salt_2006_07_08 by SALT NVPC

No. 16 Jul-Aug 2006

For Volunteers, Donors and Nonprofits

An Eye for

Fundraising

The Secret of Professor Arthur Lim’s Success

CSR in Singapore How Do We Measure Up?

Universities vs Other NPOs The Fight for Donors Going, Going, Gone? SEC’s Howard Shaw

The FTSE4Good Index City Developments Limited

contents

SALT No. 16 Jul-Aug 2006

DEPARTMENTS 2

LETTER FROM SALT

MAILBAG

NEWS BRIEFS A wrap-up of events, programmes and activities in the People Sector. PEOPLE MOVEMENTS Appointments and new postings in the People Sector.

VOLUNTEER PROFILE In her never-ending quest to learn and better herself, Pauline Ong celebrates living life to the fullest, making a difference to the lives of those around her in the process.

As globalisation continues, businesses around the world are increasingly embracing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in their day-to-day activities. Are those in Singapore up to the mark? MICHELLE BONG sizes up the situation.

Shifting Paradigms

Have you met the new heroes who are changing the world? WILLIE CHENG looks at the rise of social entrepreneurs and compares them to their business counterparts.

10 PEOPLE SECTOR PEOPLE Howard Shaw may be hanging up his boots as executive director of the Singapore Environment Council soon, but he isn’t saying goodbye to the cause, not by a long shot.

11 WALK THE TALK City Developments Limited debunks the myth that property developers are all profit-driven conglomerates with no heart.

Tertiary institutions are often blessed with large gifts running into millions of dollars. Yet they are still bent on fundraising. How does this serve other charities and nonprofits with lesser clout and significantly lighter money bags? IMELDA LEE tunes in.

19 NEW SALT O’Joy Care Services is blowing a breath of fresh air into the elderly care scene, by bringing help to the aged in the comfort of their homes.

25 CALENDAR

26 SCENE AND SEEN

28 A DASH OF SALT

Jul-Aug 2006 S A LT •

L E T T E R

F R O M

S A L T

SALT is a nonprofit magazine with a managed circulation for members of nonprofit organisations, grantmakers 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.

EDITOR Suzanne Lim

CONTRIBUTORS Michelle Bong Eileen Khoo Imelda Lee Wong Sher Maine

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 MICA (P) 033/11/2005 To advertise, please call Cynthia Tay at tel: 6292 4456 Email: cynthia@epigram.com.sg

n a casual conversation with some nonprofit sector colleagues after a recent Fortis Community Lecture on family foundations, one of them piped up and asked why the majority of grantmaker funds was going towards the education sector when it was usually the social service agencies that were desperately needing funds. Always on the lookout for great story ideas for SALT, this chance remark led to one of our feature stories in this issue – fundraising by our tertiary institutions and how the other nonprofits view it. Indeed, the latest figures on IPC giving released by IRAS after we had commissioned this story do point to the propensity of institutional givers to gravitate towards education. So what are the implications for non-educational IPCs and charities in their fundraising strategies, knowing that the flight to education looks set to stay? To find out, turn to page 16. The education sector also boasts fundraiser extraordinaires like Professor Arthur Lim, our Shakers & Movers interviewee in this issue. Prof Lim’s passion for education and his alma mater National University of Singapore is nothing short of awe-inspiring. At the age of 72, he shows no signs of slowing down either! Read all about what inspires his passion(s), starting on page 20. The good news is that more and more companies are looking to do good even as they do well, especially with the growing trend towards CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility. In this light, the charity pie should grow. The challenge for the nonprofits is to do good well, so that they can better tap into this giving vein. In this issue, we look at how Singapore companies measure up when it comes to CSR, and the implications for the business and nonprofit sectors alike. Turn to page 12 for what I promise is an engrossing read. Doing good well, however, is not just the domain of organised efforts, big (as in the case of universities) or small, like the NPO start-up O’Joy Care Services (page 19). It is also resident in individuals volunteering from their passion, especially if they have been a working professional all their lives, as in the case of the retired general manager of the Guardian Pharmacy chain, Pauline Ong (page 9). In the end, that old adage that we reap what we sow, whilst it has tended to be interpreted in a negative light in common usage, can also be favourably viewed to mean that the good that we do, when done well, will in turn reap a decent, if not bountiful, harvest, if we persevere and not give up. Here’s to doing good well! Tan Chee Koon Chief Executive Officer National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre

• S A LT Jul-Aug 2006

MAILBAG Free Labour Wanted, Conditions Apply

read with great interest the article by Mr Willie Cheng on the issue of volunteer management. Mr Cheng observed correctly that Singapore lags far behind other nations in terms of volunteer-measurable contributions, which is at approximately less than 0.5 per cent of GDP, as compared to two per cent in USA and seven per cent in Australia. Mr Cheng also argued convincingly that economic indicators cannot be the only consideration when it comes to measuring the value of the involvement of volunteers. But I found his description of high maintenance volunteers to be most interesting, as the very statement is self-contradictory in nature. Why would a person volunteer to help someone, but expects to command much of the attention (hence high maintenance) in the helping process? Most, if not all nonprofit organisations exist for altruistic purposes, be it a child needing food and shelter, the sick or even an animal in distress. Naturally then, these end objectives will become the natural customers of the organisations, for without them, there is no reason for their existence. It is not surprising then for nonprofits to

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.

find the existence of high maintenance volunteers to be bewildering. During the few weeks after the Tsunami disaster, representatives from many nonprofit organisations gathered regularly for relief-coordination efforts led by NVPC and MCYS. I remember vividly how many leaders would remind organisations NOT to send untrained volunteers to disaster zones, for they always end up being a burden to the relief efforts, drinking up all the precious clean water, expecting things to be efficiently organised, complaining about living conditions in a disaster zone etc. While I would not go so far as saying (as Mr Cheng’s friend did) that high maintenance volunteers should be fired, there must be some management of expectations, and the matching of available abilities (and attitudes?) with the needs and situation on the ground. Our collective goal is for the betterment of mankind, and if managing high maintenance volunteers bring us closer to that goal, then we should work at it. But I would hope that in due time, we will have a Singapore where volunteers would need to be less managed, that the focus will shift a lot more to the side of the beneficiaries as the primary focus, with benefits to the volunteers in kind or measurable value

A Plug into the Sector

ALT gives a heartening snapshot of the voluntary and nonprofit sector in Singapore. The last issue alone delivered news about socially responsible corporations, international advocacy by local women, young people engaging their peers, and projects champ-ioning environmental causes. These stories are a welcome way of plugging in to the interesting projects that other people are working on, and potentially connect with like-minded organisations. We often forge ahead with our projects in isolation when there are significant and meaningful ways of working together. In “Prime Mover”, Benedict Cheong suggests an interesting way of promoting partnerships among charities: cluster them according to the services they provide, and fund the group’s programmes as a unit rather than individually. Whether or not this might make it easier for the clustered groups to fundraise, we can always benefit by coming together to coordinate activities and share best practices. Melanie Hui, Outreach Coordinator, Asian University for Women Support Foundation

• S A LT Jul-Aug 2006

proposition as the secondary bonus. I would hope that volunteerism in Singapore would be less a result of harnessing, more a result of it being truly and naturally the soul of our society. We have already witnessed for ourselves the horrors that can result from an organisation that was ruthlessly efficient in fundraising and volunteer management, but lost its focus on the ultimate altruistic purpose of its existence. The proverbial argument is whether it is about the head, or about the heart; with the standard answer being both head and heart in balance. I would suggest that the heart should tip the scale a little bit more. Yong Teck Meng, National Director, Habitat for Humanity Singapore

applaud Mr Willie Cheng for his most insightful contribution Free Labour Wanted, Conditions Apply in the MayJune issue of SALT. The truth is that there are few volunteers, although the needs out there are plenty. As Mr Cheng rightly pointed out, the power of volunteers is potent! Looking back, it was 12 volunteer fishermen who built the Vatican which has the largest endowment in the world, and it was seven volunteer Fellows who established Harvard College back in 1636!

Anthony Teo, Director, Harvard Singapore Foundation

What It Should Have Been In the People Movements column of our May-June issue, Eunice Tay was described as the former CEO of the National Neuroscience Institute. This is incorrect. She was in fact its former COO. Also, her appointment as CEO of the new NKF, taking over from interim CEO Professor Goh Chee Leok, was with effect from 2 May, and not 24 April as stated.

A WRAP-UP OF HAPPENINGS AROUND SINGAPORE

All ready to walk for a good cause.

Fighting the Hunger War

ore than 700 people took part in a 5km walk around MacRitchie Reservoir Park on 21 May and helped to raise $40,000 to fight world hunger. Walk the World is a global campaign jointly organised by United Nations World Food Programme and logistics company TNT to raise awareness about the over 300 million hungry children worldwide. The campaign aims to end child hunger by 2015. Conceived in 2003 by TNT employees in Singapore, the fundraising event has evolved into a global initiative involving some 700,000 people in 100 countries. Last year, the event raised over $2.3 million, enough to feed more than 50,000 children for one year. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.fighthunger.com.

BANKING ON YOUTH

argeting 1,000 youth volunteers to contribute 50,000 hours of community service in its first year, Youth Bank portal, the brainchild of youth group Heartware Network, aspires to be a one-stop networking platform for youths to get information about community activities, and to apply their time and talent to benefit the community. Volunteers will also Barney Lau (right), managing director, Microsoft Singapore, and be able to post their volunteering Raymond Huang, chairman, Heartware Network, signing the MOU as experiences online and keep track of S Dhanabalan, chief patron of Heartware Network, and Foreign Minister their voluntary work by “clocking in” George Yeo look on. their volunteer hours, which can be exchanged for a corporate donation to the charity of their choice. Microsoft Singapore will be providing software and its extensive virtual communities for further outreach. Witnessed by Foreign Minister George Yeo, Microsoft and Heartware signed a memorandum of understanding at the launch of the portal which took place at NVPC on 16 May. For more information, visit www.bank4u.org.

• S A LT Jul-Aug 2006

n a surprise move, business tycoon Oei Hong Leong renamed one of his most high profile investment vehicles Chip Lian Investments to Oei Hong Leong (OHL) Foundation, underscoring his intention to donate part of the profits he makes from his famously masterful investments to charity through the entity. The OHL Foundation, which will not be seeking tax-exemption status for its donations, will function more as a “private charity”, with Oei making all the major decisions. The foundation will also not be accepting donations from other people or organisations. Inspired by new generation philanthropists like Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who concentrate on giving where their funds can make a significant difference, Oei wants the satisfaction of giving away money when he is alive to see the results. “I will give when I want and I don’t expect any return or favour from it,” said the publicity shy tycoon.

BOOST FOR THE FAMILY

new council has been set up to look at problems that threaten the state of the Singapore family, such as the falling birth rate, the rising divorce rate and the welfare of the aged poor. More than just playing consultant, the National Family Council will be given the clout, funding and logistical support to do its job. One thing distinguishes the new council from its predecessors: 17 hand-picked members from the community and professional circles. The turnaround from the Government’s past practice of roping in a mix of private and public sector members for its committees signals a push for the people to take ownership of national issues. Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon said the council members would bring to the table their diverse backgrounds to help shape Singapore family life “from the ground up”. The team, led by Lim Soon Hock, 56, chairman of the nonprofit Centre for Fathering and managing director of corporate advisory firm Plan-B ICAG, will eventually be 20-strong. For more information, log on to www.nationalfamilyweek.com.sg.

SPH – Lianhe Zaobao

N E W S

GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT GIVING

PEOPLE MOVEMENTS

Back to School B

y December 2006, 600 children in Banda Aceh will get to attend a new $5 million orphanage-cumschool built by the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) These Banda Aceh kids are looking forward to the start of school again. with funds from the Tsunami Reconstruction Facilitation Committee (TRFC) headed by Singapore Red Cross. Called the Fajar Hidayah Integrated Boarding School, the school will have 50 dormitories to house 300 tsunami orphans aged between six and 18 years; 20 classrooms to accommodate all the 600 students of elementary, junior and senior high school levels; as well as 18 staff quarters. The ground breaking ceremony took place in Banda Aceh on 27 May. Barry Desker, chairman of SIF’s Board of Governors shared, “There are some 300 orphans currently staying at a borrowed shelter. The lease will end in December, when they will become homeless, and this at the peak of the monsoon season. We hope the buildings can be ready as soon as possible, so that the children can finally have a permanent place to call home, as well as be able to continue with their education.”

SINGAPORE SHOWCASE

ince July 2000, Singapore International Foundation (SIF) has disbursed almost $500,000 in grants to 89 recipients in academia, science and technology and the arts to showcase their work overseas, in an effort to help local talents reach out to audiences outside Singapore. The SIF awards groups up to $15,000, and individuals up to $4,000 for their projects. Grants are awarded twice a year to support those who wish to project and express the Singapore image, identity and outlook around the world. Open to Singapore citizens, permanent residents and non-Singaporeans whose projects demonstrate Singaporean content, applications are now being considered for the second round of grants this year. The closing date is 31 August. For more information, visit www.sif.org.sg.

ENABLER BRIDGES GAPS

he development of the Wheelchair Gap Enabler is set to change the outlook for wheelchair users. Invented by Assistant Professor John Heng from Nanyang Technological University (NTU)’s School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, the modular device can be installed onto a standard wheelchair to cross small gaps. The first version demonstration prototype was unveiled at an official ceremony graced by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sports and Second Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, on 31 May. This project follows from a memorandum of understanding signed between SPD and NTU in June 2005 to jointly pursue and promote research and development in Assistive Technology (AT). The project is supported by the Wearnes Centennial-SPD Fund which goes towards purchasing AT devices for training and assessment, research and development and for clients to access and loan AT devices for trial use, as well as subsidising the IT training costs for the disabled. The Enabler does its stuff.

After three years heading the Singapore International Foundation’s (SIF) corporate communications department, Kai TaminGoh has joined international PR consultancy Hill and Knowlton as a group director and a member of its senior leadership team with effect from March. Her current role sees her advising companies and organisations keen to make an impact, whether through social or cause marketing, public education, community, business or media outreach. Before joining SIF in 2003, she spent more than 12 years with another global PR consultancy. Email: kai.tamin@hillandknowlton.com.sg

Tan Joo Hymn was elected the 21st term president of the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) in March. Before becoming president, she served six terms on the executive committee of Aware in various capacities, including secretary and assistant treasurer and also chaired Aware’s PopWatch sub-committee, which looked at Singapore’s population issues. A trained lawyer and qualified early childhood teacher and supervisor before becoming a full-time mum, she is also active in various social initiatives, including Raleigh Society and Transient Workers Count Too. Tel: 67797137

Bernard Tay has been appointed as the new president of the Automobile Association of Singapore (AA), taking over from Gerard Ee, with effect from 1 June. An independent director in several public listed companies, he is currently the chairman of a corporate advisory company, vice-president of the Singapore Productivity Association, and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK), the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore and Taxation Institute of Australia. Amy Lee took over in April as the chairperson of Habitat for Humanity Singapore from Yong Teck Meng, who is now its national director. Prior to joining the project finance team at law firm Lovells Lee & Lee as a consultant specialising in property and infrastructure projects as well as government advisory work, she was a senior partner with Lee & Lee. She has served on the school management council of Nanyang Primary School; the board of directors of Nanyang Girls High School; and the board of directors of Habitat for Humanity Singapore.

Jul-Aug 2006 S A LT •

Where There’s a Will In her never-ending quest to learn and better herself, Pauline Ong celebrates living life to the fullest. In the process, she makes a difference to the lives of those around her, as MICHELLE BONG discovers.

n the early 1990s, as CEO of Guardian Pharmacy, Pauline Ong was one of very few women leading one of the biggest companies in Asia. Today, the vivacious 61-year old is enjoying a new “career” – with the same unbridled passion – as a volunteer, albeit one who is redefining its very definition! To Ong, the word ‘volunteer’ encompasses much more than getting on one’s hands and knees and helping to build houses in a Third World country. Instead, the well-groomed Shanghai-born wife and mother makes a difference to society by sharing her larger-than-life personality, creative ideas, and business and medical expertise with various organisations. Here is a woman who has made the act of volunteering a way of life, so much so that it has become second nature to her. Seven days a week, the devout Christian spends her time conducting museum tours as a trained docent with Friends of the Museums (FOM) at the Singapore History Museum and the Asian Civilisations

“ I am glad I’ve reached a stage in my life where I get to do what I am so passionate about... When I volunteer, I gain knowledge.” Museum (ACM); facilitating Bible study as a Disciple at Barker Road Methodist Church; and manning the information counter as a Friend of Alexandra Hospital. At the latter, Ong has also spearheaded many patient-centric initiatives. She helped to implement the installation

recognition. True satisfaction comes from the joy I feel knowing that I am appreciated, and my suggestions are implemented to make life better for the patients,” smiles the well-dressed woman with elegant Salvatore Ferragamo mules on her feet. Ong will have you know that she does not operate alone, nor will she take all the credit. She works best with like-minded friends, whom she gathers from her extensive social and business network to collectively contribute towards a particular cause and to share her successes with. These women include several retired chief pharmacists, an ex-fashion buyer and a design company owner who congregate at her home for meetings. She also credits her “wonderful Burst of vibrance: husband, daughter and housekeeper of a little green arrow on Pauline at one of her hospital ward ceilings, so that bible study meetings and the grace of God” for enabling her to pursue her fulfilling lifestyle. “I have Muslim patients know their Qibla (prayer few hobbies, short of being a volunteer,” direction). And she mooted the idea of she says. “I define being a volunteer bringing in Bangladeshi volunteers (two of in two ways: as an individual within an which have since become full-time staff organisation working with others, or at the hospital) to better communicate in someone who is not part of any organisaBengali to the many foreign workers who tion but yet takes the initiative to offer come after sustaining industrial injuries, her time and energy to better others’ which the hospital specialises in treating. lives with no desire for tangible returns. On top of that, she also played an Happily, I thrive in both scenarios. advisory role for two upcoming projects “I am glad I’ve reached a stage in – Jurong Medical Centre (which is set to my life where I get to do what I am so be operationally ready by October 2006) passionate about. I like to dress well, but and Alexandra Hospital’s new 450-bed I am not uppity. I would rather be in my premises in Yishun, which will open its element conducting a museum tour than doors by 2009. at a cocktail party. When I volunteer, For her efforts, she was presented with I gain knowledge. How many women out the National Healthcare Group (NHG) there, at my age, can have the opportunity Distinguished Contributor Award in of overseeing the planning of a new November 2005. However, she remains building or facility?” ✩ modest. “I’m just blessed – I don’t seek

Jul-Aug 2006 S A LT •

King of Green As Howard Shaw tells WONG SHER MAINE, it’s time for him to hang up his boots as executive director of the Singapore Environment Council. But he isn’t saying goodbye to the cause, not by a long shot.

ooner or later, all good things come to an end. And so, at some point in the “not-so-distant” future, 35year-old Howard Shaw, a 10-year champion of the environmental cause here, intends to leave the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) which he currently heads as its executive director. “Every organisation needs fresh blood,” explains Shaw, after a derisive “No!” when asked if he sees himself staying on for another 10 years. “I intend to leave very soon, maybe in the following year. I have identified a successor, but I can’t tell you who as the person doesn’t even know yet! The successor is one amongst the seven staff of the SEC. I believe in grooming someone for the job, rather than having a complete stranger come on board. I’m planning to go into my own environmentrelated business, particularly in the area of eco-tourism.”

“ Though more people are aware of environmental issues, the majority of the population still regards the environment as the Government’s responsibility.” In a way, it’s coming full circle. When Shaw (his grandfather is the late Tan Sri Dr Runme Shaw, one of the founders of Shaw Organisation, and his father is Shaw Vee King, the managing director of Shaw Organisation) first decided to study environmental biology at Oxford Brookes University in the UK, it was because his mother had suggested that the environmental business might be a good one

• S A LT Jul-Aug 2006

Environmental Achievement Award introduced in 1997 to recognise and motivate companies to go green. Especially heartening to Shaw is working with children, from pre-schoolers to undergraduates, through educational camps and nature walks. On the home front, he is also instilling the message into his two daughters, aged five Green crusader: and seven. Recounting an incident to get into as waste Howard’s passion for the environment started when his younger daughter closed management was a major with his childhood back in Hong Kong. the door to an air-conditioned environmental issue. room which he forgot to close, he asked He also had a passion for nature, her, out of curiosity, why she did it. “She forged from the time he was a young boy said to me ‘Because you are making the living in a house tucked between two world hotter!’” he recalls with a laugh. cliffs in Hong Kong where his father was However, challenges remain. based. “I had been close to nature for a “Though more people are aware of long duration of my childhood, and I saw environmental issues, the majority of the how development seemed to cancel out population still regards the environment what natural assets we have,” he says. as the Government’s responsibility. These Though he shunned business to join are the people who say ‘I deserve clean the nonprofit sector, it has not been a air, effective handling of waste and clean wasted decade. The big challenge which water because I pay my taxes.’” drew him to join the SEC – “to convert Currently, he is busy setting up a people to be more eco-friendly” – has youth portal called Youth Habitat, where borne fruit. youths can sign up for projects related to “I liked the idea of joining the SEC as the environment. He reckons it will take it allowed me to have a holistic overview at least two generations before mindsets of the environment, so I don’t just focus change, such that people understand on, say, nature or waste management. the effect they have on the environment. Although the SEC is a NPO, the challenges it faces are like that of any other business It could be something as simple as not using drinking straws, for instance. – issues like income and expenditure, “No one over the age of two needs having a good line of products and services, drinking straws, but we use over a million and selling campaigns.” straws a day!” Shaw laments. “It’s an SEC’s Green Volunteer Network uphill battle.” currently has over 1,000 volunteers, and While he is in the hot seat though, Singapore has a decent recycling prohe is still fighting. ✩ gramme. In place are SEC-driven initiatives To find out more about the Singapore for eco-friendly offices and healthy homes Environment Council, visit www.sec.org.sg. with good air quality, such as the Singapore

A Sense of Heart

City Developments Limited debunks the myth that property developers are all profit-driven conglomerates with no heart, as WONG SHER MAINE discovers.

roperty developers are generally not known for being “kind” to the areas they develop in, but over at City Developments Limited (CDL), one of Singapore’s largest property developers, being a responsible builder is a credo the company lives by and which has probably resulted in a little less damage to our environment. But how have they managed to do this? By having an Environmental, Health and Safety policy in place which comes into play from the time a building is designed. The result is what can be termed “ecoinnovations”, like the award-winning Savannah CondoPark which comes with a suite of eco-friendly features like a solar

“ We consciously instill social responsibility in our corporate philosophy, culture and business practices... Caring for and giving back to the community we operate in is naturally the right thing to do.” powered clubhouse, a pneumatic waste disposal system for odour-less and vectorfree collection of domestic waste, and using recycled copper for animal sculptures on its grounds. Says Kwek Leng Joo, managing director of CDL, “We strongly believe that Corporate Social Responsibility plays a critical role in the long-term business sustainability of a company. We consciously instill social responsibility in our corporate philosophy, culture and business practices. Being a responsible corporate citizen, caring

responsibility standards. But CDL’s sense of heart does not end there. Apart from businessrelated concerns, it also has a hand in helping the needy, youths and the arts. Amongst its staff, 67 per cent are volunteers, mainly through its City Sunshine Club, an employee volunteer programme; and Staff Ray of light: CDL’s Connect, a committee that meets for and giving back to the orange-clad City Club volunteers to promote staff bonding. Their community we operate in is Sunshine at the Assisi Home & naturally the right thing to do.” Hospice’s recent carnival. activities include befriending the elderly, helping the young, taking part in For instance, CDL installs energyfundraising projects and offering adminissaving lighting and infra-red motion sensors trative skills and logistics services to charin the buildings it manages to reduce ities and voluntary welfare organisations. energy consumption. Over at Republic In the case of City Sunshine Club Plaza, CDL recycles water in the airpresident Foo Chui Mui, she found that conditioning system by channeling the helping children-at-risk to develop good condensation to the cooling tower, saving character traits once a fortnight also helped some 80,000 litres of water a month! her at home when it came to parenting Currently, 16 of its buildings, including her own three children. the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, “It became very clear to me that if are participating in a scheme by the you don’t guide children, they go astray,” Singapore Environment Council called she says. “After three years of working Project Eco-Office where the staff is with children-at-risk, I feel a deep sense constantly reminded to recycle waste paper of satisfaction and joy knowing that I’ve and to conserve water and electricity. helped to reach out to them and made CDL even encourages its consultants them feel cared for.” and contractors to adopt this same ecoAdds Sally Khong, another City friendly mindset by sharing best practices, Sunshine Club volunteer, “I felt I did not facilitating peer learning, and assessing have the skills set nor knowledge to connect their work. For its efforts in environmental with the elderly before I volunteered. Now conservation, CDL was awarded the after several visits, I can see that the old Singapore Green Plan 2012 Award by folks are very appreciative of our friendship the Ministry of the Environment and from their gestures of appreciation, be it a Water Resources and is one of only six welcoming smile, a touch or even a clasp of Asian companies (excluding Japan) on hands as thanks. I’m heartened that I can the FTSE4Good Index, a real time index make a difference to their lonely lives.” series listing that reflects the performance At CDL, the heart matters as much, of socially responsible equities that if not more, than the bottom line. ✩ have met globally recognised corporate

Jul-Aug 2006 S A LT •

As globalisation continues, businesses around the world are increasingly embracing Corporate Social Responsibility in their day-to-day activities. Are those in Singapore up to the mark? MICHELLE BONG sizes up the situation.

n today’s business world, the term Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a familiar one as more companies strive not just for a healthy bottom line, but also to make a positive impact on the environment and their community at large. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development defines CSR as “the continuing commitment by businesses to behave ethically and contribute to economic development, while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as that of the local community and society at large.” While CSR initiatives in Singapore currently tend to gravitate more towards philanthropy, CSR is a holistic concept that also embraces values such as the protection of the environment and nature’s dwindling resources, sustained employee well-being and fair governance, to name but a few. As a society matures, CSR becomes an integral responsibility of all its members, including businesses. According to Erin Lyon of CSR-Asia,

• S A LT Jul-Aug 2006

a social enterprise that strives to be the leading provider of information about CSR in the Asia-Pacific region, “CSR is still in its infant stages but is becoming a recognised concept in Singapore and Asia. The shift is also moving away from purely philanthropic activities towards an approach that incorporates the entirety of a company’s activities.” She adds that while singling out any one organisation as the poster boy for CSR is impossible, given that it is measured differently from location to location and industry to industry, leaders in various sectors have emerged. They include Hewlett-Packard (electronics), Adidas (sports wear), Banyan Tree Holdings (hotels), Disney (toys) and British Airways (airlines).

LEADING BY EXAMPLE It certainly seems only bigger companies and multinational corporations (MNCs) have a defined CSR policy. Brand names like Readers Digest, British Petroleum and Coca Cola are well-known champions of

global CSR initiatives. At home, NTUC FairPrice, Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), OverseaChinese Banking Corporation (OCBC), Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) and Exxon Mobil are just some companies paving the way for greater levels of CSR here. Visionary companies are the ones who realise they will always benefit from a healthy society and environment, according to Goh Kong Aik, vice-president of group public affairs at HSBC. “We believe that CSR and success go hand in hand. HSBC’s first responsibility is to be successful, because success enables us to provide returns to the millions of people who have interest directly or through other investment or saving schemes with HSBC. It also allows us to invest in better products and services to serve over 125 million customers, pay taxes and train and develop staff,” he says. Tan Kian Chew, CEO of NTUC FairPrice, concedes that while the CSR climate in Singapore is better than before, there is still room for improvement. Tan stresses that larger companies should do more to set an example for growing businesses in the spirit of giving back and contributing to the community when there is the capability to do so. “Internally, the investment in CSR

is good for the soul of the company and employees will feel proud to serve a company with a heart,” he contends. And so, while CSR does cost money to implement, it should be viewed as an investment to build a business’ reputation in the community. “Ultimately, the benefits do outweigh the costs because happiness and success for a business should not be measured only by profit alone,” says Tan. Adds Goh, “At HSBC, we do not set business goals for our community involvement. Our defining consideration is whether or not we want to make a difference in society. Do we want to be a company that employees are proud to work for and do we want to be known as a company that does its share in the communities we serve? Yes, we absolutely do!” The above mentalities are healthy ones, and send out a strong message to companies who may feel that reconciling the proverbial bottom line with helping to protect the environment or enhancing the lives of the social community as somewhat of an oxymoron. On the contrary, the line between both is not as fine as one may think.

GOING THE EXTRA MILE Rita Sully, Hewlett-Packard’s head of CSR in Asia-Pacific and Japan says

“Apathy is not the problem. Instead, what exists is the problem of small passions... Most of us have a passion to help in some way but this passion is buried... If this small but important passion that burns in us can be identified, tapped and channelled, the world could be transformed.” MAHBOOB MAHMOOD, adjunct professor of entrepreneurship, INSEAD

there’s nothing to stop corporations from tailoring their business practices to promote CSR through safe and healthy working environments, fair wages and working conditions, observance of human rights and practicing business in an ethical and responsible manner – all without suffering a trade-off in profits. Mahboob Mahmood, adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at INSEAD and CEO of Knowledge Platform, a leading provider of innovative e-learning solutions to help companies succeed in the knowledge economy, agrees and adds that CSR can become an extremely powerful brand driver and value generator. “More governmental encouragement

would also be very impactful. Singapore businesses are at an early stage of adopting CSR. In some respects, because the government has been so effective in its own social responsibility mission, businesses here feel less pressure to develop CSR agendas,” he observes. Mahmood’s observation may shed some light on the somewhat muted statistics of corporate employee volunteerism here. According to the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre’s (NVPC) 2004 corporate giving survey, only 17 per cent have employee volunteer programmes (EVP). This select group includes organisations like 77th Street and NTUC FairPrice. 77th Street has long since established programmes for educating youths and nurturing young budding entrepreneurs. This is based on CEO Elim Chew’s belief that “the youth are our future and in securing a better future, we have to nurture them.” Meanwhile, FairPrice has demonstrated a strong commitment towards cultivating both its staff and management to be active volunteers. FairPrice staff initiated a donation drive in which they pledged part of their salaries to help victims of the Asian tsunami disaster and raised more than $45,000 for a homebuilding project in Meulaboh, Indonesia Jul-Aug 2006 S A LT •

in the process. Management has also introduced the Family/Charity Leave (FCL) system, which grants every staff member two days of paid leave to do either charity work or to spend time with family members during important occasions like birthdays and ad-hoc special events. This contributes to what Tan calls the employees’ “happiness index”. Likewise, HSBC’s management believes in giving staff the support to help others in their community and staff are released from work, whenever necessary, to facilitate their participation in volunteer activities. As such, Goh says “they help bring alive our core values to our stakeholders in sharing our success with the community. They literally live the HSBC brand.”

WHAT A LITTLE HELP CAN DO But those employees aren’t the only ones smiling. Charities that have benefited from corporations’ CSR efforts include the Singapore Repertory theatre (SRT) and the Asian Women’s Welfare Association (AWWA). SRT’s executive and marketing director Charlotte Nors admits the company would be nowhere today if not for CSR initiatives. “Government support for the arts is very limited, and the fundraising environment has become very competitive both within the arts community itself and the charity pool in Singapore. Not many see the arts as a vital brick in the nation’s fabric. But hopefully more and more will,” she says. SRT has received support from organisations like telecommunications company M1, which has been its longstanding partner for its productions. AWWA, a charity that delivers services for disadvantaged people in the community, including low-income families, disabled children, young people and the elderly, has also been the beneficiary of fundraising efforts by various corporations. International bank UBS AG has provided funding and services such as training workshops for AWWA’s new initiative, TM Inc, a programme that prepares disabled young people for entry into the workforce. Companies like Goodrich Global, Merrill Lynch and Singapore Airlines also make monetary and hands-on contributions. AWWA’s president Claire Lim adds

• S A LT Jul-Aug 2006

HSBC volunteers play their part in the conservation of nature haven Chek Jawa.

“Every staff member gets two days of paid leave to do either charity work or to spend time with family members during important occasions... This contributes to their ‘happiness index’.” TAN KIAN CHEW, CEO, NTUC FairPrice

that in such instances, AWWA is not the only one to gain. She says, “CSR usually results in businesses having a better understanding of the community and the work that charities do. This often translates into a greater willingness to donate or raise money and to support employees who wish to do more volunteer work. With a greater understanding of the charity’s mission, businesses can also suggest new and innovative ways to help in achieving a charity’s aims.”

AWARENESS IS KEY Emerging trends in the field of CSR indicate that this notion is being embraced. Hewlett-Packard’s Sully highlights social investment and the notion of socially responsible procurement (SRP) as two key ones. She cites the collaboration between Unilever Indonesia and Oxfam Netherlands as an example of the power of learning partnerships and the coming of different companies to work together. The 2005 collaboration sought to challenge the impact of the business model, so

as to understand how companies could “responsibly” do business and alleviate global poverty. Mahmood adds that developments that converge on the proposition “it is good for business” have also been apparent. Younger and more globally-minded people in affluent societies are increasingly willing to pay a premium for socially responsible businesses brands such as The Body Shop, while multinational corporations like global cement producer Cemex are beginning to recognise the business potential of being able to serve, as customers, the four billion people who live at the “bottom of the pyramid”. Also, social entrepreneurship initiatives by companies like Omidyar Network, a mission-based investment group committed to fostering individual self-empowerment on a global scale, are pushing the proposition that you can prosper by having two bottom lines – social mission and economic profit. Most agree that Singapore has an edge when it comes to CSR. As Mahmood puts it, “Singapore is fortunate that businesses here respond much more readily to government cues, more so than any other country in the world.” The fact that the spirit of giving is not found wanting in Singapore also maintains our competitive advantage. SRT’s Nors says corporate and private giving is “very widespread” here. “Coming from Denmark where most social and educational needs are taken care of via the government and the high

taxes, corporate giving is not a tradition. However, in Singapore, the companies give generously when approached by charities from education, environment, health, eldercare, religion, the arts and so on. Add on top of that the overwhelming response to help victims of natural disasters and I can see that many have the right way of thinking,” she declares. Adds Mahmood, “After the Tsunami and the South Asian earthquakes, I met many Singaporeans who started helping in some way or were keen to help. Apathy is not the problem. Instead, what exists is what I call the problem of small passions. “Most of us have a passion to help in some way but this passion is buried somewhere between making sure we spend enough time with the family and watching as many episodes of American Idol or World Cup soccer matches as possible. If this small but important passion that burns in us can be identified, tapped and channelled, the world could be transformed. CSR is not a question of size. Every enterprise can do something within its own constraints.”

DOES SIZE MATTER? AWWA’s Lim reckons that the obstacle to more CSR activities in Singapore is, in fact, a lack of information. She explains, “Many smaller businesses want to contribute, but may not know how. Large businesses, on the other hand, have CSR policies in place and the manpower to design a company strategy to fulfil their CSR. Charities and

other organisations reach out to them first because it is easier to get results. “Increased media space given to charities in the local newspapers and television stations of late has helped raise awareness of social services in Singapore, but more can be done to reiterate that CSR not only benefits charities, it also benefits businesses and ultimately, the whole community. The National Council of Social Service and NVPC can do more to reach out to the small and medium sized businesses.” CSR-Asia’s Lyon stresses that a Small or Medium Enterprise (SME) can have its own approach to CSR and focus on the issues it considers to be most important. “In many ways, they cannot do CSR to the same extent as large companies, but what they can do is target specific issues and deal with those issues on a local level. For example, small factories have found benefits in good employment practices involving staff recruitment and retention,” she says. Notably, a number of large companies already help SMEs through partnerships, which translate into capacity building and

“Do we want to be a company that employees are proud to work for and do we want to be known as a company that does its share in the communities we serve? Yes, we absolutely do!” GOH KONG AIK, vice-president, group public affairs, HSBC

By partnering their suppliers and business associates for their Care and Share Fund, supermarket giant NTUC FairPrice raised over $1 million for the Community Chest.

providing expertise on a free consultancy basis. Many large companies are also encouraging their smaller suppliers to adopt CSR practices. For example, FairPrice partners suppliers and business associates for their annual Care and Share Charity Fund, a project started in 2004 to help raise funds for the Community Chest. Within a year, their efforts met its target of $1 million – the largest single amount ever raised for charity by a retailer in Singapore.

ON THE RIGHT TRACK Singapore is certainly heading in the right direction as organisations increasingly recognise the importance to do good as they do well, and CSR looks set to become more inherent in Singapore’s business framework. According to Lyon, more and more companies are turning to CSR-Asia for training and advice – creating a momentum to drive CSR forward. On-going campaigns about issues such as climate change, for example, raise awareness and puts CSR on the board room table. Companies are also starting to seek CSR-Asia’s help in facilitating stakeholder dialogue. All this can only bode well for our garden city. Says Claire Chiang, president of Singapore Compact for CSR, “In the age of globalisation, Singapore has the opportunity to present itself as a city that engages in community building. We are going to be equipped with the analysis and know-how, and we’re lucky to have a government that has implemented rules and sanctions to facilitate CSR. We can do more to see how different stakeholders can work together for a common cause.” To keep things on the right track, Sully advocates “an ongoing education process, as well as open forums and discussions to help both corporations and the public understand the wider scope of CSR. Graduate schools and education institutions can also play an important role, and the set up of a UN Global Compact office would also be helpful.” Here’s to the day when Singapore can join the ranks of leading corporate citizenship networks like CSR Europe, the global Leadership Network and The Global Academy. The signs are in place that this dream can become a reality. ✩ Jul-Aug 2006 S A LT •

SCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISING

TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS ARE OFTEN BLESSED WITH LARGE GIFTS RUNNING INTO MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. YET, WITH THEIR SEEMINGLY FULL COFFERS, THEY ARE STILL BENT ON FUNDRAISING. HOW DOES THIS SERVE OTHER CHARITIES AND NONPROFITS WITH LESSER CLOUT AND SIGNIFICANTLY LIGHTER MONEY BAGS? IMELDA LEE TUNES IN. SCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISINGSCHOOLSOFFUNDRAISING

he game is played on opposite sides of the playing field. On one side are tertiary institutions with their coffers filled with large endowment funds and donations running into millions of dollars. On the other side are small and medium-sized nonprofits, voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) and charities, some operating barely in the black. Both are in a constant race – to raise funds. Tertiary institutions National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU) are the biggest magnets for donors, attracting the bulk of donations to IPCs last year, according to a recent Straits Times report. Last year alone, during its centennial celebrations, NUS received close to $200 million in financial gifts. According to its annual report, by the end of fiscal year 2004 (ending 31 March 2005), it had just under $1 billion in its endowment fund. NTU had $700 million during the same period. Recently, it received a pledge of $8 million – to be disbursed over four years – from the Lien Foundation. Other gifts it has received include $15 million from the Lee Foundation and $5 million from the Singapore Totalisator Board. SMU, the youngest university among the three, had $300 million in its endowment fund by mid-2004. Today, it has double that amount, having received in recent times a $50 million gift from the Lee Foundation, $19.5 million from Dr Li Ka-shing and

• S A LT Jul-Aug 2006

$6 million – to be given over five years – by the Lien Foundation and several other $2 million grants. Better yet, financial gifts to the three universities attract a dollar-for dollar matching grant from the Ministry of Education. While the size of these endowments and donations may seem astronomical to some, it must be viewed in its proper context, says Chew Kheng Chuan, director of development at NUS. “When one considers the cost of running a university, our endowment size is not large at all. If we look at endowment size compared to the annual operating budget, NUS’ endowmentexpense ratio for the 2003 fiscal year was 1.01, compared with US universities like Harvard and Princeton where the ratio was 7.5 and 10.7 respectively.” Fundraising for tertiary institutions is a complex art form. Various opportunities exist for donors to leave their mark, be it the setting up of the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies made possible by a gift from the Lee Foundation to NUS, or the naming of professorships after donors for gifts starting from $1.5 million. For gifts of $10 million or more, a donor gets to have his or her name on a NTU building. All three institutions engage in aggressive pitches to encourage their alumni to donate to their alma maters. Says Anthony Teo, secretary to NTU, “It is the cause that most strikes a chord that matters with donors when it comes to fundraising. Our supporters, including our alumni, wish to play

Rosemary Chng, who set up a social enterprise to raise funds a part as NTU builds on its known strengths in engineering, for others, feels donating to educational institutions is the science and technology to provide a well rounded education right thing to do. for its students.” “Giving to educational So where does this leave WE DON T VIEW OUR DONATIONS institutions like universities is other nonprofits, VWOs and AS GIFTS BUT AS INVESTMENTS about giving to the future of charities? TO SUPPORT CHANGE THAT humanity. An investment to NUS’ Chew has the advanWILL CREATE A BETTER FUTURE the development of mankind tage – or burden – of having FOR SOCIETY Lee Poh Wah and society will certainly simultaneous perspectives from PROGRAMME DIRECTOR, LIEN FOUNDATION require large sums of funds two ends of the spectrum, as it and fundraising at a different level,” she comments. were. NUS is one of the most successful of fundraisers, but Noreen Chan, CEO and medical director of Dover Park Chew is also chairman of the independent arts organisation, Hospice (DPH), agrees. “Universities usually target alumni first The Substation. and foremost. Corporate donors and private foundations are “Any small arts organisation in Singapore has to work likely to view universities in a different category of charitable very, very hard to get funding, whether from private donors, giving than smaller VWOs. Our goal is to expand the pie for all a supportive public, or the government,” says Chew, who knows charitable groups, so we do not view university fundraising as a what a struggle it is for The Substation. “Education is always zero sum exercise.” DPH’s own annual fundraising appeal yields an investment for a better future, so making a strong case for a modest $25,000. giving to education is not difficult.” One nonprofit that is feeling the impact How fundraising is is The Necessary Stage. Says its artistic managed by VWOs director Alvin Tan, “How can we compete and nonprofits should not be compared with that done with an educational institution, especially if by tertiary institutions, say the universities. it’s the tertiary ones? Tertiary institutions have Chew remarks, “Beyond education, NUS also clout and hence the power to attract large gifts presents to benefactors a vision of how we are transand donations. But our nation also needs the arts forming ourselves to build a research-intensive to feed its soul.” culture of new-knowledge discovery that The Necessary Stage creates thoughtis critical for our future. And “our” is provoking, non-commercial, nonnot just the institution’s future, mainstream theatre. “Unlike but the country’s! We are saying commercial theatre, our works ‘We want to have an impact on are challenging and explorthe world stage, please help us atory. By taking higher risks, achieve this’. we do need the support “Universities offer a of philanthropists and prestige and longevity that their patronage to help few other institutions can us sustain a certain offer. Of the 85 institutions level of autonomy and that have survived over 500 integrity, as opposed to years, 70 of them are universubmitting to the lowest sities. So when we say to a common denominator. donor ‘In recognition of your There is a great need to major gift, we wish to name this invest in the process of developing scholarship, professorship, building, or original local works. Substantial school in your honour’, the donor knows support is needed to develop the software, it is going to be around for a very long time such as the professional development of artists and indeed. That’s why universities are in a different original new local works,” laments Tan. league, and smaller organisations should not even The Necessary Stage performs one major fundraising try to compare themselves, in that sense. It’s a different space.” event a year, which yields around $150,000. Some years, they Because of their active fundraising, tertiary institutions send out appeal letters. Seventy per cent of their operating costs have also helped to professionalise and change the fundraising are covered by commissioned work, with the rest coming from landscape here, adds Sharon Tan, SMU’s director of a government arts grant. corporate communications. While other nonprofits share Tan’s sentiment, others like

“

’

.”

Jul-Aug 2006 S A LT •

That being the case, VWOs and “VWOs and nonprofits need to see that tertiary institutions nonprofits should also not be actually help to create the critical mass and mindset for donors deterred from pitching their own needs and projects, albeit on a to want to think big and dare to give a big amount.” smaller scale than the tertiary institutions, to donors. The Lien The role of tertiary institutions does not stop at fundraising, Foundation also recently donated $2 million to the Singapore stresses Robert Schlesinger, chief endowment officer and Hospice Council for a hospice director of advancement and TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS HAVE awareness campaign cum alumni at SMU. CLOUT AND HENCE THE POWER capacity building exercise for “Almost all of us [in tertiary TO ATTRACT LARGE GIFTS AND the hospice sector. institutions] have been very DONATIONS BUT OUR NATION As Mae Anderson of forthcoming with our time, ALSO NEEDS THE ARTS TO FEED Art Outreach suggests, giving courses on planned ITS SOUL Alvin Tan “Universities have their own giving, fundraising, and board ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, THE NECESSARY STAGE strategic development plans governance.” Schlesinger is and have to obtain the necessary resources to drive these vice-president of the nonprofit Association of Fundraising plans. Potential donors have a wide range of causes to Professionals in Singapore, in a volunteer capacity “with the choose from and VWOs need to be clear about defining encouragement of SMU”. and articulating their causes.” He adds, “When someone sets up a scholarship fund at SMU, Says NUS’ Chew, “One thing which many organisations can we send them annual reports on how the student is doing, learn from universities – sell your vision, rather than your need. along with a letter from the student thanking them. We make Needs are almost endless, but a vision that a donor identifies the stewardship process very transparent.” with and is inspired by, that will tap the philanthropic instinct, NTU’s Teo concurs. “NTU has an overall corporate goverif someone is willing and able to give.” nance framework of internal controls, policies and regulations So does the giving pie get smaller for the VWOs and nonfor gift acceptance, spending of endowed funds and fund profits when the tertiary institutions seem to be enjoying a disbursement accountability. We also have Standing sizeable portion of it? Not so, says SMU’s Schlesinger. Committees that provide oversight for such “Any philanthropy in Singapore will policies and regulations.” benefit all the organisations. But if recent developments We are happy to see the VWOs are anything to go by, donors and nonprofits get more gifts are now on the lookout for new because it is creating a spirit and innovative partnerships of philanthropy. with the tertiary institutions they “When Dr Li Ka-shing gave support. The Lien Foundation, for HK$1 billion to the University of Hong example, made news a few months ago Kong, many of the physicians were opposed for its innovative partnerships with both to putting his name on the medical school. But SMU and NTU. when other people saw that he gave such a large Says its programme director Lee Poh Wah, “Our commitgift, those who had the capability [to give] looked at ment to SMU and NTU [with donations of $6 million and $8 him as a leader, as an example of someone who can make million respectively] comes with our new brand of philanthropy. a difference. I think that when we see the Lien Foundation Centre We don’t view them as gifts but as investments to support for Social Innovation at SMU, it will benefit VWOs and nonprofits change that will create a better future for society.” and encourage philanthropy These latest initiatives OUR GOAL IS TO EXPAND THE throughout our society.” originated from the Lien PIE FOR ALL CHARITABLE Adds NTU’s Teo, Foundation and are co-driven GROUPS SO WE DO NOT VIEW “The Lien Foundation-NTU with the universities, reveals UNIVERSITY FUNDRAISING AS Environmental Endeavour is Lee. “They are aligned with our A ZERO SUM EXERCISE Noreen Chan the first of its kind in Singapore, mission and serve as vehicles for CEO, DOVER PARK HOSPICE where a foundation and a us to enhance capacity building university are collaborating to set up a humanitarian organisation. in the nonprofit sector and environmental sustainability in This initiative harnesses NTU’s research results for the benefit water and sanitation.” of not just NTU, but for the community at large.” The universities were chosen because “they have the In the true spirit of philanthropy, it’s really about sharing bandwidth, resources and expertise relevant to our agenda and the benefits – and not a competition to see who gets to the the dollar-for-dollar matching grant from the government is donor’s dollar first. ✩ a bonus,” he adds.

“

.”

“

.”

• S A LT Jul-Aug 2006

Illustrations by Quek Hong Shin.

Joy to the Elderly O’Joy Care Services is blowing a breath of fresh air into the elderly care scene, by bringing help to the aged in the comfort of their homes. EILEEN KHOO gets a whiff of the action.

tepping into O’Joy Care Services’ office, it’s not easy to tell exactly what they do. The office is modest in size and simply furnished, and certainly gives no hint of the close to 100 volunteers this young organisation leads. You soon learn, though, that this is something executive director Teo Puay Leng is proud of – because it reflects the fact that O’Joy’s contributions take place not within office walls, but right in the heart of the community. “Although there are other worthy services being offered to the elderly, most of these are centre-based,” says Teo. “The aged would still need to go out of their way to seek help, which may not always be convenient or possible. We pride ourselves on really reaching out to the elderly and

“ My heart told me I must set up this new centre, to continue to serve others the way I used to.” making it as convenient as possible for them, by bringing our services right into their homes.” The almost three year-old O’Joy was founded when Teo and a few like-minded social service veterans felt a need to bring elderly care to another level. Previously, she had spent eight years as a counsellor and manager of community services at a social service agency, working extensively in serving the elderly, disabled and low income families as well as in training, supervising and supporting volunteers. “The more I and my fellow founders

Today, O’Joy offers a range of core services: para-counselling, where volunteers befriend and assist elderly persons during home visits; gerontological counselling, provided by O’Joy’s professional staff to the elderly or their caregivers; and care coordinator services, where caregivers of older persons are Home care: Puay Leng worked with the aged, the more (right) during a visit to the provided information and of one of O’Joy’s support on how to better we realised that a big area remained home elderly constituents. look after their loved ones. neglected – their psycho-social needs,” Teo knows there is still a long road she says. “In the beginning, it was not easy, especially as we had to do everything ahead. In 2005 and 2006, O’Joy received funding from NCSS and MCYS for certain from scratch, from raising the initial sum programmes, but “the challenge is to of money to start operations, to looking continue to cultivate and maintain links for office space, to getting the infrastrucwith all our supporters, as I believe this ture set up.” is vital to the centre’s survival,” she says. Despite these initial difficulties, “Our other more ‘concrete’ challenge is Teo persevered because “I know I have to build up new premises, perhaps in two a genuine, sincere wish to serve others, years’ time.” I can deliver and I can inspire others to Even as they bring joy to others, do so as well. My heart told me I must set the favour is returned by the people they up this new centre, to continue to serve help. “The old folks are truly appreciative others the way I used to.” of the time spent with them, and it’s Being awarded NVPC’s New Initiative satisfying to know you’ve made a differGrant in 2005 “helped us tremendously,” ence,” she says. Added satisfaction also says Teo. “It freed us from having to comes from seeing O’Joy’s volunteers devote too much time to fundraising so learn and grow. that we could focus on what we were “The process can be a real eye-opening supposed to do – serving others.” In this, one for them. And as they gradually get her passion is evident. “I don’t see my more inspired and motivated, it becomes work as a job, a nine-to-five thing. It is a gratifying experience for everyone.” ✩ an extension of my personal belief that To find out more about O’Joy Care the whole purpose of my existence is to Services, visit www.ojoy.org. help others as much as I can.”

Jul-Aug 2006 S A LT •

SALTS HAK ERS&M OVERS

A Life Full of Passions Ophthalmology, philanthropy, fundraising, art, NUS – Professor Arthur Lim is passionate about all these and more. On a rare afternoon break, the energetic 72-year-old shares with MICHELLE BONG on the importance of giving back to society, educating future generations and his love for his alma mater.

t’s 3pm in the afternoon. Sitting in his office, Professor Arthur Lim tells you he’s had a busy day. He was up till 4am the night before, working on one of two upcoming books. And he’s spent the greater part of the day providing staff of the Singapore Buddhist Lodge with eye checkups – at no cost. “I lectured there last week,” he explains, “and they asked me if they could come in and get their eyes checked. So I offered to do it for free. It’s a little something I can do for people who work so hard, feeding and taking care of hundreds of people daily.” This selflessness defines 72-year-old Prof Lim, who has enjoyed what many would call a full life. An unmistakable joie de vivre is evident when he speaks, be it about his career or his passions in life like art and travelling. His seemingly boundless energy and passion has translated into an indefatigable ability to give – not only as a doctor, but as a fundraiser extraordinaire.

“ Money is a good source of support, but what is the value of skills if they are not used to help our future?” Professionally, Prof Lim is an internationally respected ophthalmologist. He has presented and delivered hundreds of scientific papers and lectures around the world, and is also a visiting professor, keynote speaker, honorary director and

• S A LT Jul-Aug 2006

honorary president at numerous overseas universities, clubs, hospitals, eye centres and foundations. His patients include the who’s who of politicians, celebrities, leaders of countries and millionaires worldwide, and athough he does not perform as many surgeries as before, his schedule remains just as packed. He works eight- to nine-hour days, Monday to Fridays, to prepare for back-

to-back events like workshops, lectures and discussions. Overseas commitments also feature prominently in his calendar and he chalks up countless air miles zipping from Europe to Calcutta to Guangzhou. The seeds of medicine and philanthropy were sown in Prof Lim from a young age. His parents’ friends were mostly doctors, and his uncle was an ophthalmologist. Born into a Christian family, he was regularly exposed to Bible stories which advocated helping the less fortunate. “I heard stories about healing the sick, helping the blind man see and curing the leper. The importance of helping others was always ingrained in me. This mentality was complemented by the fact that in those days, all the best students went to medical school. So while I had considered being an architect due to my love for art, being a doctor was the logical choice,” he says. Prof Lim recalls how, as a young boy, he would donate 10 per cent of his monthly $10 allowance to the church.

Years later as an undergraduate at the thenUniversity of Malaya (now the National University of Singapore), he switched his allegiance to student welfare groups and made monthly contributions of $5. “The joy of giving was and continues to be fantastic,” he smiles.

“ Fundraising is like making a marriage proposal... If the answer is no, keep trying!” He graduated with an MBBS in 1956, before specialising in ophthalmology at the University of London in England. He was the first Singaporean to obtain the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of London in 1962, and his illustrious career began at the Eye Clinic Singapura where he still practices today. Outside of work, Prof Lim’s reputation as a philanthropist and tireless fundraiser precedes him. Currently the president of the Alumni Association (NUS’ oldest alumni group) and as chairman of both the Universities Endowment Fund and the NUS Endowment Fund between 1991 and 2002, he helped raise $260 million for NUS through activities such as dinners and auctions of precious artworks from his personal collection. “Fundraising is like making a marriage proposal – your approach is very important, as is your ability to assess the other party’s willingness to say yes. If the answer is no, keep trying!” he chortles. He explains his passion for his alma mater: “Being an alumnus, it is important for me to give [what I can] back to the school. But supporting one’s university as an alumnus is not just about giving money. I have always had a great interest in education; I have close ties with the school, and I work well with other likeminded people there. More importantly, NUS has been voted as one of the top 20 universities in the world, and is

particularly known for its engineering and medicine programmes. NUS is better than many American and Australian universities, and that is an outstanding achievement I want to celebrate.” Prof Lim’s commitment to education has been shown through appointments as clinical professor and as head of NUS’ Department of Ophthalmology. His book The Colour Atlas of Ophthalmology has placed Asian ophthalmology on the world map as a recommended text book. He wishes more of the 150,000 NUS alumni will show their support, like he has done, by imparting knowledge and skills as lecturers and teachers. “Money is a good source of support,” says the father of three and grandfather of five who recently celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary, “but what is the value of skills if they are not used to help our future?” Calling the Singaporean education system “quite good”, he concedes that more has to be done to help groom the future. “Today’s young people have to be continually encouraged to think independently, that is very important for Singapore’s development. More have to dare to step out, and be less fearful of failing.” He applauds the changing tide of tertiary education that is encouraging entrepreneurship and freedom of expression. Using the much talked-about forum between young voters and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew as an example, Prof Lim says he is heartened that today’s young people are beginning to think for themselves. “I thought the session was a good reflection on them. Did I think they were rude? No. I thought they were quite respectful. When I talk to my grandchildren, they ask the same questions! Younger generations will always think differently. In my time, it was easy to unite young people for a cause because the common enemy was the British. Today, it is harder to do so. The young are not going to be controlled anymore. They want a voice and I believe the new government

– with its younger generation of leaders – will be ready to face the challenges.” Prof Lim’s commitment to groom the younger generation was highlighted recently through Man of Letters, a specially commissioned musical to celebrate NUS’ centennial. Inspired by his 1999 book From a Doctor’s Diary, a collection of 11 autobiographical short stories about his most memorable experiences including those as a University of Malaya undergraduate, the Dick Lee-helmed production about Singapore’s turbulent 1950s under colonial rule enjoyed a successful weeklong run at the University Cultural Centre and represented a chance for the young ensemble cast, including NUS alumni, to flex their acting chops next to a lead cast of household theatre names like Lim Kay Siu and Emma Yong. Executive producer of the musical, Prof Lim is immensely proud of the production and is looking forward to its second run in the near future.

“ Today’s young people have to be continually encouraged to think independently... More have to dare to step out, and be less fearful of failing.” But for now, his love of the arts will be happily appeased by his collection of oil and watercolour paintings by upcoming talents (particularly those from China) and his latest literary project, a self-penned book about how to be a good doctor. His enthusiasm never waning, he regales me with tales of visits to some of the world’s most famous art galleries and how he indulges in photography, painting and keeping himself fit. “I can run rings around you!” laughs the one-time volleyball team captain, runner and tennis player. Yes, sir, I am sure of that too. ✩

Jul-Aug 2006 S A LT •

Shifting Paradigms Have you met the new heroes who are changing the world? WILLIE CHENG looks at the rise of social entrepreneurs and compares them to their business counterparts.

or a long time, (business) entrepreneurs have been changing the world – and their pocket books in the process. In recent times, a different genre of entrepreneurs called social entrepreneurs is receiving global recognition. Social entrepreneurs effect systemic, large scale social change through innovative approaches, but without the beneficial impact on their personal bank accounts. For them, it is the fulfillment that comes from shifting paradigms rather than shifting responsibility in the social arena. David Bornstein’s bestselling book How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas profiles nine leading modern-day social entrepreneurs (see box story). Most of these extraordinary individuals are members of Ashoka, a global network of 1,700 leading social entrepreneurs. The Schwab Foundation for Social Enterprise (SFSE) was set up in 1998 to recognise and foster a community of outstanding social entrepreneurs. SFSE organises annual national Social Entrepreneur of the Year awards across the world. The inaugural event for Singapore was held in February this year and was won by Jack Sim, founder of the World Toilet Organisation (WTO), the first international NGO founded in Singapore. In the span of five years, Jack – as he is fondly known – has taken a taboo subject and in his own inimitable way, put it on the international radar screen. WTO created a common global platform which now comprises 50 organisational members in 40 countries. Its annual World Toilet Summits sees about 400 to 500 participants from across the world. Through dogged persistence and a

• S A LT Jul-Aug 2006

good sense of humour, Jack is able to engage governments and corporations alike to not only support the cause, but even compete for the privilege of having the cleanest public toilets. An example of Jack’s tenacity is his story of how he gained access to the toilets of 300 institutions under a government ministry in Singapore. “The official told me that my request

would be granted if I were to conclude that their toilets were good but can perhaps be better. However, if my view after visiting [the various institutions under the Ministry] was that the toilets needed to be significantly improved, I would not have access. I forwarded his note to his Minister, copied to him. The official called me up and scolded me for having sent that note. I sent

another note to the Minister, copying the official, summarising what the official said to me. After that, the doors were open.” Jack’s ability to laugh at himself and the subject of toilets is obvious when you talk to him. He holds court with anyone willing to listen. WTO promotional pictures feature Jack in comic poses with

“ While loos are fodder for jokes, toilet business is serious business when you consider the stakes.” toilet-related paraphernalia. Jack says that he takes his inspiration from the charismatic Dr Mechai Viravaidya, the well-known Thai politician and social entrepreneur who popularised another taboo subject – condoms. Also known as “The Condom King”, Dr Mechai has been employing attention-getting and innovative means (such as Cops and Rubbers programme, a mobile vasectomy bus, and Cabbages and Condoms restaurants) to successfully tackle population growth, poverty, environmental conservation, and sexual health issues in Thailand. While loos are fodder for jokes, toilet business is serious business when you consider the stakes. There are more than 2.6 billion people in the world without toilets. A child dies of diarrhea every six seconds, mostly from contaminated well water caused by poor sanitation. The United Nations set a Millennium Development Goal to halve the number of people without access to sanitation by 2015 – an impossible task given where we are today, according to several sanitation experts. Apart from governments, there are many NGOs seeking to dispose of this issue. Through WTO, I met another impressive social entrepreneur, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of the Sulabh International Social Service Organisation. Sulabh builds affordable eco-sanitation toilets in rural and urban India. It is the largest toilet NGO in India. More than 10 million people use its toilets daily – unfortunately, that’s a drop in the cistern for a country with a population of 1.1 billion and where 65 per cent of them still defecate in the open.

Beyond providing much needed sanitation, Dr Pathak, a Brahmin, has been a champion to more than 60,000 “scavengers” – untouchables who undertake the demeaning task of physically cleaning and carrying human waste. Sulabh programmes include rehabilitating the scavengers and their families into other more dignified professions. So what makes a social entrepreneur? Most studies of social entrepreneurship find and emphasise similarities with business entrepreneurship. Both kinds of entrepreneurs tend to be driven people, deeply passionate of what they do, never say die, embrace change, innovate, create value, and bring people together to make things happen. The list goes on. But there is one crucial difference between social and business entrepreneurship that determines their methods and impact – money. Successful business entrepreneurs roll in it. Social entrepreneurs often have to make do without enough of it. By nature of – you could even argue by definition of – a social cause, normal market economics are not present. Some might contend otherwise. C K Prahalad, author of The Fortune At The Bottom Of The Pyramid asserts that there really is tremendous buying power – and profit – from the billions of poor people in the world. Among his examples is the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh which pioneered the

“ Social entrepreneurs effect systemic, large scale social change through innovative approaches, but without the beneficial impact on their personal bank accounts.” concept of micro-credit to help villagers out of the poverty trap. Each group of five individuals are loaned a very small sum but the whole group is denied credit if one person defaults. Recent statistics show that Grameen has nearly six million borrowers

EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS*

˝¸˛˝¸˛ FABIO ROSA, BRAZIL An agronomist and engineer, Rosa pioneered the use of low-cost transmissions systems to provide electricity to hundreds of thousands of impoverished rural Brazilians. Today, Rosa is spreading innovative “agro-electric” solutions and improved farming and grazing systems to combat poverty, land degradation and global warming.

BILL DRAYTON, USA In 1980, Drayton, a former McKinsey consultant and assistant administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, founded Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, an organisation that seeks to reshape the citizen sector, mainly by identifying and investing in leading social entrepreneurs (Fellows). Today, Ashoka has an annual budget of over US$30 million and more than 1,700 Fellows in 60 countries.

JEROO BILLIMORIA, INDIA Jeroo Billimoria, an instructor in social sciences, set up Childline, a 24-hour toll free telephone hotline that connects millions of vulnerable children living in India to an extensive network of child-service organisations. She is currently spearheading the replication of Childline internationally.

ERZEBET SZEKERES, HUNGARY A mother of a disabled child, Szekeres developed a programme to address three of the most difficult issues disabled adults face in her country – job training, employment and housing. Her organisation, Alliance Industrial Union, now has centres across Hungary which provide for these needs of previously institutionalised disabled citizens. Continued on following page...

Jul-Aug 2006 S A LT •

EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS* VERA CORDEIRO, BRAZIL Cordeiro, a hospital worker, founded the Saude Crianca Renascer Association to provide emergency assistance to ill children from low income families, during and immediately after hospitalisation. Since its inception, Renascer has been duplicated in 14 other public hospitals, assisting over 20,000 children.

J B SCHRAMM, USA Former youth worker Schramm designed and implemented a programme to help low income students across the USA enroll in college. College Summit students enroll in college at a rate of 80 per cent, against the national low income enrollment average of 46 per cent.

VERONICA KHOSA, SOUTH AFRICA Khosa was a nurse who visited hundreds of AIDs patients suffering alone in their homes. In response, she founded Tateni and instituted a community-based model capable of addressing the AIDS pandemic. The government has adopted her model for the largest state in South Africa.

JAVED ABIDI, INDIA Abidi, a paraplegic, is a champion of India’s disability movement. Through his strategic leadership and tireless efforts, disability rights are now enshrined in legislation. He is working on making those rights a reality in economic and non-economic areas.

JAMES GRANT, USA Grant was the head of Unicef where he conceived and orchestrated a global campaign to stop the needless deaths of children from easily preventable illnesses. By 2000, this revolution was estimated to have saved 25 million young lives. He has also championed the legal rights of children globally.

* From David Bornstein’s How To Change The World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas.

• S A LT Jul-Aug 2006

(96 per cent of them women) across more than 60,000 villages. It has lent out US$5.34 billion, of which US$4.73 billion has been repaid. Muhammad Yunis, the founder of Grameen Bank, is widely recognised as one of the world’s most outstanding social entrepreneurs. Social entrepreneurship is sometimes confused with social enterprise – businesses

“ There is one crucial difference between social and business entrepreneurship that determines their methods and impact – money.” with a social mission. For example, a café operated by a charity is considered a social enterprise. Most of such enterprises would not in itself qualify as social entrepreneurship. A social enterprise is social entrepreneurship in action only if it achieves the large scale social impact that comes from shifting paradigms. Notwithstanding exceptions of social enterprises like Grameen Bank, the reality is that most social entrepreneurs deal with social issues where getting an adequate economic return is a real challenge. Instead, their programmes have to be justified on the social return on investment. It is very common for social entrepreneurs to function despite the lack of money. As Jack who operates on a shoestring budget puts it, “We look at the problem first, not the resources available. Otherwise we will never get going.” In contrast, a business entrepreneur may deal with initial funding challenges, but as his product or service succeeds, profits will flow in the door. He can then aggressively expand the business – as well as his and the other shareholders’ wallets. Scaling up good works is harder for a social entrepreneur. Although he may have the benefit of credibility from early successes, doing more requires more money. The requisite money to expand does not usually flow directly from the work itself and often depends upon the largesse of donors.

It begets the question: would not successful business entrepreneurs who operate ethically and become philanthropists make a much greater positive impact to society than social entrepreneurs? Take William Hewlett and David Packard who founded Hewlett-Packard (HP). The business they started in a garage in 1939 is now a US$85 billion global corporation providing jobs to 150,000 people around the world. It creates products and innovations that continue to change the way the world works, lives and plays. More than that, the duo created an exemplary corporate culture called the HP Way, one aspect of which was giving back to the community. Both men have died, but they left behind an everlasting legacy and two foundations: The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, which in aggregate have about US$12 billion in assets, and make grants of about US$500 million annually. It really is hard to find social entrepreneurs who have made the same impact as Hewlett and Packard did in their lifetimes. These two technologists do not stand alone. The technology world itself has many mavericks that make it big but do not forget the good they can do beyond their corporations: Larry Page and Sergei Brin of Google; Gordon Moore of Intel; Pierre Omidyar and Jeff Skolls of eBay; and of course Paul Allen and Bill Gates of Microsoft. These are a new breed of philanthropists that are not only contributing large sums of money, but also their time, vision and expertise to shape the outcomes of their giving. So what’s the bottom line? First, the world has enough problems and opportunities to need both kinds of entrepreneurs. They can be symbiotic. Business entrepreneurs can also be noble whether their businesses are or not. Money talks. Businessmen with entrepreneurial flair should be encouraged to continue to succeed in business and channel their gains into social causes. Those with a passion for social change can leverage off these donations to increase the social dividends. ✩

CALENDAR D A T E S

T O

DO YOU HAVE AN EVENT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICISE? We welcome your 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, the name of your organisation, address and telephone number. SALT reserves the right to edit submissions for space and clarity.

N O T E

9–15 July Crossroads 2006: Women Connecting, Women Transforming. Magdalena (Singapore) is organising Crossroads 2006, an international women’s contemporary theatre festival. The first such festival ever held in Singapore, there will be performances, workshops, work demonstrations, forums, talks and a photo exhibition featuring women artists from Singapore, Asia and around the world. For more information, visit www.magdalenasingapore.org.

help subsidise therapy sessions at the SPD-Singapore Power Rehabilitation Centre. SPD hopes to raise $100,000 through this Flag Day. SPD supports more than 1,200 clients through its various programmes and services, which include education and social service support, rehabilitation, employment, vocational training and assistive technology consultation. To volunteer, call Alice Hue at 62366391 or email Alice_HUE@spd.org.sg. For more information, visit www.spd.org.sg.

15 July Chinese Public Forum “Kidney Disease – What Do I Need To Know?” Venue: Suntec Singapore Ballroom 2 and 3 Time: 2 – 5 pm Fee: Free-of-charge Targeting 1,300 Mandarin speakers, Kidney Dialysis Foundation (KDF)’s first Mandarin public forum aims to increase awareness of kidney disease. A panel of experts comprising kidney specialists and a dietician will educate the audience on topics such as the signs and symptoms of kidney disease, retardation and the treatments options available. To register for the forum, call KDF at 6225 3133.

15 July Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD) Flag Day SPD is calling for volunteers to help out in its Flag Day, where funds raised will go towards providing affordable rehabilitation services for clients and to

3 September Tulip Hearts Day 2006 Volunteer with Children’s Cancer Foundation (CCF) to sell handmade silk-cocooned tulips at $2 each to raise funds and create awareness of childhood cancer in Singapore. All individuals and corporate supporters are welcome. Closing date for registration is 15 August. To register, call 68356465, or email thd@ccf.org.sg or log on to www.ccf.org.sg/thd

28–30 July Charity Fiesta

23 & 30 July Hair for Hope (HfH) 2006 Venue: Suntec City, Fountain of Wealth This annual event of Children’s Cancer Foundation (CCF) raises funds and awareness for children with cancer by having volunteers shave their heads in public. With every shaven head, CCF hope to foster greater understanding and celebrate the courage of these children who have lost their hair after undergoing treatment. Besides individual participants, CCF has also created different platforms for companies and institutions such as “Head-bidding” for companies and mass shaving for schools. For more information and to register, please visit www.ccf.org.sg/hfh

Venue: Jurong Entertainment Centre Organised by the NUSSU Volunteer Action Committee (NVAC) with support from the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), Charity Fiesta is an annual event that seeks to encourage volunteerism amongst Singapore youths. Highlights include the Disability Challenge, where stations will be set up for youths to experience the difficulties faced by the disabled; concerts by talented beneficiaries; a bulletin board to educate the public on the various nonprofit organisations they can volunteer at; and a wheelchair-basketball competition. For more information, email Ms Kristin Kuck at luv1angel4eva@yahoo.com.sg

29 July TOUCH Charity Walkathon 2006 Venue: The Padang Themed Celebrate Singapore, Take the City Walk, this fundraiser is organised in conjunction with the National Day 2006 celebrations. Targeting to raise $400,000 to support existing programmes and services for the needy and disadvantaged by TOUCH Community Services, an estimated 20,000 walkers is expected to take part in the event, which will also promote walking as a wholesome family sport. For more information, please visit www.tcs.org.sg

20 August SPCA Fun Run 2006 Venue: MacRitchie Reservoir Park Join SPCA at its fourth annual SPCA Fun Run. Registration fee is $25 including a specially designed T-shirt for early registrants. Forms are available from BigO Café & Restaurant (2nd level Wheelock Place) or SPCA (31 Mt Vernon Road). As there are wildlife in residence at the MacRitchie Reservoir Park, dogs are not permitted. For more information, log on to www.spca.org.sg

4 September – 12 November The Singapore Biennale 2006 (SB2006) The Singapore Biennale 2006 (SB2006), Singapore’s inaugural international biennale of contemporary art, will open to the public between 4 September and 12 November 2006. Organised by the National Arts Council (Singapore) in partnership with the National Heritage Board of Singapore, this major international contemporary art exhibition will feature more than 80 artists, and artist collectives from over 35 countries including Singapore. For more information, or to volunteer, log on to www.singaporebiennale.org

Jul-Aug 2006 S A LT •

Photo courtesy of Music for Good

SCENE&SEEN Yummy! Ms Grace Fu tucked into a snack of fishballs with kids from Beyond Social Services.

Beyond Fun 28 May, PSA Family Day, Downtown East

President Nathan with the musical’s volunteer performers. Jeremy Lim (in wheelchair) who suffers from brittle bone disorder made a special appearance in the musical. Rosemary Chng (extreme left) was the volunteer organiser for the event.

Meeting the Challenge 26 May, President’s Challenge Launch, Jubilee Hall, Raffles Hotel

President S R Nathan launched the annual President’s Challenge at Raffles Hotel’s Jubilee Hall with a rousing musical, Hearts in Accord – Born to Sing, presented by art groups Music For Good and Athena Arts, along with the Athen-arts Performing Troupe. The target this year is to raise at least $8 million to help 49 charities, including the Community Chest. The Challenge will run till 7 October 2006. Those who wish to donate can do so by calling 1900-112-1008 or donating online at pc2006.org.sg.

It’s a Hit! 18 May, Man of Letters Opening Night, University Cultural Centre

The crème de la crème of Singapore high society turned out in full force for the opening night of Man of Letters, a musical commissioned by the National University of Singapore’s Centre for the Arts as part of NUS’ centennial celebrations. Based on alumnus Professor Arthur Lim’s Prof Arthur Lim (left) with Mr book From a Doctor’s Diary and with lyrics and music by Cultural and Mrs Lee Kip Lee, parents Medallion winner Dick Lee, the musical traced the lives of under- of composer Dick Lee. graduates at the University of Malaya in the turbulent 1950s, when anti-British sentiments ran high. President and Mrs S R Nathan were the Guests-of-Honour for the evening, which saw some of the guests decked out in their best 1950s finery.

• S A LT Jul-Aug 2006

PSA Singapore Terminal celebrated its Family Day with 75 children from its adopted charity Beyond Social Services and together with 8,000 PSA staff and their families, it was a full day of activities and fun at Downtown East Theme Park. In addition to the carnival game stalls, telematches and water games, staff also set up stalls selling light snacks, with the proceeds going to Beyond Social Services. Ms Grace Fu, PSA’s CEO for South East Asia and Japan, was the event’s gracious hostess.

Charity Tee-Off 16 May, AIA-SCS Charity Golf 2006, Tanah Merah Country Club

Over 300 avid golfers took part in the inaugural charity golf tournament organised by insurance giant AIA and the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) at the Tanah Merah Country Club. The event raised $500,000 for SCS and the cheque was presented to SCS at a dinner later that evening, witnessed by Guest-of-Honour Associate Professor Dr Ho Peng Kee, Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs.

From left: Gerry Wyndorf, president & COO, AIA; Mark O’Dell, EVP & GM, AIA Singapore; Assoc Prof Dr Ho Peng Kee, Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs; and Dr Koo Wen Hsin, chairman, Singapore Cancer Society.

Viva La Viva!

Dining Good Times

30 May, Viva Foundation Launch, Biopolis

Metta’s President, Venerable

Some 500 guests comprising of medical professionals, grassroots Shi Fa Zhao, presented GuestMs Irene Ng, MP member and corporations gathered together for the Metta Hospice of-Honour for Tampines GRC, with a Charity Banquet to help raise more than $60,000 for Metta Hospice specially commissioned art piece by artist Jimmy Quek Care (MHC) patients. Besides the vegetarian dishes, the guests were also treated to an entertaining line-up of performances which included Teochew Opera, Malay contemporary dance and even Ali Augerah, a famous impersonator who drew much laughter from the audience.

Happy Birthday, Your Majesty!

Photo courtesy of National University Hospital

20 May, Metta Hospice Charity Banquet, Metta Building

The Viva Foundation For Children with Cancer was officially launched recently with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital of Memphis, USA; National University of Singapore (NUS); National University Hospital (NUH); and the Viva Foundation, all working in partnership to improve the survival rate and treatment of children with cancer in Singapore and Asia. Set up in February, the foundation will be raising funds to help NUH upgrade its children’s cancer centre, and to send doctors and nurses on training fellowships to St Jude. So far, more than $5 million out of its $16 million target has been collected. For more information, visit www.viva.sg.

17 June, The Queen’s 80th Birthday Celebrations, Eden Hall

Some 250 children from six voluntary welfare organisations celebrated the official 80th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II with a special children’s birthday party at Eden Hall, the official residence of British High Commissioner, Sir Alan Collins. Aside from a chocolate-filled afternoon of games, performances and delicious food, the children also posted their birthday card designs on a traditional red English post-box. The prize for the best design was a trip to the UK, including visits to Buckingham Palace and Cadbury World, courtesy of the British High Commission, British Airways, Cadburys and Fraser Suites. Nine-year-old Julaila Latiff posing with her winning birthday card design.

Hands for hope: (From left) Mrs Theresa Foo, Chair, Viva Foundation; Prof Shih Choon Fong, President, NUS; Guest-of-Honour Philip Yeo, Chairman, A*Star; Chua Song Khim, CEO, NUH; and witness Prof Lim Pin, NUS.

A Night of Passion 19 May, Passion Ball 2006, The Fullerton Hotel

Themed A French Quarter Affair, Food From The Heart (FFTH)’s annual fund-raiser Passion Ball transported some 360 guests to New Orleans, complete with jazz by saxophonist Otrie Barret, the Moonlighters and United World College’s Jazz Sextet, plus the exotic cuisine of the Deep South set amidst elegant French Quarter ambience recreated by The Fullerton Hotel. Besides paying $300 per person to attend the ball, guests also participated actively in the charity auction. The highlight of the evening came when OSIM boss Ron Sim generously topped up his winning bid for the La Citta limited edition fountain pen bearing the signature of Guest-of-Honour President S R Nathan to $10,000. The evening raised $200,000 for FFTH. Ron Sim (centre) accepting his La Citta limited edition fountain pen from President S R Nathan. At right is FFTH co-founder Henry Laimer.

Jul-Aug 2006 S A LT •

S Photo courtesy of Lee Foundation

“I’m happy to pay tax because it means that I have made money. It’s only if you don’t make money, that you should worry.” Business tycoon Oei Hong Leong who has opted not to seek tax-exempt status for his newly established Oei Hong Leong Foundation.

“I can easily put in more time to earn the fares back.” Taxi driver Toh San Kuan on why he’s willing to give up $400 in fares in a year so that he can help make free bread delivery runs to voluntary groups as part of Food From The Heart’s ‘Bread On Wheels’ programme.

“It is easy to be a leader. Society is full of able people afraid to lead, waiting for a cue. All you do is volunteer to lead and delegate the work back to them.” Jack Sim, founder, World Toilet Organisation

“It was a bonus I wasn’t expecting, so why not do something good with it?”

“Education is the basic element in the survival and prosperity of the state. And the promotion of education should be the responsibility of every citizen. It is man’s best inheritance.” Tan Sri Dr Lee Kong Chian (1893–1967), founder of the Lee Foundation and the first Asian appointed as Chancellor of the University of Singapore in 1962.

“We didn’t just want to coexist, we wanted to collaborate – hence this fund.” Mrs Joyce Tan, CEO of Christian voluntary welfare group Hope Worldwide Singapore, on why Hope has teamed up with its Muslim counterpart Ain Society to set up a training fund to give needy individuals a leg up to start businesses or go back to school.

• S A LT Jul-Aug 2006

Shabnam Melwani-Reis, director of the Jay Gee Melwani Group, who donated her Progress Package to a children’s disability charity.

“People have walked backwards, cycled backwards, even ran backwards, but nobody has wheeled backwards, so I thought why not use this as an opportunity?” Wheelchair athlete Dr William Tan who helped to raise funds for the Brain and Spinal Injury Foundation and the Geylang senior citizens’ health-care centre by wheeling backwards in his wheelchair. In the process, he broke the world records for the longest distance covered while wheeling backwards (42 km) and the longest distance covered going backwards in a wheelchair over 24 hours (100km).

“The women still need their space. We want to engage men, but for certain things, women know women’s issues best.” Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) president Tan Joo Hymn on why its Male Chapter members cannot sit on AWARE’s executive committee.

“We’ve got all the pots and pans. There were a lot of people out there who needed help more than us.” Lisa Cleff Kurtz, a bride in San Francisco, USA, who together with her husband, asked their wedding guests to give to their favourite charities via online charitable gift registry I Do Foundation in lieu of giving the couple wedding presents.