The 11th edition of ChildAid, which kicked off its new decade with a more intimate and jazzy concert on its Gala opening this evening, raised almost $2 million.
Proceeds from the concert, co-organised by The Straits Times and The Business Times, of the Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) group, will go to support The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (ST SPMF) and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BT BAF). This year’s contribution brings the total sum raised for both funds to about $12 million since the annual concert series started in 2005.
Guest of honour President Tony Tan Keng Yam, his wife Mrs Mary Tan, and Acting Minister for Education and Senior Minister of State for Transport Ng Chee Meng, witnessed the cheque presentation by Dr Lee Boon Yang, Chairman of Singapore Press Holdings, after the 90-minute concert at the Grand Theatre of Marina Bay Sands’ (MBS) MasterCard Theatres. The cheque was accepted by two ChildAid performers, Sri Dhea Dhanira bte Mohd Riszuan, 10, and Nur Adrianz Bin Kamaruddin, 9, on behalf of the two charities.
MBS is the official venue partner for the fourth year running. The main sponsors of ChildAid are Citi Singapore and HSBC.
This year’s concert, featuring 19 acts and 123 performers aged seven to 19 from diverse backgrounds, is more intimate and jazzy, reflecting the style of its new music director, jazz maestro and Cultural Medallion recipient Jeremy Monteiro. Unlike previous editions, this year’s line-up was selected by the creative committee instead of through an open call.
It also features a new theme song, Be the Light, composed by two ChildAid alumni, music conductor-arranger Julian Wong and singer Amni Musfirah, and performed by lead vocalists Nur Liwani Izzati, 16, Sasha Suhandinata, 9, Lewis Loh,19, together with the CHIJ Kellock Choir.
Be The Light reflects the direction the ChildAid committee hopes will propel the fundraiser into its next decade.
Said Ms Serene Goh, ChildAid co-organising chairman, who is Editor of The Straits Times’ Schools programme: “This concert is about purpose, joy and family. ChildAid performers share those values with one another. I look forward to seeing the show grow as they propel it with their creativity, compassion and caring.”
Added double-bassist and NSman John Koh, 18, a member of a jazz quartet which played two pieces at Friday night’s concert: “I’ve been blessed with a talent for music, and I want to share this gift and spread the joy of music to others.”
Mr Patrick Daniel, Editor-in-Chief of SPH’s English, Malay, Tamil Media Group, said after the Gala night opening: “We’re delighted to have kept ChildAid going for 11 years. The secret is that, at the end of each year’s concert, the performers ask to come back, and the creative professionals who shaped the show from behind the scenes brim with ideas for the next one. Our sponsors too make plans for ChildAid in their annual calendar. It’s become quite self-sustaining.”
This year is also a special year for the BT BAF as it marks its 10th anniversary. Said Mr Alvin Tay, co-organising chairman of ChildAid and Editor of The Business Times: “I am so glad that the many young talents we invited this year said yes to being a part of ChildAid. It was, for many, their first time, and I hope they will forge friendships within our ChildAid family that will last a long time. When friendship and giving go hand-in-hand like they do here, I like to think it is a gift we bestow on the young, and one they will cherish and build on as the years go by”
Mr George Tanasijevich, President and CEO of Marina Bay Sands, said: “We are pleased to lend our stage to host local and regional talents of this year’s highly-anticipated ChildAid. The concert embodies the spirit of our CSR programme, Sands for Singapore, by supporting young talent while benefiting those in need.”
Last year, the concert raised a record $2.327 million for the School Pocket Money Fund, which gives financial assistance to children from low-income families to help them through school, and the Budding Artists Fund, which provides fully-sponsored arts training for young people from financially-disadvantaged backgrounds. Â
ChildAid 2015 is produced by arts and culture organisation, The RICE Company Limited.
There will be a second night show on Saturday, Dec 5th, from7.30pm.
Issued by Singapore Press Holdings Ltd Co.
Registration. No. 198402868E
For more information, please contact:
Siow Yu Ming (Ms)
Marketing Communications Consultant
The RICE Company Limited
Email: yumingsiow@gmail.com
Deror Wong (Mr)
Assistant Manager, Corporate Communications & CSR
Singapore Press Holdings Limited
DID: 6319 1226
Email: derorw@sph.com.sg
About Singapore Press Holdings Limited
Incorporated in 1984, main board-listed Singapore Press Holdings Ltd (SPH) is Asia’s leading media organisation, engaging minds and enriching lives across multiple languages and platforms, ranging from print, digital, radio and out-of-home media.
SPH owns award-winning newspapers, magazines and best-selling books in both print and digital editions, as well as online classified businesses in the region. In addition, SPH has two English radio stations and one Chinese radio station, an out-of-home digital advertising unit, a regional events and conferences arm, and runs a chain of modern retail convenience stores. SPH also has a 20 per cent stake in MediaCorp TV Holdings Pte Ltd, which operates free-to-air channels 5, 8 and U, and a 40 per cent stake in MediaCorp Press Limited, which publishes the free newspaper, Today.
SPH REIT comprises Paragon, a premier upscale retail mall and medical suite/office property in Orchard Road and The Clementi Mall, a mid-market suburban mall. SPH’s latest retail development is The Seletar Mall located in Sengkang.
For more information, please visit www.sph.com.sg
About The Straits Times
The Straits Times, the English-language flagship daily of Singapore Press Holdings, is the most-read newspaper in Singapore and is followed widely in the region for its comprehensive coverage of local, regional and world news, provided by its correspondents in 20 bureaus in major cities worldwide.
Launched on July 15, 1845, The Straits Times underwent a major redesign across all platforms in July 2015, when it celebrated its 170th anniversary. This revamp is part of its continuing efforts to refresh its products, maintain quality and stay relevant to the changing needs of its readers. Its integrated newsroom operates round-the-clock, providing readers with news as it happens on all platforms, from its website at www.straitstimes.com, Apple and Android apps to social media.
The Straits Times is a member of three regional and global networks – Asia News Network, the Climate Publishers Network and the Impact Journalism Day alliance of newspapers – and it has won multiple international media awards, including from the Society of Publishers in Asia, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers’ Association (Panpa), Society of News Design and Wan-Ifra. It swept 11 awards at the Asia Media Awards 2015, including three Gold for Best News Website (straitstimes.com), Best Data Visualisation Project and Best Lifestyle Mobile Service, and five Silver. The paper’s school outreach initiatives have won regular top awards, which included the 2015 World Young Reader Prize given by Wan-Ifra, and Best Young Reader programme award by Panpa.
About The Business Times
The Business Times, a member of the Singapore Press Holdings group, is South-east Asia’s leading financial daily. BT brings to its readers daily corporate, financial, economic and political news, analysis and commentary on print and digital platforms. It provides readers with in-depth coverage of Singapore and Asian business and economic developments, as well as global trends that impact Singapore business. BT’s lifestyle journalists bring busy executives the latest in recreation, entertainment, the arts, design, food and shopping.
For more information, please visit businesstimes.com.sg.
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About The Rice Company Limited
The RICE Company Limited is a non-profit organisation that harvests the potential of the arts and culture for the development of human lives and connecting communities locally and around the world. The RICE Company Limited was incorporated on March 2014 and is a registered charity with IPC status.