more quality time with my daughter. It is difficult.

I feel constantly guilty not spending enough time with her. On the other hand, this is also a very fulfilling and exciting time for me as it is in my hands to help somebody.”

EAT YOUR HEART OUT Fast facts on Food From the Heart: Participating bakeries 117 Beneficiary homes 95 Self-collection centres 6 Volunteers in database 2,000 Collection routes 192 Active volunteers 1,400 Volunteers deployed in a day 200 Individuals benefiting from scheme: 10,000 (including 400 families) Donations collected in 2003 (including bread, non-perishable food items, toiletries): Approx $2.4 million Bread collected monthly: 20,000-22,000 kg (equivalent to about 430 NTUC trolleys filled with bread)

“Some people said it’s unnecessary to waste money hiring permanent staff and pay them market rates, but that is just not doable. If you don’t have good people, it’s not efficient.”

Christine Laimer

Nights are reserved for her young daughter and her husband, and the couple select evening engagements carefully.

“We also try to bring our daughter along to functions when it’s appropriate to do so!” Christine laughed.

Due to her FFTH commitments, Christine has had little time for the business, where she is in charge of financial and administrative matters. “I’ll have to look for another person who will do the job for Christine,” joked Henry.

“Of course I still have to oversee our business. We have to eat! Or else we have to eat the bread we collect!”

“We’ve put in significant amounts

of our own money, but we’re dependent on funding and volunteers,” said Christine.

Husband and wife are equally passionate about FFTH. “It is always on our minds. That’s all we talk about day in and day out. It never stops!”

Christine exclaimed. The Laimers have faced their own fair share of detractors, especially in their goal to run FFTH like a business enterprise.

“Some people said it’s unnecessary to waste money hiring permanent staff and pay them market rates, but that is just not doable. If you don’t have good people, it’s not efficient. We are bringing in business principles to run FFTH. We have shown results through our hard work and our detractors are now our strongest supporters,” she noted.

Has the fact that they are expatriates ever hampered their charitable efforts?

Far from it. “Many Singaporeans have come up to say that it’s they who should be doing this and not us as we are ang mohs. So we are banking on the guilt factor!” she grinned.

“Singapore has become our second home. We’re happy to give something back.”

And what goes around, comes around.

On 23 November 2004, Food From The Heart won the New Nonprofit Initiative Award at the National Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards.

“Food From The Heart was wonderfully innovative in its simplicity. The logistical challenges were enormous, and we were impressed by the way they planned their operations and mobilised large numbers of volunteers to take part,” said Dr Tan Chi Chiu, the chairman for the New Nonprofit Initiative Award Assessor Panel.

Remarked Christine, “We were surprised because we are very young.

I’m very happy and I think this award is most important for the volunteers as this is recognition of their efforts. This also shows the appreciation of Singaporeans for our efforts which have not been spent in vain.” ✩

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SCENE&SEEN Setting the Pace Photo courtesy of SPH – The Business Times

22 October 2004, Inaugural Bull Run, Central Business District

Watch and Wear 9 November 2004, Sincere Watch Golden Jubilee, Ritz-Carlton Millenia

There was glitter and glamour in equal measure as Singapore’s high-society gathered to celebrate Sincere Watch’s Golden Jubilee. 650 guests feasted on a sumptuous dinner prepared by five award-winning chefs including Sydney’s celebrated Tetsuya Wakuda.

No bull.

It was rush hour of a different kind. Over 2,000 corporate big-shots and CEOs raced 2.8 km togged up in their sporting best at the Singapore Exchange’s first Bull Run – a charity event that raised $2 million for the Community Chest, Autism Association (Singapore) and the ST School Pocket Money Fund.

Flagging off the runners was Guest-of-Honour, Ms Ho Ching, Executive Director and Chief Executive of Temasek Holdings. On the women’s side, first across the finish line was Ms Trina Soh from the Ministry of Health and on the men’s, Mr Chris Flanagan of Credit Suisse First Boston.

Chefs Tetsuya Wakuda (second from left) and his merry chefs.

Watched on by Guest-of-Honour, President S R Nathan, 25 limited edition watches were auctioned off. Over $1 million was raised, with all proceeds and donations from the evening going to The Tent, Sincere Watch’s adopted charity.

Tee Time

7 October 2004, Great Eastern Annual Charity Golf Challenge, Tanah Merah Country Club

Fore! President Nathan and Ms Jennie Chua, Chairman of Community Chest, were presented with the cheque by Mr Michael Wong Pakshong, Chairman of Great Eastern Holdings.

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166 golfers descended on the greens of Tanah Merah Country Club to tee-off for a good cause – GoldenCare, a Community Chest project supported by insurance giant Great Eastern.

In all, $220,000 was raised at Great Eastern’s fourth annual charity golf challenge for AWWA Community Home for Senior Citizens, SAGE Counselling Centre, SILRA Home, SWAMI Home Help Services and TOUCH Home Care.

President S R Nathan was the Guest-of-Honour.

All watched up.

Above: Jimmy Koh (L) and Dr Lee Suan Yew. Left: Eddy Koh (L) and Tina Tan-Leo.

Lion Hearted

Reaching out. Left: Guest-of-Honour Mr Lim Swee Say, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for National Development.

Below: A rousing good time.

29 October 2004, Lions Befrienders Appreciation and Award Presentation Ceremony, Overseas Union House 57 dedicated Lions Befrienders were honoured for their work with the elderly at the annual organisation’s Appreciation and Award Presentation Ceremony. This year’s theme ‘Colours of Life’ reflected the ‘colour’ that each of the 1,200 volunteer befrienders brings to the lives of the 4,000-plus elderly beneficiaries.

The Lions Befrienders is the only organisation that provides an island-wide Befriending Programme.

Pooling Resources 12 October 2004, Paralympics Appreciation Dinner, The Grassroots Club

Kudos to Volunteers 2 October 2004, Institute of Mental Health

Paralympian swimmer Theresa Tan slipped off her goggles at an appreciation dinner held in honour of the paralympic athletes. The O-Level student clocked nine personal bests in five events in the pool. Her efforts earned her a certificate of participation and a commemorative medal from the International Paralympic Committee.

Sporting Line Up 29 October 2004, Sporting Singapore Inspiration Awards, InterContinental Singapore The Singapore Sports Council paid tribute to the contributions and indomitable spirits of 53 sports advocates, recognising their individual and collective commitment to sports and the example they set in leading more active lifestyles. The two oldest recipients of the awards were 107-year old Teresa Hsu, founder of the Home for the Aged Sick (she holds talks on healthy living and yoga), and 71-year old Tan Howe Liang, Singapore’s only Olympic medallist.

Lapping it up. Theresa Hsu receives her award from Guest-of-Honour, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.

Guest-of-Honour Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports with the paralympic athletes.

Dr Ang Yong Guan (centre) and Mrs Tan Chee Koon (second from right) with IMH volunteers.

To commemorate World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2004, a Volunteer’s Day celebration was held on 2 October 2004 for Institute of Mental Health (IMH) volunteers.

Guest speaker Dr Ang Yong Guan, a consultant psychiatrist,“entertained” the audience with his comical yet enlightening presentation “Volunteering in Mental Health”. Long service awards and certificates of appreciation were also presented to the volunteers by Guest-ofHonour, Mrs Tan Chee Koon, Chief Executive Officer of NVPC, and Mr Leong Yew Meng, Chief Executive Officer of IMH.

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THE INAUGURAL NATIONAL VOLUNTEERISM & PHILANTHROPY AWARDS NVPC’s pinnacle awards were presented at the Istana by President S R Nathan.

The 2004 Awards marked NVPC’s wider mission as it positions both volunteerism and philanthropy on the national agenda.

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he chandeliers sparkled and the ladies glittered in their gowns as the evening gathered guests and friends from all sectors of the community of volunteers, donors and nonprofits. The occasion was the Inaugural National Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards in the grand rooms of the Istana on 23 November.

The first National Volunteerism Awards were presented in 2001 by the National Volunteer Centre. The new Awards provide a national platform to recognise excellence benchmarks in nonprofit, corporate, group and individual community contributions as well as best practices in philanthropy incorporating donor management and good governance.

It was an evening of remembrances and growth, of those recently passed, of deeds accomplished, goals achieved and the challenges that remain to be tackled. The Guest-of-Honour was President S R Nathan, accompanied by Mrs Nathan and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, and Mrs Balakrishnan.

In his welcome address, Mr Willie Cheng, Chairman of NVPC, took a moment to remember the late Diana Young, CEO of Mil-Com Aerospace Group, a panelist for the New Nonprofit Initiative Award, and a long-time supporter of NVPC. Mr Cheng hailed Ms Young as “a fine example of giving”.

From the beautiful table settings and the food and beverage coordination by Violet Oon, Singapore’s leading food ambassador, to the table gifts of incredibly delicate “Giving Trees” created by Mr Christopher Pereira, the entire evening was a community project involving a host of community partners who contributed their valuable time, talents and skills towards making the occasion a memorable one.

In the spirit of the evening’s theme,“Community Roots”, pastry chefs from Conrad Centennial, Goodwood Park Hotel, Grand Copthorne Waterfront, Pan Pacific, Raffles The Plaza and Sheraton Towers created unique Community Cakes expressing their interpretation of the theme. Award winners and President Nathan received a cake each.

Disparate yet harmonious elements – CEOs and philanthropists, an army of volunteers, donors, captains of industry, and ordinary folk doing extraordinary deeds on a daily basis – bonded together in clear testimony that this community, at least, has deep roots.

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The Chefs Guard-of-Honour anxiously await the President’s arrival.

Under the assured spatula of Mr Otto Weibel, Director of Kitchens at Swissotel The Stamford and President of the Singapore Chefs Association (SCA), volunteer chefs whipped up a delicious three-course dinner that won Singapore several medals at the recent International Culinary Olympics 2004 in Germany.

Pastry chefs from the SCA partnered with the Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN) to make delightful cupcakes that were included as table gifts for guests.

Singer and composer Mr Clement Chow, serenaded with a medley of ballads including What a Wonderful World and The Way We Were.

A refreshing jazz ensemble featuring a lady saxophonist (left) and Asian drum percussionists rounded up the experience.

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In conversation: (L-R) Lee Suan Hiang (National Arts Council), Pek Beng Choon (Principal Private Secretary to the President), Tan Boon Huat (People’s Association) and Noel Hon (Singapore Kindness Movement).

(L-R) Lee Kim Siang (Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society), Christopher Yeow (Very Special Arts Singapore) and Koh Cher Siang (IRAS).

(L-R) Deirdre Moss (SPCA), Claire Ng and Shahrena Hassan (SPH).

The evening’s winners: (L-R) Peter Khoo (ST School Pocket Money Fund); Acting Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan; Dr and Mrs Lee Seng Gee (The Lee Foundation); President S R Nathan; Paul Chan (HewlettPackard Singapore); Christine and Henry Laimer (Food From The Heart); Lim Siew Cheng (Singapore Children’s Society) and Willie Cheng. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

THE WINNERS GALLERY NONPROFIT ORGANISATION AWARD

Singapore Children’s Society NEW NONPROFIT INITIATIVE AWARD

Food from the Heart INNOVATIVE FUNDRAISING INITIATIVE AWARD

The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund CORPORATE CITIZEN AWARD

Hewlett-Packard Singapore SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

The Lee Foundation This year’s winners received a beautiful glass sculpture trophy by glass artist Ms B Jane Cowie.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Singapore Red Cross Society Chairman Lt-Gen Winston Choo (Retd) engaging in cocktail hour banter.

(L-R) Reverend Edward Job (One Hope Centre), Vincent Chan (SCORE) and Anthony Chng (SCORE).

Elim Chew (centre) led her table in an impromptu “wave” during Clement Chow’s rendition of ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You’.

A meeting of cultures and religions: Ren Ci Hospital’s Venerable Shi Ming Yi (left) and Abu Bakar Maidin of Jamiyah Singapore.

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8 January 2005 Ling Kwang Youth Centre Flag Day

4 February 2005 When Caring Doesn’t Help Anymore

Time: 10am – 8pm Venue: MRT stations island-wide Ling Kwang Youth Centre (LKYC) is looking for 2,000 volunteers to sell flags and 50 volunteers to supervise tin distribution centres located at various MRT stations for its flag day to raise funds for the operation of LKYC. A voluntary welfare organisation, LKYC reaches out to youths, especially youthsat-risk, through various means such as its Information Technology Hub, drop-in centre, adventure programmes, and low-cost tuition centres. Volunteer flag sellers have to be at least 14 years old; tin distribution supervisors at least 21 years old.

To volunteer, please contact Mr Bernard Oh at 65547100 or email lkyouth@pacific.net.sg.

Time: 6.30-8.30pm Venue: Patient Care Services Lobby, Level 2, National Cancer Centre, 11 Hospital Drive Organised by the National Cancer Centre, this workshop is aimed at caregivers and family members of cancer patients. Caring can appear to be controlling to some cancer patients, and yet for others, no amount of care is enough. What does caring really entail? Find out from other caregivers who will be sharing their own experiences of caring for someone with cancer at this workshop.

To register, please call the Cancer Helpline at 62255655 during office hours.

15 February 2005 International Childhood Cancer Day

16 January 2005 My ‘Huay’ Lady: The Musical Time: 2pm and 7pm Venue: DBS Arts Centre, 20 Merbau Road Based on George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play Pygmalion which was adapted into the well-loved musical My Fair Lady, My ‘Huay’ Lady: The Musical is the brainchild of Cassandra Lee (who is also the creator and lead actress). Together with her group of dedicated friends, Cassandra is putting on this locally flavoured not-for-profit musical production to help raise funds for the Canossaville Home and their programmes. Details of the Home’s programmes and the musical can be found at www.MyHuayLady.com.

Tickets are priced at $28 and $38 each. For bookings, please contact Ms Vivien Lim at 96927623 or email mhltickets@yahoo.com.sg.

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According to statistics from the International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent Organisations (ICCCPO), over 250,000 children in the world get cancer each year. With proper diagnosis and treatment, 70 per cent survive, and over 100,000 deaths can be prevented each year with equal access to diagnosis and treatment. Commemorated by 52 countries in 2004 (including Singapore), International Childhood Cancer Day focuses attention on the plight of child cancer sufferers around the world, aided by support from celebrities such as opera great Jose Carreras, himself a cancer survivor. The Children’s Cancer Foundation in Singapore will be planning various

activities for the day, so do your bit to support the fight to eradicate the disease.

For details of activities, please contact Children’s Cancer Foundation at 68356465 or log onto www.ccf.org.sg.

7-11 March 2005 Susan Ellis Seminar & Workshop

19 February 2005 “Out Of Africa” Charity Dinner & Dance – Riding For The Disabled (RDA) Time: 7.30pm till late Venue: RDA Centre, 5 Jalan Mashhor (off Andrew/ Thomson Road) Featuring an international gourmet menu by Goodwood Park Hotel,“live” entertainment, an African drum welcome and free flow of wine, beer and refreshments, RDA’s annual charity dinner and dance is aptly titled “Out Of Africa”. Charity tables are available at $5,000, $3,500 and $2,000 (for tables of 10) and individual tickets at $175 each ($150 for RDA members). All proceeds go to the RDA Centre to fund its free therapeutic horse riding lessons for adults and children with disabilities.

Dress code for the evening is “On Safari” of course.

For tickets, please call RDA at 62500176.

Renowned volunteer management expert Susan Ellis will be in Singapore to conduct a series of seminars and workshops from 7-11 March 2005. A highly sought after international speaker for volunteer management, she is the president of Energize, Inc., an international training, consulting and publishing firm specialising in volunteerism.

Author of 11 books on volunteerism and numerous articles, Susan is also co-publisher of the international online journal, e-Volunteerism (www.e-volunteerism.com). Based in the USA, this is a rare opportunity to catch Susan in action and is not to be missed!

Details on the seminar and workshop will be available soon. Log onto www.nvpc.org.sg for updates.

February/March 2005

Romancing for a Lifetime A weekend escapade for married couples seeking to build strong marriages organised by TOUCH Community Services, this one-anda-half day stay-in event is filled with learning, loving, laughter and even a marriage vows renewal ceremony! The cost is $280 per couple inclusive of hotel stay and meals. For more information or to register, please call 63770122.

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“Stepping up public education and increasing public awareness of responsible pet ownership is the way forward, if we ever hope to effectively contain the growing number of strays on our streets without overly relying on culling.”

Lim Swee Say Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for National Development

“If people keep abandoning their pets, and we keep picking them up, there will be no end to the problem.”

“ Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.”

Goh Shih Yong, Manager of Corporate Communications, Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority

“At this point, animals have to be used for scientific purposes, that’s a given…

What we have tried to do is to ensure they are used humanely.”

George Eliot, English novelist

“ To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring – it was peace.”

Milan Kundera, Czech novelist

Professor Bernard Tan, Head of the National Advisory Committee for Laboratory Animal Research on new guidelines on the care and use of animals for scientific purposes in teaching, filed trials and research

“ One dog is one life, they have the right to live.”

Anonymous donor by email to Action for Singapore Dogs donating $500 as a reward to find those responsible for the poisoning of three stray dogs that died in Clementi in October 2004

“[The perception of volunteerism] should be expanded to activism – feeling that you have a stake in your neighbourhood, your school, your home… so then, how do you establish that stake?”

Suzaina Abdul Kadir, Co-Chairman, North-East Youth Parliament

“If you have passion in you, it keeps you young.”

Dr Anamah Tan, lawyer, women’s rights champion and winner of NTUC FairPrice’s Active Senior Citizen of the Year 2004

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“I have always believed that one should never be afraid to pursue what one is most passionate about in life. This is something that I would like to share with the youth of today.”

Eunice Olsen, Nominated MP and NVPC’s Youth Volunteerism Ambassador

Photos courtesy of SPCA

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