13th Edition of Annual Fundraiser ChariTrees Raises Over $650,000 for Charity

  • President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will be officiating the Light-Up Ceremony of ChariTrees 2023 for the first time. 
  • Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade to be lit up by 80 Christmas Trees for five weeks through Tuesday 26 Dec 2023
  • ChariTrees 2023 welcomes new beneficiary – Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) – alongside existing beneficiaries: TRCL, SPD and Samaritans of Singapore (SOS)
  • Public can donate to the respective beneficiaries via the national giving platform https://www.giving.sg/home

SINGAPORE, 20 November 2023 – True to its theme of Luminosity, ChariTrees 2023 will transform the Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade into a luminous wonderland from Monday 20 November till Tuesday 26 December 2023.

ChariTrees is an annual fundraiser, organised by 4 charities – TRCL, Singapore Cancer Society (SCS), SPD and Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), that sees specially designed Christmas trees light up the Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade. ChariTrees brings the festive spirit to the public during the year-end holiday season as well as raise much-needed funds for beneficiaries.

Mr. Tan Puay Kern, Chairman of the ChariTrees 2023Organising Committee says: “We have made ChariTrees into a shared platform for charity fund raising, bringing together different social service organisations to raise the much-needed funds for their respective beneficiaries. This year, we are raising funds for the TRCL’s Business Times Budding Artists Fund, the Samaritans of Singapore, SPD, and the Singapore Cancer Society. The success of this collaborative effort reaffirms our decision to go down this path. We strongly believe that this shared platform and many helping hands approach will make ChariTrees an even more meaningful and effective charity event.”

To date, ChariTrees 2023 has raised $705,000. The funds raised will be used to raise awareness about Arts opportunities underserved children and youth; Fight for Cancer Free Community; Empowering persons with disabilities; Suicide prevention.

This year, ChariTrees will feature a record of 80 trees around the Marina Promenade.

Mr Tan is heartened by the response to the programme over the years. He says: “ChariTrees is a wonderful example of how planting a seed can result in a forest of opportunities. When we planted the seed for ChariTrees in 2011, we only had 25 Christmas trees. Today, ChariTrees has certainly flourished and grown into much more than a garden.”

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam will be officiating the Light-Up Ceremony of ChariTrees 2023 for the first time, at the Event Square of Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade, on Monday, 20 November, at 7:00 pm. The media is invited to cover this event from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. 

ChariTrees 2023 continues to increase its outreach in our community and rally support towards causes that have become more apparent in recent years. These are namely the availability and accessibility of physical and mental health services and resources for children and youth confronted with the increasing pressures of society.

Mr Colin Goh, CEO TRCL says, “Although we have left the hardest days of the pandemic behind us, there are still many that have fallen through the cracks. ChariTrees 2023 seeks to help the underserved in our society, and act as a shining beacon of hope in this festive season, hence the theme of Luminosity.This hopefully serves as a spark and a reminder to all of us that we can become the beacons for others amongst us, like the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. The funds raised through ChariTrees will help the charities reach out and assist their beneficiaries to overcome their challenges and achieve a better quality of life. Every amount, no matter how small or large, will definitely help the beneficiaries.” TRCL manages the Business Times Budding Artists Fund, which supports underserved children and youth aged six to 19 years old in their pursuit of the arts.

Mr Abhimanyau Pal, Chief Executive Officer of SPD, adds: “The ChariTrees project has provided an invaluable opportunity for charities to collaborate. The synergy generated has certainly resulted in greater support and awareness in our communities. We are very grateful to our donors for their generosity and enabling us to bring hope and smiles to persons with disabilities during this season of giving.” SPD seeks to develop the potential of people with disabilities of all ages to become independent and self-reliant.

Says Mr Gasper Tan, Chief Executive Officer of SOS: “We are grateful for the immense support from our donors, whose significant contributions will enable us to continue providing free and accessible programmes and services to those who may need crisis care. A platform like ChariTrees helps to create a sense of community and encourage open conversations, as we continue to be an available lifeline to anyone in crisis.” Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) carries out suicide prevention, intervention and postvention services.

Newly added beneficiary SCS aims to be Singapore’s leading charity in the fight for a cancer-free society, and to minimise cancer and maximise lives through effective programmes.

Albert Ching, CEO of Singapore Cancer Society, says: “We are delighted and grateful that TRCL has invited Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) to participate as one of the beneficiaries for ChariTrees 2023. During this time of giving and in light of the Christmas spirit, we look forward to the continuous support of the community. Your generous contributions will significantly aid in sustaining SCS’s programmes and services, ranging from cancer control and prevention to patient support services and palliative care, which will enable and empower cancer patients and survivors to live a meaningful life beyond cancer. I am also elated to share that the Singapore Cancer Society will be celebrating our 60th anniversary in 2024! We have been steadfast in our mission to support anyone in their cancer journey at all stages. As an independent organisation, community support is crucial in our work. Thank you once again for including us for the biggest ChariTrees light-up to date. We look forward to a continued partnership which will enable SCS to be better placed to serve and support the Singapore cancer community for many years to come.”

In line with tradition, ChariTrees 2023also serves as a platform to recognise the contribution of individuals who have uplifted the lives of the underserved in our society. five ChariTrees will feature the stories of the award winners of Singapore Silent Heroes. (See Annex A for the list of Community Heroes)

ChariTrees 2023 has raised $705,000 to date with the support of corporate and individual donors.

Platinum Donors include Asian Tour Limited, Century Evergreen, DBS Bank, Dialine Diagnostic Systems Pte. Ltd., Dr and Mrs Daniel Fung, Green Link Digital Bank Pte Ltd, L-QuBE Pte Ltd, Mind the Gap 200 Fund, Mobilus, Newline Asia Services Pte Ltd, NTUC FairPrice Foundation, Pavilion Capital, PropNex Realty, STEELMECH Engineering Services Pte Ltd, Tan Chin Tuan Foundation, TS Group, Wang Learning Centre Pte Ltd.

Gold Donors include 64 Club Street, Arrowcrest Technologies Pte Ltd, Certis, CMA Mental Arithmetic Centre Pte Ltd, Genesis Advisors, GL Engineering & Construction Pte Ltd, Holywell Foundation Limited, Kai, Yi, Megan, Natalie & Lauren, Lih Ming Construction Pte Ltd, MBS, Mr & Mrs Low Junwei, Nunchi Marine Pte. Ltd., Olayan Capital Pte. Ltd., OUE, Presto Expat Motoring Services Pte Ltd, Sunningdale Tech Ltd, The UpperRoom, Takeda Pharmaceuticals (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd.

Silver Donors include Ascent Advisory, AsiaCloud Solutions Pte Ltd, Brilliance Capital Pte. Ltd., Buss Global, C&W Electronics Pte Ltd, Chee Yin Chia, Healthy Lifestyle Group, Hong Lam Marine Pte Ltd, National Healthcare Group Diagnostics, Rainmaker Shows Pte Ltd, SCSK Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Sir Stamford Raffles Lodge Number 7444, TE Welgrow Engineering Pte Ltd, TTJ Design & Engineering Pte Ltd, Yong Fong Engineering & Construction Pte Ltd, Youjoy Pte Ltd.

ChariTrees 2023 is managed and curated by Global Cultural Alliance, a wholly owned subsidiary of charity arts organisation TRCL. ChariTrees 2023 partners include production partner Rich-Art Enterprises Pte Ltd, and venue partner Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

The public may support ChariTrees via the national fundraising site giving.sg till 26 December as follows: