ChildAid 2016 Raises Over $2 Million For Two Children’s Charities

Despite the economic slowdown, ChildAid continues to receive unwavering support from its staunch supporters and the public.

The annual charity concert, which opened at the Resorts World Theatre on Friday evening (Nov 18), raised over $2 million for The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF) and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BTBAF), surpassing last year’s $1.98 million.

This brings the total sum raised for both funds to more than $14 million, since the annual concert series started in 2005. The top donors were Citi, HSBC. and UOB. They each donated $500,000 and above to ChildAid 2016.

To cheers and applause from the audience at the opening gala concert, Guest-of-Honour President Tony Tan Keng Yam, his wife Mrs Mary Tan, and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ms Sim Ann witnessed the cheque presentation by Chairman of Singapore Press Holdings, Dr Lee Boon Yang, to two BTBAF beneficiaries Ong Hin Journ,12 and Maya Nabilah Muhammad Sateria, 8, who received it on behalf of both charities.

The concert, with a cast of 153 young performers aged 19 and below, and on the theme “Living Dreams”, brimmed with energy and youthful exuberance. For 90 minutes, they mesmerised the audience with song, dance and music performances that spanned across genres such as classical, jazz, pop to musical theatre. Besides the opening act which showcased a visual and aural spectacle by 20 young harpists, young talents also performed pieces by composers and musicians who have inspired them. Evan Joel De Silva,11, played Funky Tango, an original by his idol ukulele virtuoso Kalei Gamiao and Chen Jing, 7, played a waltz piece by her favourite composer, Frédéric Chopin.

Says Mr Wee Ee Cheong, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, UOB: “At UOB, we believe in giving back to the community by investing in what is important to the future of a thriving society and will stand the test of time: art, children and education. Our contribution to ChildAid is part of our efforts, through engaging with like-minded partners, to help make a difference in the lives of under-privileged children through art-related programmes.”

Says Mr Amol Gupte, Head of ASEAN and Citi Country Officer, Singapore: “It has been our honour to be one of the key partners of ChildAid since its inception in 2005. With the concert’s theme of ‘Living Dreams’ this year, we hope that the talented performers of the ChildAid concert as well as the beneficiaries of the two Funds will have the courage to pursue their dreams, tenacity to fulfill their aspirations and live their lives to their fullest potential.”

Citi Singapore has been one of the staunchest supporters of ChildAid since its inception in 2005. Another long-time and steadfast partner for the past 12 years is HSBC.

Says Mr Guy Harvey- Samuel, Group General Manager and CEO HSBC Singapore: “HSBC takes a long-term approach in community involvement. That is why we are delighted to have supported ChildAid since its inception, having seen first-hand the difference it has made to education in this community. I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to tonight’s young performers. You all serve as role models who inspire other young Singaporeans to reach their full potential and to give back to the community.”

Other sponsors included Cogent Holdings Limited and Suntory Beverage and Food Asia. Resorts World Theatre, Resorts World Sentosa, is the main venue sponsor.

ChildAid 2016 is organised by The Straits Times and The Business Times, and produced by arts and culture organisation, The RICE Company Limited.

There will be a second night show on Saturday, Nov 19, from 7.30pm.

About ChildAid 2016 – Living Dreams Edition:

Download ChildAid 2016 – Factsheet (231 KB)
Download ChildAid 2016 – Performers highlights (85 KB)

For more information, please contact:

Sum Wai Ying (Ms)
Head, Marketing Communications & Partnerships
The RICE Company Limited
Email: waiying_sum@therice.sg

Christina Tan (Ms)
Assistant Manager
Editorial Projects
English, Malay and Tamil Media Group
Singapore Press Holdings Limited
DID: 6319 1016
Email: christyf@sph.com.sg

Yeo Siew Chi (Mr)
Manager
Corporate Communications & CSR
Singapore Press Holdings Limited
DID: 6319 1586
Email: yeosc@sph.com.sg

About Singapore Press Holdings Ltd

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. 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 Straits Times Pocket Money Fund

The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF) started in 2000 as a community project initiated by The Straits Times that provides pocket money to children from low-income families to help them through school. STSPMF was established as a Trust on 20 October 2010 and received charity status on 14 November 2011 with Institution of A Public Character (IPC) status effective from 1 January 2012. It is governed by a Board of Trustees. Since the project inception in 2000, STSPMF has helped close to 130,000 cases of children and youth from low-income families, between the ages of 7 to 21 years. Funds raised go towards school pocket money disbursements and support of the social and educational development of the children and youth. For more information, please visit http://spmf.org.sg.

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.
Facebook: facebook.com/TheBusinessTimes
Twitter: @BTbreakingnews
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-business-times
Google+: plus.google.com/+BusinessTimesSgBT

About The Business Times Budding Artists Fund

Initiated in 2004 and adopted by The Business Times in 2005, The Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BT BAF) originated from a conviction that no child with the strong interest and potential in the arts should be denied the opportunity to develop his or her talents due to a lack of financial resources. Since 2005, BT BAF has reached out to more than 15,000 financially-disadvantaged children and youth, between the ages of 6 to19 years old, through a variety of programmes including a structured arts training programme, arts camps, workshops and signature events. BT BAF supports two arts training centres, The Little Arts Academy and 10 Square @ Orchard Central, and is managed by The RICE Company Limited.

About The RICE Company Limited

The RICE Company Limited is a not-for-profit organisation that harvests the potential of the arts and culture for the development of human lives and connecting communities in Singapore with the world. Its core areas of expertise lies in enlivening places and spaces through place making and content creation; building cultural capital through the engagement of arts with business; and developing linkages with communities around the world.

It currently manages two social funds (The Business Times Budding Artists Fund and Sing50 Fund), three creative spaces (The Little Arts Academy, 10 Square at Orchard Central and The Pavilion at Far East Square) and two subsidiaries (Global Culture Alliance and Millet Holdings). More information is available at www.therice.sg.