salt_2005_01_02

DeliveryAngelsFood from the Heart

Chipping InHP Innovates

Animal FarmMore than the Fuzzies

AnExclusive

Interviewwith

Dr LeeSeng Gee

WhatGives?NVPC’sPhilanthropicSurvey

For Volunteers, Donors and NonprofitsFor Volunteers, Donors and Nonprofits No. 7Jan-Feb 2005

F I R S T A N N I V E R S A R Y I S S U E !F I R S T A N N I V E R S A R Y I S S U E !

AD 1

2 LETTER FROM SALT

4 MAILBAG

6 NEWS BRIEFSA wrap-up of events, programmes

and activities in the People Sector.

PEOPLE MOVEMENTSAppointments and new postings in

the People Sector.

11 VOLUNTEER PROFILEKenneth Tan of Singapore Film

Society screens his life’s work.

13 PEOPLE SECTOR PEOPLEAlfred Tan gives Singapore’s

children a much needed platform

from which they can be heard.

21 MEASURE OF SALTSpotlight on key players in the

animal sector.

22 WALK THE TALKNVPC Corporate Citizen Award winner

Hewlett-Packard Singapore showcases

its heartware to make a difference.

29 SALT AND PEPPERDo NPOs need to adopt a more

commercial mindset? Mayank

Parekh of McKinsey says yes.

31 SALT TALKSCharity isn’t about giving until it

hurts, argues Monica Gwee.

32 NEW SALTBreak bread with Food from the

Heart, the NVPC New Nonprofit

Inititative Award winner.

34 SCENE AND SEEN

38 CALENDAR

40 A DASH OF SALT

Jan-Feb 2005 S A LT • 1

contents

DEPARTMENTS

14The Philanthropic LandscapeNVPC releases the first part of itsstudy on individual, corporate and foundation giving. LUI SUIT CHENGdissects the results.

SALT No. 7 Jan-Feb 2005

SALT SHAKERS AND MOVERS

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

ON THECOVERChristine and HenryLaimer’s simpleidea of distributingunwanted bread tothe less fortunatehas taken on a lifeof its own.Story on page 32.Photographed for SALT by AndyWong, RAVE Photography.Hair and makeup by Cindy Goh.

24

19ANIMALHOUSEIs enough beingdone about the stateof animal welfare in Singapore? JAFRI MOHAMED investigates therising number ofabandoned andmistreated animals.

WhatG�VES?

The Inaugural NVPC Awards 2004A memorable evening at the Istana.36

2 • S A LT Jan-Feb 2005

Phew, what a year it has been. It does not seem like such a long time ago whenwe first launched SALT in January 2004. Most of us at the National Volunteer& Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) never truly appreciated the size of the under-

taking when we took on the publication of SALT. Producing a regular magazine is hard work. Seeking to make it the definitive

publication for happenings and issues on the nonprofit space makes it all the morechallenging.

We could not have done so without the contributions of news and articles frommany of you out there. The flow of information on happenings on the nonprofitscene has been great – we usually have much more than we have allocated pages for.To our contributors, thank you. And our apologies if we are unable to always give youthe space you would have liked. This is a bumper anniversary issue to capture someof the year-end happenings.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Willie ChengChairman National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre

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, grant-makers and companies in Singapore.

Those interested in receiving a copy,please email [email protected].

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 handlingcharge for all international subscribers.

MANAGING EDITORMonica Gwee

CONTRIBUTING EDITORSDaven Wu

Brenda Yeo

EDITORIAL COORDINATORSuzanne Lim

PUBLISHING CONSULTANT AND MEDIA REPRESENTATIVE

Epigram

SALT is published bi-monthly by the National Volunteer

& Philanthropy Centre7 Maxwell Road

#05-01 Annex B, MND Complex Singapore 069111

Tel: 6550 9595 Fax: 6221 0625

Website: www.nvpc.org.sgEmail: [email protected]

Copyright is held by the publisher.All rights reserved.

Production in whole or in part withoutpermission is prohibited.

The views and opinions expressed orimplied in SALT are those of the authors

and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.

Printed by Fabulous Printers

MITA (P) 027/11/2004

To advertise, please call Suzanne Lim at tel: 6550 9563Email: [email protected]

orCynthia Tay at tel: 6292 4456

Email: [email protected]

The launch of SALT on 13 January 2004.


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Dear SALT,

Iwould just like to congratulate NVPC forthe excellent SALT magazine. I read the

Sep-Oct 2004 issue and found it interestingand informative. I believe SALT is fulfillinga definite need for a forum for informationexchange between the nonprofit organisations.

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

National Volunteerism and Philanthropy Awards 2004

Dear SALT,

On behalf of The Straits Times SchoolPocket Money Fund team, thank you

for a most memorable evening at the Istanaon 23 November 2004. We applaud andcongratulate your team for the successfulrunning of the Inaugural National Volun-teerism & Philanthropy Awards. Thank youfor providing the platform for us to serve.

Peter KhooOrganising Chairman, The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund

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

Dear SALT,

Only when I first read SALT magazine did I realise how vibrant the volun-teer scene is in Singapore. As a Singaporean, it warms my heart that many

Singaporeans out there are actively involved in volunteerism and contributingimmensely to other people’s lives.

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

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

Ignatius Yong, Director, Powerworks Development Systems

MAILBAGDO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE? We welcome your letters, news ofupcoming events and pictures. Please send them to SALT, 7 Maxwell Road, #05-01Annex B, MND Complex, Singapore 069111; or email [email protected]. Pleaseinclude your name, address and daytime phone number. Letters and articles may be edited for space and clarity.

CGIPC Recommendations

Dear SALT,

Iread with interest your article in the Nov-Decissue regarding the recommendations of

The Council on Governance of Institutions of Public Character (CGIPC). It was very well balanced regarding some of the issuesthat IPCs will face in the future if theserecommendations are adopted. I applaud thechanges requiring increased disclosure byIPCs to increase the level of transparency and accountability. I am a board member ofthe International Association of FundraisingProfessionals and we endorse 10 specificrights of donors and prospective donors toensure that philanthropy merits the respectand trust of the general public.

I agree that remuneration is somewhatprivate information. I was glad to see that theCGIPC’s recommendation followed the Canadianmodel of disclosure, asking only for top execu-tive compensation in broad bands as opposedto the US model of specific information.

Mr Willie Cheng’s comments were spoton regarding the costs of fundraising. NorthAmerica has been wrestling with this issue foryears! The costs are dependent on the typeand size of the organisation, the maturity oftheir programmes, and what programmes arebeing conducted. For example, special eventsare a much more costly method of fundraising,but awareness about the organisation iscreated that is worth some dollar value to theorganisation.

My only concern about the recommenda-tions is that they fall short for grant makers.For example, in a hospital foundation, a donor may make a gift for research. However,that particular research will be conducted over a period of years and not one year only.Also, the recommendations do not encouragereserves, but any organisation that wants toensure its long-term sustainability should have reserves.

Maretta EmeryHead of Philanthropy Services, South Asia, MeesPierson

BB Sharity Gift Box

Dear SALT,

Iwould like to share myexperience during the

recent festive season when I was dropping off somegrocery bags at the Boys’Brigade Sharity Gift Boxalong Orchard Boulevard.The enthusiasm and appreciative smiles of thetwo BB boys tending the Gift Box touched me greatly,as did the valiant efforts of a third BB boy who wasbraving the hot sun to publicise the initiative to a busy and sometimes oblivious lunch crowd. Weshould be very proud ofthese young men and theirperseverance, reminding therest of us of how much more we can be doing forthose less fortunate thanourselves.

Cindy ChouA grateful member of the public


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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

159volunteers from the Singapore

International Foundation’s

Volunteers Overseas (SVO) programme

were honoured at an appreciation

dinner at the Singapore Art Museum on

9 October.

The SIF is a nonprofit, non-government

organisation whose mission is to build

goodwill and establish Singapore as a

responsible world citizen. The SVO is just

one of the SIF’s international volunteerism

and networking programmes.

Officiated by Acting Minister for

Community Development, Youth and

Sports and Senior Minister for Trade

and Industry, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan,

the event recognised the volunteers’

contributions to overseas communities

in need.

The volunteers had lent their skills

and professional expertise to such

countries as Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan

and Vietnam. Dr Tan Tay Keong, the SIF’s

executive director, lauded their efforts

as “especially important and significant

given an extremely volatile world

faced with threats of terrorism, disease

and economic instability”.


B R I E F S

N E W S

PAINTING BY NUMBERS

Accounting giant Pricewaterhouse-Coopers turned the

numbers game to the advantage of the children at

Child @ Street 11.

PWC auctioned off 18 paintings by the budding

young artists at Street 11 at its annual Dinner & Dance on

17 September. In all, the auction raised an impressive $56,850.

The cheque was presented at an afternoon tea

reception hosted by PWC Chairman, Mr Gautam Banerjee.

Also present at the event was Mr Inderjit Singh, MP for

Ang Mo Kio GRC, committee members and donors.

Street 11 targets low income families and aims to

provide quality education for children in need.

A W R A P - U P O F H A P P E N I N G S A R O U N D S I N G A P O R E

If there is power in overcomingadversity, then Mary Lee qualifiesfor the role of Wonder Woman.

Widowed at 29, Madam Lee worked onrubber plantations, sewed, operated adrinks stall and washed clothes to feedand raise her four children and later,her grandchildren.

In an emotional ceremony on 4 November attended by her family andfriends, the spunky, genial 84-year oldgrandmother of 13 and great-grandmotherof four was honoured for her life’s workand considerable achievement. She wasnamed the NTUC FairPrice Grandparentof the Year at the Senior Citizens Awards2004. In the process, she beat a formi-dable field of 300 other nominees.

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

Said Ms Kaini Low, Madam Lee’s grand-daughter, “I nomi-nated her, thinking if she won, it would be a great birthday gift.”Madam Lee celebrated her birthday on 30 November.

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

PWC Chairperson GautamBanerjee flexes his artisticmuscles.

Girl PowerSIF volunteers share their experiences.

END OF THE ROAD?

For five years now, the Youth Expedition

Programme (YEP), which runs overseas

humanitarian programmes – has been

managed by the Singapore International

Foundation.

The National Youth Council (NYC)

provides funding for the YEP. Late last year, the

NYC indicated that it would be reviewing

YEP’s funding, which is due to end this March.

At press time, the NYC has not released

details of that review.


POLICE MATTERS

In between keeping our

streets and homes safe, the

Singapore Police Force (SPF)

still found the energy to raise

around $1 million for the

Community Chest in 2004.

The raft of fundraising

events organised in during

the year included the Charity

Adventure (which raised

$260,000) and a two-day concert ($380,000). Our men and women in blue also donated

a portion of their salaries to the Community Chest.

The SPF’s community programmes are overseen by the Committee on Societal Respon-

sibility, which was set up four years ago. Since then, the Force has managed to raise on

average $500,000 each year, making it one of the leading donors to Community Chest.

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

Chest Awards.

Sandra Loke joined the Retired & Senior

Volunteer Programme (RSVP) on 1 November

2004 as its General Manager. Her responsibili-

ties cover not just RSVP, but also the running

of RSVP ProGuide Pte Ltd as its Administrative

Director and Consultant.

Sandra was with the Community Chest

of Singapore for 14 years, the last six as Head

of ComChest, the fundraising arm of the

National Council of Social Service. She also

spent three years with Sathya Sai Social

Service as its Executive Director, managing

Sheltered Homes and outreach programmes

for the destitute and the needy elderly.

RSVP Singapore is a nonprofit organisation

launched in 1998. RSVP’s community service

programmes are managed on a day-to-day basis

by volunteers and all RSVP programmes are

focused on promoting active ageing, lifelong

learning and intergeneration integration.

Tel: 63374145, email: [email protected]

Prior to joining NVPC as its Chief Operating

Officer on 8 November 2004, Ho Sun Yee was

the Director of Jurong HealthConnect, a pilot

project of the Ministry of Health to transform

existing healthcare services in Jurong into a

patient-centric, seamless and accessible

healthcare network.

Before joining Jurong HealthConnext,

Sun Yee served as the Chief Executive Officer

of the YMCA of Singapore for four years,

where he was responsible for remaking the Y

to be relevant and responsive to the changing

needs of the community. During his tenure,

the Y broadened its community outreach

programmes and introduced innovative

programmes in youth development and cultural

exchanges, sports and recreation.

Sun Yee also serves on the Board of Direc-

tors of Focus On The Family, Auston Interna-

tional, and as an EXCO member of SAFRA Toa

Payoh. Tel: 65509578, email: [email protected]

Desmond Koh was appointed Executive Director

(Designate) of The Boys’ Brigade in Singapore

(BB) on 1 November 2004. He takes over from

ED Albert Ching on 15 January 2005. A home-

grown BB boy (he joined the BB as a schoolboy

back in St. Andrew’s Secondary School),

Desmond joined the BB full-time as a programme

officer in July 1996, rising to the position of

manager of the Programmes Department

before assuming his current position.

Founded in 1883 in Glasgow, Scotland,

by Sir William Alexander Smith to fulfil the

need of engaging boys in meaningful and

purposeful activities, the first BB Company in

Singapore was established in 1930. There are

currently more than 6,000 officers and 92 BB

Companies in Singapore. Tel: 67370377, email:

[email protected]

Faced with the uphill task of finding jobs for their children withintellectual or learning disabilities, ten parents from the Caregivers’ SupportGroup of the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS)

banded together with the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports toset up the aptly named, MINDS Food.

Run out of a kitchen in Queenstown, the catering company is operated byparents and staffed by the children, some of whom have Down’s Syndrome or autism.Currently numbering around 10, staff strength is expected to grow to around 25.

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

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

P E O P L E M O V E M E N T S

The busy bees ofMINDS Food.

Turning the Tables

One for the album – Members of SPF pose with President and Mrs S R Nathan.

LEAD THE WAY

What does it

take to be a

leader in the new

millennium? To

start, a desire to

make a real difference and to achieve

one’s dreams, however small or big those

dreams may be.

That was one of the revelations at the South West Young

Leaders’ Day event, jointly organised by the Young Leaders Foun-

dation Singapore (YLFS) and Singapore Polytechnic, with support

from South West Community Development Council.

Held on 3 November, the event aimed to promote and

support student initiatives that make a difference in schools and

to the community, the nation and fellow global citizens. Partici-

pants were challenged not only to reach their personal goals but

also the goals of those they lead.

Ms Natasha Kwan, General Manager of Microsoft Asia Pacific

and Mr James Wong, national discus champ and 2003 Sportsman

of the Year spoke at the gathering.

The YLFS is a new NPO initiative with its head chapter oper-

ating in Australia and New Zealand.


Technology that allows theseverely disabled to manipulate computers

sans hands, legs or voice andusing only brainwaves. A devicethat permits the intellectuallydisabled or patients with cerebal palsy to communicateeffectively using picture iconsthat convert to speech or voicetext. Too far-fetched? Not if the good folks at Samsung haveanything to say about it.

On 22 November last year, Samsung announced two grants to develop just such technology. The grants will be disbursed under their DigitAll Hope programme.The first goes to the Society for the Physically Disabled and its research partner,Institute for Infocomm Research for development of the Brainy Communicator. TheSingapore Polytechnic Centre for Applications in Rehabilitation Engineering gets thesecond grant to develop the Picture-to-Speech Communicator. In all, the researchgrants were worth $192,000.

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

S T O P P R E S S !

Beneficiaries of Samsung DigitAll Hope include Society for thePhysically Disabled (front row).

Youth Power: Members ofYoung Leaders FoundationSingapore at South WestYoung Leaders’ Day.

Hope Springs EternalMORE THAN SKIN DEEP

When the nine new Nominated MPs

(NMPs) were announced, many were

surprised by the sudden spike in glamour.

The new line-up of NMPs includes

Eunice Olsen. The former beauty queen and

ex co-host of the TV game show Wheel of

Fortune is, at 27, the youngest of the crop.

A veteran volunteer well regarded for

her involvement with various homes for

troubled teenage girls, Ms Olsen has

indicated her intention to focus on youth

and volunteer issues – including the

perception, promotion and

sustaining of volunteerism in

her new Parliamentary role.

Ms Olsen was also

appointed NVPC’s Youth

Volunteerism Ambassador

on 5 December 2004 –

International Volunteer Day.

“I hope to work closely with

NVPC to help spread the

word about volunteerism

to Singaporeans, especially the

youth. This appointment

is a great opportunity for me

to reach out to them and

encourage them to experience

volunteering for themselves,”

she said.

Tsunami Crisis Relief Unites SingaporeAs the year closed and just before SALT hit the stands, tsunamis hit the

coastal regions of Sumatra, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India and Malaysia. The

death toll is still being tallied, but it is expected to be more than 100,000,

including those of unsuspecting holiday makers from Europe, America,

Australia and Singapore.

Singaporeans from all walks of life showed their concern for the victims

devastated by the tsunamis of 26 December 2004 by donating money and

various goods to the Singapore Red Cross, Mercy Relief, and Singapore Inter-

national Foundation. Donations in kind of food items, medical supplies,

clothes and blankets also poured into collection centres across Singapore,

where hundreds of volunteers assisted with the sorting and packing in

preparation for airfreight to the affected countries. Missions comprising of

volunteer doctors and nurses from Singapore departed for Aceh in Sumatra

and Phuket in Thailand within days of the disaster.

With the generous support of corporate partner NTUC Income, through

its CallCentre One, a 24-hour Tsunami Crisis Relief hotline was set up by

NVPC to provide the latest information to the public about how and where

they can do their bit to help the disaster victims, as well as to facilitate the

matching of needs by relief organisations, volunteers and donors. The latest

information is also posted on NVPC’s website, where interested members of

the public can register online as Tsunami Crisis Relief volunteers.

For more information on how you can help, call the Tsunami Crisis Relief

hotline at 64166655/63250965 or visit www.nvpc.org.sg.

Russ

el W

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V O L U N T E E R P R O F I L EP R O F I L E

Kenneth Tan is a walking ency-clopedia of television and thecinema. With very little effort,

he is able to dredge up arcania andstudied discourses on everything fromnew wave French films to characters inthe 70s TV series Space: 1999. In fact,his ebullient passion for this genre is soself-evident that it comes as littlesurprise to learn that he is the chairmanof the Singapore Film Society (SFS), aposition he has held since 1984.

It is the latter role that has mostdefined his career – and his publicpersona. In May 1982, aged 17, Tanjoined the SFS as a subscribing member.The SFS was, and remains today, anonprofit organisation dedicated to theappreciation of film and run entirely byvolunteers. “I liked movies,” Tan says. “I was interested in the whole eco-system.I talked to everyone and began helpingout in small ways, even taking buses topick up film from a distributor.”

Tan’s enthusiasm was evident. Ayear later, he was nominated SFS secretary, which he recalls as both adaunting and motivating experience. “Itwas a fabulous learning experience. The secretary is the one who does allthe paperwork, writes to film distribu-tors, prepares booking contracts. I gotmy hands dirty. I did so much work and learnt so much. I ran the door andsold tickets. In the end, there wasn’t athing about the SFS administration that I did not know.”

When the time came in 1984 to finda replacement for the outgoing chairman,there seems to have been very littledebate that Tan would be just the manfor the job. He was 19.

For Tan, this was thestart of a career arc thatincluded heading up aconsumer research firm and tenuresoverseeing TV and radio as Chief Operating Officer and Chief ExecutiveOfficer respectively at MediaCorp.Recently, that arc came full circle withhis appointment as managing director ofcinema operator, Golden Village.

Throughout, he has maintainedfirm links with the SFS.

“My volunteer work with the SFShas always been very public,” says Tan.“I’ve been blessed with bosses who saidto me that as long as I deliver my work,my time is my own.”

Tan’s achievements with the SFSare evident only with the benefit of thedistance of years. “At the time of myappointment as chairman, the SFS wasessentially a club and it had a craft,home-made feel to it.”

To this, Tan overlaid his training inmarketing. “I began to change the waythe SFS was run.” He networked madly.With a self-confessed combination ofgung-ho, practice and guts, he forgedpartnerships with charities, multi-nationalcorporations, overseas film institutes andembassies. He began a highly successful

partnership with Golden Villagein 1992, moving SFS screen-ings from multi-purpose halls,the RELC auditorium in OrangeGrove Road and the JubileeHall in Raffles Hotel to decid-edly more commercial spaces.

Suddenly, the Singaporecinema viewer had the optionof spending an evening at theBritish Film Festival straightafter a session of the Hollywoodblockbuster Speed. For die-hardconservatives, it was a glaring

juxtaposition. There were accusations thatTan had sold out and gone commercial.

His reply was simple and to thepoint. “My view was that if our product– the film – is as good as ever, I see noharm in packaging that offering in anattractive way.”

Tan’s stewardship of the SFSrequires the juggling of several balls inthe air. At least two nights a week aredevoted to SFS events, with around 100meetings a year. There are 200 films ayear to promote, brochures to write,film retrospectives to organise plus theusual operations and administrativetasks. This, on top of his day job andserving on the boards of the SingaporeFilm Commission and PromoteMandarin Council.

Daunting? Perhaps. But it is abun-dantly clear that there is ebullience,passion and commitment in equal parts.“I knew I would love beyond measurewhat I’m doing now,” he says simply.

All that remains now is that close-up. ✩

For more information on the Singa-pore Film Society, visit www.sfs.org.sg.

Ready for His Close UpWhen Kenneth Tan joined the Singapore Film Society at 17, few imagined the contribution he

would make to the country’s film culture. DAVEN WU settles in with a bag of popcorn.

Real life: Kenneth Tan (R)with the Dutch Ambas-sador, Hendrik J VanPesch at an SFF event.


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Alfred Tan’s tale is an increasinglycommon one among former corpo-rate high-flyers. He had a good

paying job, heading up courier companyDHL’s sales and marketing departmentin Singapore; the proverbial wife, familyand car. Yet, after a while, the unsettlingquestion persisted: Is that it?

“It wasn’t exciting anymore,” Tanrecalls. “It was a sign to look for some-thing else.”

That something else turned out to bethe Singapore Children’s Society, thoughto hear Tan tell it, he knew nothingabout Voluntary Welfare Organisationsand was merely replying, on a whim, toan ad in the paper seeking an ExecutiveDirector. “I thought that with my back-ground, I could contribute my skills,” he says modestly.

That was in 1999. Today, Tan heads a team of 85 staff

and oversees eight Children’s SocietyCentres. The Society works to bringemotional and social relief to children inneed as well as to promote their well-being. Tan’s role is to support the staffand to work closely with the five standingcommittees, all of which are run byvolunteers, to insure proper integrationand co-ordination between the Society’swork and policies.

It is not an easy task. Beneath theorderliness and the structured regularityon the surface of life in Singapore, thereare an estimated 12,000 children in

need and at-risk youth. TheSociety defines a child asany one below the age of 14,although its mandate extendsto every child below 16 years. Each year,the Society’s help line receives 6,000 calls.

According to Tan, the problems facingtoday’s young vary from simple boredomand loneliness to educational stresses,bullies in school, suicidal tendencies anddepression. Sometimes, all they want isa listening ear. And, more than that, anunderstanding ear, something that manymaids – today’s de facto parents – arenot always equipped to supply.

“Once a kid rang to play a piece onhis violin over the phone,” Tan says. “Hejust wanted to have someone to listen.Even if it was a stranger. That’s the priceto pay in a highly developed societysuch as ours.”

Tan’s background in a multi-nationalcorporation has proved invaluable forhis work with the Society.

“Social work today is more subtle,”

he says. “It’s mental andpsychological. My job is to helpfine-tune the operationalissues, to translate strategies.We keep communicationchannels very flat here.”

The issues too are moreheart-felt. He doesn’t miss thenumber crunching. “In socialwork, things are more qualifi-able. You see the impact onlives and it’s far more rewardingthan seeing the bottom line.How do you quantify a childthat has been abused?”

This introspection extends into hispersonal life, and in particular to hisown children, aged 15 and 10. “I’m nowmore aware of the issues facing my ownkids. I’ve learnt to communicate more.I’ve learnt that you cannot replacespending time with your own family. I’vealways been a family man and now [inmy job] I have to be more of a role model.If I cannot fix my own family, how can I tell other people how to fix theirs?”

Certainly, answers are not easilyforthcoming. So much work needs to bedone in this sector covering everythingfrom compulsory education (1,700 chil-dren do not attend school in Singapore),to advocacy, to youth hostels, sheltersand family services. At the core are thebeneficiaries of the Children’s Society.

“Children in Singapore,” says Tan,“need a little more voice. They shouldbe given a platform for talking to adults, or at least to someone who canmake a difference.” ✩

For more information on the Singapore Children’s Society, visitwww.childrensociety.org.sg.


P E O P L E S E C T O R P E O P L EP E O P L E

Lend Me Your EarsSingapore’s children need a platform for their problems or at least,

someone who can make a difference to their lives. DAVEN WU listens in on Alfred Tan’s message from the Singapore Children’s Society.

Reach out: Alfred Tan with thechildren at Henderson Centre,a centre supported by theSingapore Children’s Societythat supports low incomechildren and families.

“Once a kid rang to play a piece on his violin over thephone. He just wanted to have someone to listen.Even if it was a stranger. That’s the price to pay in ahighly developed society such as ours.”

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


WhatG�VES?

NVPC’SNATIONALPHILANTHROPYSURVEY

Reaching out – Tirelessyouths volunteer to do their bit.Picture courtesy of Heartware Network

Official numbers, thus far, have only hinted at the scale of individual giving here. Peoplesector planners and fundraisers looking todivine the depth of donors’ pockets, reliedprimarily on the tally of donations to

Institutions of Public Character (IPCs), tracked andreported by the Inland Revenue Authority (IRAS). IRASpegged the value of donations by individuals to IPCs at$202 million in 2003.

NVPC’s maiden philanthropy survey, with its widefocus lens, brought non-IPCs – religious organisationsamong them – into the picture.

The broader snapshot revealed that 97% of Singa-poreans aged 15 years or more donated their dollars in2003, giving a seemingly hefty $438 million to theircauses.

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

By numbers, it appears more Singaporeans aredonating compared to their counterparts in the UnitedStates and United Kingdom. In the US, 69% of house-holds gave to charitable and nonprofit causes in 2003 and67% of individuals in the UK donated in 2002.

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

SMALL SUMS Plump as the charity purse seems, it would appear

that there is potential for Singaporeans to give more,much more.

In a 12-month period, donations averaged out at $155per donor. This works out to $12.92 a month or just about40 cents a day.

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

Findings revealed that low-income earners gave propor-tionately more of their pay packet than higher incomeearners. Individuals earning less than $1,000 donated anaverage of 1.6% of their income – four times more thanthose who earned between $3,000 and $4,000, who gave0.4% of their income.


“ Donors gave an average of$12.92 a month or just about40 cents a day. This doesn’tbuy half a cup of coffee a day,much less a bowl of noodles,which costs $2.”Mr Liak Teng Lit, CEO of Alexandra Hospital


It’s not the first time that similar observations havecome to light. “In dealing with volunteers and donorsfrom various parts of our organisation, I’m especiallyimpressed and touched by the generosity of our factoryemployees. They are also enthusiastic volunteers andwilling to commit their personal time for communityservice,” says Mr Paul Chan, Senior Vice President andRegional Managing Director of Hewlett Packard, AsiaPacific and Japan. The IT giant was the winner of the2004 National Volunteerism and Philanthropy Award forcorporate citizenship.

“We could be more generous in our giving,” adds Mr Liak. With average monthly earnings of $3,213 in2003, donating $60 a month or a bowl of noodles a day, is well within means.

“IT’S NOT ENOUGH” The survey also showed that the need to tap latent

donor dollars is pressing. It’s no secret that the scramblefor the charity pie has grown ever keener over the years.

True, charitable giving has grown. Individual donationsaccounted for 22% of total donations to IPCs in 2001. By 2003, the proportion had grown to 39% in 2003.

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

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

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

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

GIVING FOR THE RIGHT REASONSMrs Tan believes that successful shaping of giving behav-

iour will be a key determinant in boosting charity dollars.The survey identifies the majority of donors (88%) to

be reactive givers – they give when asked or pressed to doso. Case in point: donors accosted by ‘tin can’ fundraiserswho throng Orchard Road on flag days.

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

Some donors interviewed confessed to giving in suchinstances out of sympathy for fundraisers plying thestreets. Others like George Ng, financial controller of anAmerican subsidiary, view such donations as a means to“get out of being pestered”. Many conceded they had nounderstanding of the cause they gave to or who the bene-ficiaries were.

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

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


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

“We need to get nonprofits out of the hit-and-runmode, and encourage donors to seek out the causes theybelieve in and conscientiously set aside a portion ofincome to support them,” argues Mrs Tan.

The challenge, say some nonprofits, is perhapsfinding the right buttons to push.

PUSHING THE RIGHT BUTTONSThe survey findings have flagged a couple of possibilities.Capturing donor mindshare with stronger and more

prominent profiles, for starters. 43% of respondents basedgiving decisions on the name of the organisation seekingthe donation.

“When you think about phone-ordering fast food, you probably think Pizza Hut straight away,” observes Ms Irene Han, General Manager of the Kidney DialysisFoundation (KDF). “It’s no different for nonprofits. Profile and brand building are critical. We have to capturethe time and attention of donors – that’s our challenge.”says Ms Han.

Making information available could also go a longway in galvanising givers. 72% of donors interviewed said they could be persuaded to give more with more information about how donations are utilised, and 65%claimed more information about recipient organisationswould up their giving.

While findings give teeth to recent calls for informedgiving, nonprofits say there is a balance to be struck.“Information needs to be transparent, representative andsufficient – we don’t want to overload donors either,”cautions Ms Han.

Still, says Mrs Tan, “It’s a strong signal to nonprofitshoping to nab themselves a generous slice of the charitypie. Clearly, charities engage donors when they make theeffort to educate donors on their activities, and even ontheir financials. And that may get them more sustainedand involved support.”

At the very least, the effort might elicit the equivalentof a bowl of noodles. ✩

Additional reporting by Brenda Yeo.

Starting young –Youthful volunteersplan donation strategies.Picture courtesy of Singapore Children’sSociety

“ When you think about phone-ordering fast food, you probably think Pizza Hutstraight away. It’s no different for nonprofits.Profile and brand building are critical.”Ms Irene Han, General Manager,

Kidney Dialysis Foundation

INDIVIDUAL GIVING AT A GLANCE1


IPC

46%(S$202m)

Non-IPC

54%(S$236m)

Total: S$438m

The Individual Giving Pie

0

50

100

150

200

Median

S$602

S$155

Average

S$Annual DonationAmount

Where are they giving?

Donors’ Behaviour

<$1000 $1000 –<$2000

$2000 –<$3000

$3000 –<$4000

$4000 –<$5000

1.6%

0.7%0.6%

0.4%0.6%

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

%

Monthly Income

Donations as % ofIncome

Country Comparisons

Singapore UK USA(2003) (2002) (2003)

Donor participation rate 97% 67% 69%*

Donations as % ofper capita GNI 0.28% 0.73% 1.64%

Total donations (S$m) 438 19,626 312,551

* % of households

Religiousorganisations

Health

% among donors

Education

Civic/Self-help

Social service

66%

65%

39%

33%

29%

What would make them give more?

More information abouthow donation is utilised

More information aboutreceiving organisation

More appreciation fromreceiving organisation

% among donors

72%

65%

48%

What affects their giving decisions?

Name of organisation asking

Organisation’s activities and programmes

Name of supported charity/NPO

% among donors

43%

22%

21%

Where do they obtain information on receiving organisations?

1 Survey conducted by Market Probe-Precision Research Pte Ltd, based on the responses of1,698 individuals. Survey covered the period between April 2003 and April 2004.

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

3 Reactive giving: Definition includes donations made at a box or at the request of someone.Proactive giving: Refers to unsolicited donations where donors approached organisations.

% among those who seek information

67%

57%

32%

Mass media

Personal contacts

Charity/NPO

What is their giving pattern?3

% among donors

88%

11%

Reactive giving

Proactive giving

What is the state of animal welfare

in Singapore? JAFRI MOHAMED comes

to grips with risingcases of abandonedand mistreated animals

each year.

Compassion, conscience and creatures. A fairly goodjudge of how much a society has progressed over timeis how it treats its animals. Or not.

There have been an increasing number of animal crueltycases in recent years, with many media stories highlightingindiscriminate and reckless breeding, animals abandonedwhen the novelty of keeping a pet wears thin, and a stock ofgruesome tales.

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

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

complaints to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty toAnimals (SPCA) about conditions in pet shops rose byalmost 40 per cent to over 80 reports. There was also anincrease in complaints received by the Society about rabbitsand hamsters kept in filthy, cramped conditions in commoncorridor areas of Housing Board blocks.

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

In a move aimed at stemming the tide, the AVA, the maingovernment body in charge of animal welfare, and otherregulatory bodies, have dedicated themselves to implementingpolicies, regulations and campaigns targeted at achievinglong-term results. More animal welfare groups have alsobeen formed to help care for strays, raise public awareness,and assist in the care and sterilisation of animals.

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SOCIAL ILL – DUMPED PETSAt the recent launch of the AVA’s public education drive,

Second Minister for National Development Lim Swee Say raisedpet abandonment as a social problem. Some pet owners, he said,were simply being irresponsible. Mr Ngiam Tong Tau, AVA’s ChiefExecutive, cites lack of knowledge about the costs and respon-sibilities of pet ownership as the key reason for such behaviour.

“One of AVA’s goals is to safeguard and promote animalwelfare. We do this by enforcing strict regulations to protectanimals against cruelty, licensing pet shops and animal exhibi-tions, and by educating the public on responsible pet owner-ship,” says Dr Leow Su Hua, head of the AVA’s Animal WelfareEducation Branch,

“A major challenge we currently face is the control of thepopulation of stray animals,” she continues. “Pet abandonmentis one contributing factor to the problem of strays and it stemsmainly from lack of knowledge on pet care.”

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

There are no accurate statistics on the total number ofabandoned animals and only the most severe cases of mistreat-ment make it onto the media. Cats appear to have it worst. Mr Lim revealed at AVA’s public education launch that thenumber of stray and abandoned cats is multiplying by around20 per cent yearly, and presently, there are about 60,000 straycats on the island.

Indications from individual welfare groupsare sobering. The SPCA for instance, takes inabout 500 stray or abandoned cats everymonth. Every year, the society recovers over10,000 animals. For a variety of reasons, holdingspace being the most pressing, most of theseanimals are put down.

The AVA has set up an Animal Welfare Educa-tion Branch to actively promote the message ofanimal welfare and responsible pet ownership toschools and the public. To complement its publiceducational talks and exhibitions, pet adoption drives, and coun-seling on pets, it produces and distributes educational materialsto schools, pet shops, veterinary clinics and the public. It alsotouches base with town councils and animal welfare groups.

Exotic animals have not been forgotten. Animals such assun bears, monkeys and tigers are just three species among the30,000 animals and plants protected by the Convention onInternational Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna andFlora (Cites). Singapore is a signatory.

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

Anyone keeping a wild animal without an AVA license canalso be fined a maximum of $1,000 per animal under the WildAnimals and Birds Act. In 1993, a woman was prosecuted forhaving a sun bear and a monkey in her Pasir Panjang home.She was fined $2,000 and the animals were confiscated. InNovember 2004, volunteers from the Animals Concerns Researchand Education Society (ACRES) went in search of a tigersuspected of being kept in captivity in the Sixth Avenue area.

The proliferation of pet shops in many neighbourhoodsmay also have led to the higher rate of abandonment.Although all pet shops are inspected yearly to ensure theycomply with licensing conditions, these measures have limitedsuccess because some animals may be bought on a whim, thenabandoned, or given up when the owners can no longer cope.Pet shops may not be doing enough to ensure that the buyerreceives sufficient information on pet care and responsibility.

Singapore does not have any permanent animal shelters atpresent, but it does have commercial boarding establishmentsfor pets such as dogs and cats. These establishments require alicense to operate.

MUCH MORE THAN FUZZY FEELINGSAnimal welfare groups work closely with the AVA in

promoting the message of responsible pet ownership and animalwelfare, mainly through public exhibitions on pet relatedthemes and pet adoption drives. When unwanted animals areimpounded, many of these welfare groups try to facilitate theadoption of these creatures.

But beyond the feel-good nature of these measures, thedriving concern is one of very limitedresources. There are too many aban-

doned or mistreated animals thatrequire help and not enough sheltersor helping hands.

The welfare groups themselvesare made up mostly of volunteers, whocome from all walks of life. Drawntogether by a common cause, theytackle fundraising, operating costs,

administrative work and manual choreswith admirable zest and enthusiasm. Some,such as K9 Love, are run and entirelyfunded by single-minded animal lovers out

of their own pockets and the charity of friends and family. It isa constant, uphill struggle to stay afloat and remain viable.

“More people are speaking up for animals now, but there’sstill a long way to go. Even if people don’t love animals, theymust at least respect them,” Deirdre Moss, Executive Officerof the SPCA notes.

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

A rescued cat with amangled paw that hadto be amputated.Picture courtesy ofAnimal Lovers League


1961SocietyYesYeswww.spca.org.sg

Carla BarkerDeirdre Moss

26400

24-hour emergency service forinjured and very young animalsInvestigation of crueltycomplaintsCollection of unwanted petsand confined strays on designated daysRehoming of animals throughadoption schemeConducting educational talks atschools and organisations

(2003)1,413

829–

72512

1,509978474

453

(96)

5,950

1999SocietyYesNowww.catwelfare.org

Wee Liang TongDawn Kua

1150-200

Sterilisation

(2002)101

44–

1839

1149411

–9

(13)

29

2002SocietyNoNowww.hrss.net

Teeny Teh (President)––

30Rabbit rescue andrehomingConducting educational talks atschools and publiceventsCampaigningagainst animal abuse

(2003)21

433

111713

3–14

9

2001SocietyNoNowww.acres.org.sg

Louis Ng (President)–4

30Wildlife rescueUndercover investigationsAnimal welfarecampaigningEducation outreachprogramme

(2003)49 46

–3–

422414

–47

17

2002SocietyNoNowww.asdsingapore.com

Ricky Yeo (President)Arul Inthirarajah (VP)

140

RehomingRescueAdoptionSterilisationEducationTouch & Talk therapyprogramme (PetAssisted Therapy)

(2003)79 48

–5

263024

33–

49

70

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals (Singapore)

All inputs provided by the societies and associations Cat Welfare

Society

A M E A S U R E O F S A L TM E A S U R E

GeneralDate of establishmentConstitutionRegistered charityIPCWebsite

OrganisationChairmanExecutive DirectorNo. of full-time staff equivalentNo. of volunteersKey programme/Activity

Finances (S$’000)Income – Donations– Grants/Sponsorships– Membership fees– Other incomei

Expenditure – Programme expensesii

– Operating expenses– Fundraising expenses– Other expensesiii

Surplus/Deficit

Reserves/AccumulatedFunds (S$’000)

House Rabbit Society

(Singapore)

Action for Singapore Dogs

Society

Animal ConcernsResearch and

Education Society

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

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

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

Dr Lynn Yeo, one of the founding members and an ex-president of the Cat Welfare Society, is emphatic that shewould like to see more compassion and respect for animals.“It’s very important that animal welfare be put on a highpriority list in Singapore,” she stresses. The society, formed in

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

Animals Lovers League president Cathy Strong’s heartfeltwish is that “one day, cats and dogs, all sterilised, can run freein the street”. The league, formed over two years ago, recentlyset up a low-cost boarding facility called Pets Villa at Pasir Ris.

“Pets Villa is a viable and humane alternative to puttingunwanted animals down,” Ms Strong declares.

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

Animal Welfare Organisations

i. Includes investment income ii. Also known as direct charitable expenses iii. Includes publicity, capital expenses and all other expenses

Research compiled by TAN TZE HOONG, Sector Development, NVPC


It is hardly coincidental that an integral part of Hewlett-Packard’sbranding is their “+hp” graphic

device. Everything about this companyis upbeat and positive, from its delight-fully provocative print-ads and commer-cials to its suite of high-technologyapplications.

Indeed, its corporate motto, ‘Every-thing is Possible’, spills over into everyaspect of the company’s operations, notleast of which is the company’s lesspublicised role as corporate citizen.

“HP has always held the view thatthe company should make an activecontribution to the community in whichit operates,” says Paul Chan, HP’s SeniorVice President & Managing Director forAsia Pacific and Japan. “Doing well inbusiness is the same as doing good.”

In Singapore, the company’sCommunity Activities Committee (CAC)was set up in 1977. Under the supervi-sion of the CAC, HP’s communityinvolvement portfolio today encompassesan employee volunteering programmefor its 6,000 strong staff and strategicgiving programmes.

The latter is particularly note-worthy. Over the years, HP Singaporehas contributed nearly $20 million inresources to enable students, teachers,community residents as well as non-profit organisations, to solve some oftheir most fundamental challenges suchas training and learning programmes.Here, the company’s philanthropy andcommunity outreach programmes havea strong educational focus.

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

to develop grid and utility technology inSingapore as part of HP’s $22 millionjoint collaboration with the InfocommDevelopment Authority over the nextthree years.

In 2003, the Hewlett PackardMobility Grant provided Nanyang Tech-nological University with $250,000 todevelop technology and provide trainingand support for a wireless mobilecampus. Last year, the Grant awardedSingapore Management University$200,000 in cash and equipment to

develop an enhanced wireless learningand teaching environment. Meanwhile, anoutreach joint venture with the People’sAssociation and community e-clubsprovides basic IT training to heartlanders.

In the past three years, HP helpedraised over $3 million for the President’sChallenge and during the SARSoutbreak, it contributed nearly $130,000in cash and equipment to Tan TockSeng and Singapore General Hospitals.

Elsewhere, the employee volun-teering programme records an average

take-up rate of 70%. Employees aregiven a day off a year to volunteer at aCAC-sanctioned charity or NPO. Thereare annual community activitiesincluding visits to homes, blood dona-tion drives and collection of clothes andfood for the underprivileged. The CACcollects nearly $400,000 annuallytowards local charities with a companymatching donation programme of up toUS$100,000 annually. To date, HP hascontributed over $8.5 million incommunity services sponsorship.

It is clear that HP’s investment inthe community is neither inconsiderablenor a token effort in an attempt to grabsome PR-generating news coverage. Yearafter year, the commitment is apparent.Indeed, the company sees little differ-ence in its business model of hardwareand the somewhat intangible qualitiesof heartware.

“We trade in the currency of knowl-edge and ideas,” says Chan, who alsomentors the CAC. This is not to saythat the process is entirely altruistic andto his credit, Chan is engagingly upfronton this, referring to the fact that thehigher the level of a community’s IT-savvyness, the better, ultimately, for thecompany’s business bottom line.

“Corporate social responsibilityshould be on the agenda of all CEOs,”he adds. “Life is about more than justworking and being successful. You haveto go beyond yourself, making a differ-ence where it counts. It makes for abetter community. Once people getengaged, the momentum gets going.”

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

W A L K T H E T A L KT A L K

Hardware+HeartwareTime and again, Hewlett-Packard combines technological hardware with

unapologetic heartware. The 2004 Corporate Citizen Award winner shows just how,‘Everything is Possible’. DAVEN WU logs on for a remarkable story.

“We trade in the currencyof knowledge and ideas. You have to gobeyond yourself, makinga difference where itcounts. It makes for abetter community.Once people get engaged,the momentum getsgoing.”


Volunteer & Philanthropy Centreconferred on the company the 2004Corporate Citizen Award on 23 Novemberat the Istana. In doing so, the selectionpanel explicitly recognised that “throughgood times and tough times, [HP’s]commitment remains unwavering. Thecompany’s strategic giving programmesseek to leverage on its core competenciesthrough long-range programmes, someof them multi-million dollar commit-

ments focused notably, on bridging thedigital divide.”

Says Mrs Tan Chee Koon, NVPC’sCEO, “HP applied its innovative use ofIT to empower communities. Thisaward recognizes its corporate citizenrole as well as its purposeful giving ofcompany time and company dollars in amost strategic and impactful way. Thecompany has kept faith with itsfounders’ vision of a company that gives

part of its wealth to every community inwhich it operates.

“I would not be surprised that HP’ssuccess as a leading global company isdue, in no small way, to this subtlypowerful corporate philosophy that seescommunity giveback as an integral partof sharing its success.”

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

<At your service:VP and MD forSingapore andSouth East AsiaSanjiv Aiyarserved food toemployees toraise funds forJunglathon (2004).>Gladiator for aday: SVP and MDfor Asia Pacificand Japan PaulChan (secondfrom left) battledit out in thename of charityfor Gladiathon(2003).

<HP employeesgave bloodduring the SARSperiod – therewas a massiveblood shortageas people wereafraid to go tohospitals.

>eClub@teckGheeput to use by the community.

>>HP volunteersrelaxing after amorning’s work.

Just to give one example of what Dr Lee Seng Gee’s work schedule islike, this interview was re-scheduled

four times and finally took place on aSunday night that had eventually turnedinto 1am on Monday.

It followed a full evening hosting a10-course dinner for a visiting Chinesegovernment delegation. The fact that Dr Lee, Chairman of the Lee Foundation,and his wife, Della, consented to aninterview at such an eccentric hour,attests to the graciousness typical of thepersonality behind, arguably, Singapore’smost generous family foundation.

The Lee Foundation was the unani-mous choice for the Special RecognitionAward at the Inaugural National Volun-teerism & Philanthropy Awards held on23 November at the Istana. Dr LeeSeng Gee, the eldest of three sons ofthe Lee Foundation’s founder, Dr LeeKong Chian, is so low-key, he has onlygiven three interviews in his 83 years.This is the third.

The Lee Foundation boasts nowebsite, and email is simply not enter-tained. Fax is the preferred communica-tion mode and its office is somewherebehind the working ranks of Lee Rubberand Lee Pineapple company staff in itsOCBC Bank premises in Chulia Street.Notorious for a polite detachment withall media, the Foundation has managedto continue its work uninterrupted since1952 with minimum hoo-ha andmaximum impact.

Major gifts in recent years madeheadlines, notably $60 million to thenew-generation National Library BoardBuilding in 2003, and the $50 milliongranted to the Singapore ManagementUniversity. Matched 3:1 by the govern-ment, the gift became the largest, one-timegift of $200 million ever given to anacademic institution anywhere.

But much of the real work of theLee Foundation is below the publicradar. Social workers have been known totap into the Foundation’s “float” fund tosupplement government welfare chequeswhen they encounter families simplyunable to survive from month to month.The small sums ranging from $200 to$400 per family are professionally andquietly processed, providing a safety netto help those in desperate straits.

Such unpublicised and consistentwork is done without song or fanfare. Itis also Dr Lee’s personal area of concern.The poor, after all, are famously invis-ible in affluent Singapore.

“It’s very bad. There is an underclasswhich most of us have no contact with.I had no contact with them until I beganmy work in the Foundation. Some fami-lies need just another $100 to $150 amonth to survive,” Dr Lee noted.

“But they may be illiterate and don’tknow how to write in, they don’t knowhow to get help. You would be surprisedhow many people are poor in Singaporeand who don’t know where they can gofor help.”

Because the Lee Foundation hasbeen around for half a century, it’s oftenthe first call for anyone needing funds.Indeed, the Foundation receives over100 requests and appeal letters a day.The task of deciding who and what togive to is a huge one made more chal-lenging by the very private nature of theFoundation and the changing needs ofmodern Singapore. Over time, decision-making styles have also changed.

“My father was quite poor when hewas young. He built up the familyfortune, so it was harder for him to partwith money. I am more free and liberalin giving than he would have been,” Dr Lee said.

“We are from different generations.I inherited the status, I’m quite used tohaving money from a fairly young age.But it’s not easy to give away money. It’s easy to throw it away, soyou have to be careful.Giving money wisely isharder than makingmoney,” he pointed out.

The Foundation wasestablished in 1952 witha capital sum of $3.5million. While his fatherfocused on “purelyhuman needs” such aseducation and socialwelfare, Dr Lee hasbroadened the givingscope of the Lee Foun-dation to include new


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

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

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

B R O U G H TTO YOU BY

areas such as the arts. It means differentassessment procedures and needsanalysis from the heart-tugging appealsof charities catering to sick children, theelderly and healthcare, for example.

As a working principle, the Founda-tion does not donate to individuals.Formal application procedures require

individual cases to work through officialagencies that will provide due diligenceand checks on genuine need.

“Life and death and education arefar easier to give to. Something like thearts is harder to decide,” Dr Leeadmitted. “I try not to make individualdecisions. I involve my Board in inter-views with applicants. And I always ask

Della for her advice,” he said.Mrs Lee’s Indonesian Chinese

grandfather and father were also philanthropists in Medanwho built schools in Indonesiaand in China. She has been

learning the workings of the Foundationfrom her husband. Dr Lee, then awidower, married Della in 1991 andmany credit Mrs Lee for the expansionof the Foundation’s giving portfolio.

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

“She must give me a good reason ifshe disagrees with my decision,” herhusband said firmly. However, disagree-ments on major gifts are almost non-existent as Board members, includingDr Lee’s two brothers, Seng Tee andSeng Wee, are involved in the final decision. “Anyway, a man must alwayslisten to his wife!” Dr Lee joked.

In honour of their 13th weddinganniversary in January last year, Dr Leegave Mrs Lee US$1 million. She imme-diately donated the money as capital for her own foundation called D S LeeFoundation. The “D”, she jokes, standsfor the French article “de” or “the”, and “S” for “small”.

“It’s ‘the small Lee Foundation’ andhopefully, one day, it can do as muchgood as the Lee Foundation. This is justa start, I can give more later,” she said.The D S Lee Foundation will providefunds for training specialist nurses,notably those for home private nursing.On the Board is Prof Tan Ser Kiat,

Group CEO of SingHealth, whowill help select the nurses. Mrs Lee, using her medicalbackground, will also beinvolved in upgrading nursingskills up to degree level forselected nurses.

After so many years ofdealing with countlessappeals, can he immedi-ately sniff a suspectrequest like a bad deal?“Not always,” he saidfrankly. “Generally, the more convincing the

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


“We’ve beencheated sometimes.But you have totake risks. If youare too rigid and too careful,you’ll never give anythingaway.”


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

“We’ve been cheated sometimes.You’ve given the money and they disap-pear, or the person who applied,resigned or moved away. Or you don’thear from them again, or they don’t usethe money the way they said theywould. But you have to take risks.”

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

“You have to use balance and judg-ment. In some cases, by the time youthink everything through and decide, it’s too late, the need for the money isno longer there.”

He cites the simple example ofstudents who are unable to take examsbecause their families failed to raise themoney for exam fees. Or urgent medicalcases referred by hospitals where slowdecisions simply result in death.

The art of giving is also the manage-ment of hard calls, grey areas and border-line cases. Precisely because humanneeds are involved, placing an appropriate

cash value on a need requires perhaps,the same skills and acumen of a bril-liant entrepreneur. This trait is arguably,very evident in the Lee family line.

Yet, Dr Lee places no pressure onhis children to get involved in the Foun-dation. “They would have to have a keyinterest in helping in the Foundation

before I ask them to come in. You mustreally have the interest for this sort ofwork,” Dr Lee emphasised.

The experience of the GreatDepression had a powerful influence on his father’s and his own mission forthe Foundation. Dr Lee recognises hischildren have grown up in a vastlydifferent era of plenty. The Foundation’sgiving values are not dissimilar to theLee family’s values of thrift, hard work and the responsibilities of wealthand privilege.

“If you are lucky enough to haveexcess wealth, there is no point justlocking up the money in the bank. Giveit away to help others who need it,” Dr Lee said.

“People usually set up family foun-dations for tax reasons. It’s not neces-sarily a bad reason, but it is not the bestreason. Family foundations result frommore excess funds than you actuallyrequire. Start from there and you have afreer hand in deciding what to do withthe money. It’s not about tax exemp-tions,” he emphasised.

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

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

“The Foundation is one part of ourorganisation, we can’t just give it toanybody. Each person has his own ideasand their own prejudices. If you allowother people to manage it, they may notdo the right thing. You should do it your-self to ensure you give wisely,” he said.

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

And hard work, so much a part ofhis father’s character, is an enduringfamily value. “My work is not so taxingthat I need holidays. Normally, I don’ttake holidays. What would you do onholiday anyway?” he asked.

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

Point taken. The interview ended at 2.30am. ✩

“People usually set upfamily foundations for tax reasons.It’s not necessarily a bad reason, but it is not the best reason… It’s not about tax exemptions.”

Dr Lee Seng Geeand his wife Della.


AD 7


AD 8


S A L T A N D P E P P E RP E P P E R

Nonprofits today operate in a verytough environment. With thecontinued retreat by govern-

ments and an increasingly demandingdonor base, the quest to secure fundingremains an ongoing battle.

The “bar” for worthy causes continuesto rise with greater transparency, global-isation and the continued growth of the nonprofit sector. The number ofplayers in this sector has also increased,heightening competition. Competition,traditionally limited to other nonprofits,now includes commercial enterpriseswith enlarged social agendas, and that isincreasingly a competitor in servicessuch as health and education, tradition-ally government funded.

Most NPOs are ill-equipped to operatein today’s increasingly difficult environ-ment. They face three key challenges:1) Ineffective governance: Often

through lack of consensus aboutmissions, poorly constituted boards,and limited performance moni-toring, NPO governance is signifi-cantly challenged. A recent McKinseysurvey of executives and directors ofnonprofit social service organisa-tions found that only 17% felt theirboards were effective.

2) Fragmentation: The nonprofit sectoris dominated by tiny institutions.Many work in isolation. Efforts areoften duplicated and the transfer ordevelopment of best practices rarelyoccurs. Their efforts remain ineffi-cient with management time typically

misallocated. Moreover, most donorsgive money earmarked for specificprogrammes and shun the long-terminvestments – such as IT systems,staff development processes, andmanagement capacity – that arerequired to invest in the organisation’sbadly needed infrastructure.

(3) Inefficient social capital market:Philanthropy is largely a one-waystreet and gifts come only after anonprofit goes out of its way, oftenat great expense. The lack of auniform standard of accounting andreporting has resulted in the socialcapital market lacking a robustinformation flow.

Donors often fend for them-selves in seeking information –most find it hard to tell if a charityasking for contributions is legitimate.Further, the allocation process isnot value driven. Donor decisionsare often based on institutionalloyalty or belief in a cause, notfinancial and organisational perform-ance, and potential social impact.

Finally, the social capital marketis neither flexible nor responsive.Contribution decisions are largelyfinal and irreversible, unlike thefor-profit market, where investorscan withdraw funds from low-returninvestments and redistribute themto higher-return investments.

To meet these challenges, NPOsmust adopt a commercial mindset:

1) Governance: To improve the gover-nance of nonprofits, their boards mustventure beyond the traditional focusof raising funds, selecting CEOs andsetting high-level policy. Our researchindicates that the best boards also

provide a clear vision, professionalexpertise, represent the interests oftheir nonprofits to community leaders,recruit new talent to the organisa-tion. They also provide the morerigorous management and perform-ance oversight that donors increas-ingly demand. Rising to this level ofperformance takes time but nailingdown these basics enable directorsto avoid wasting time and energy.

2) Funding: For the nonprofit sectorto have a greater social impact, donorsmust provide longer-term support,focusing on building capabilitiesand results. They must recognisethat improving performance costsmoney but that such investmentswill actually improve programmeoutcomes in the long run.

Donors must also more activelyencourage NPOs to consolidate andcooperate with one another. Makingthese investments requires a changein mind-set for many nonprofits andtheir executives who are reluctantto take time and money away fromprogrammes to make short-term invest-ments. They must appreciate thatinvesting in their organisations is nota “betrayal of the cause” but willactually enhance their effectiveness.

3) Overcoming inefficiencies: NPOsshould consider curing the under-lying inefficiencies of the socialcapital market by establishing “fundof funds” to maximize capital raisingefficiency. Such funds allocate assetsto high performing organisations,and provide flexibility to donors. Inaddition, NPOs need to developand enforce uniform operating andaccounting standards. ✩

MANAGING PARTNERMCKINSEY & COMPANY, SINGAPORE

MAYANK PAREKH

BY

How toThink‘‘Business’’NPOs are ill-equipped to compete in an increasingly difficult environment.

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


AD 9


‘‘Buy mattress, get free handphoneleh!” That’s the opening salespitch for one of the most

endearingly Singapore commercials stillairing on prime time TV. Endearing andperhaps, seriously askew.

We recognise with equal irritationand fondness, the national passion fordemanding a lot more than a fair price.This free gift, discount culture, this “mustget more value than what I am askedfor” expectation is pervasive and wide-spread, from nonprofits and charities toministries and government agencies.

It is with some exasperation that Iraise this issue among those working innonprofits and charities whose mandateis to negotiate donations in cash, goodsand services for good causes.

Somewhere along the line, thosewho ask seem to have developed a beliefthat it is perfectly in order to ask forand expect everything for free – in thename of charity. As the charity scenebecomes tougher, many sponsors arebeginning to choke at what is expectedof them as more and more demandingcalls are made on their purses.

National charity drives are all therage, often backed by government agen-cies and media owners. Corporates anddonors are besieged by donation calls,often without taking a breath after theirlast donation, and with every call forhelp a worthy cause.

In such an environment, the notionof “giving until it hurts” is becoming toofamiliar for many donors. Apart fromdonations and sponsorships in cash or

kind, time is also a major gift. Volunteersand voluntary work, contrary to wide-spread belief, are not “free”. It’s just thata volunteer’s time is not charged, but itstill has significant financial value – tothe one who gives it. It’s not unusual fornonprofits who accept the services ofvolunteers, to also expect their volun-teers to pay for transport, out of pocketexpenses, international calls made onbehalf of the organisation, and so on.

Most people don’t begrudge the extragive, but let’s not take unconditionallargesse for granted. The charity andnonprofit sector is already full of good-natured and not so good-natured arm-twisting. You twist my arm for this cause,I’ll twist yours for another. Very soon,this collective arm twisting is going todislocate some very reliable joints in theskeleton of significant donors. You canhear the barely stifled groans from onegolf course to the next, one charityevent to the other.

These are wobbly premises on whichto build good, fair and sustainable rela-tionships. It would seem few knowwhere to draw the line between a goodask, and a fair give.

Take for example, a proposal for thestaging of a grand charity show. Thevenue, as part of the beneficiary process,is expected to be free, or there shouldbe a huge discount, or rental shouldn’teven come up. However you start thenegotiation, it is seldom on reasonableground. After all, it’s for charity!

Arts groups and professional enter-tainers and emcees struggle with “volun-teering” their talents to grace charityevents because they are so often exploitedby nonprofits or charities who refuse toconsider any fees for their work. Volun-teers are not slaves, and professional

volunteers recruited to support someoneelse’s charity cause other than their ownpreferred cause, have a right to ask atleast for an honorarium. They do notask for market rate fees, but a token isan act of reciprocal respect from theasker to the donor.

This is fair trade and the nonprofitsector is not above practicing fair tradeprinciples in its dealings with the privatesector, or suppliers of goods, cash andservices in the name of charitable andcommunity work.

The nonprofit sector does itself nocredit and wins itself no new supportersif it insists on treating donor parties likecash dispensers to be hit until the machinebreaks down. More than any other part-nership, this is one relationship dynamicthat can only benefit from a little gracious-ness in the give and take process.

And here may be where the govern-ment and its numerous agenciesscouting around for sponsorships forcountless events and activities, mayconsider a leadership role. Premise 1:People want to give generously. Premise2: No matter what they say, donors and sponsors don’t like being forced toaccede to unreasonable demands in the name of a VVIP.

Often the pressure from the VVIP’shenchmen is heavier than the cause.What this practice means is that charitiesand nonprofits truly strapped for cash,are less likely to benefit from the freeservices they deserve. The donors arealready bleeding from stretching limiteddonation resources every which way.

There is emotional value in work,time and goods given. When people givefreely and willingly, it’s not an openopportunity for the asker to be greedy. Itleaves an unpleasant aftertaste. ✩

S A L T T A L K ST A L K S

MONICA GWEEBY

DIRECTOR, MARKETING & COMMUNITY

PARTNERSHIPS, NVPC

Giving Till It Hurts?Somewhere along the line, we’ve developed a fixed belief that it is perfectly in order

to ask for everything free – in the name of charity.

If manna droppeth from heaven,then Christine Laimer and her teamof volunteers must be the delivery

angels. Since February 2003, Food fromthe Heart (FFTH), a nonprofit organisa-tion founded by Christine Laimer andher businessman husband Henry, hasbeen distributing unwanted bread fromlocal bakeries to charities and welfarehomes around Singapore.

At last count, FFTH had 1,400active volunteers collecting food fromcontributing suppliers. They distributethem to about 95 welfare institutionssuch as nurseries, day-care centres andold folks homes.

The reach and impact of thisinspired volunteer idea is considerable,

especially given the simplicity of itsbeginnings. It all started with an articlein The Straits Times in November 2002.

“When I read about how localbakeries were dumping their unsold breadin huge quantities, I thought, why is thisbread being wasted? Surely there arepeople out there who need it? I decidedthat this was something where I couldhelp because of my background in logis-tics, and if I got the help and support ofSingaporeans,” Christine recalled.

She started the ball rolling bycontacting business associates, themedia, and bakeries. She also enlistedthe help of a lawyer friend to help sortout the legal implications. Then, sheobtained a list of welfare homes andmarked out the most needy ones asbeneficiaries. She put the word out thatshe needed help for the cause.

And the country responded. Singa-poreans came forward in overwhelmingnumbers. “In the first few days when we started, I got about 180 calls a day.My baby was eight months old, I had no maid and my phone was ringingconstantly!” she said incredulously. “I

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

The volunteers came from all walks of life. They delivered bread bycar, van, taxi, and even by scooter!Managers, freelance writers, CEOs,housewives, pilots, and students – theyall came. And still do.

The Laimers went through a steeplearning curve. They invested over$70,000 of their own money into theventure, and struggled to find the$250,000 FFTH needed to sustain itselfon a continuing basis. They almost hadto cease operations. Timely fundingarrived from the President’s Challenge,NVPC’s New Initiative Grant and astable of loyal corporate supporters.Operating costs still remain a challenge.The Laimers offer an unusual andinspiring story of expatriate commit-ment to the community of Singaporethey have lived in for seven years.

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


Bread to WinIt began with shock at how much food was wasted in Singapore daily, and it took two Austrians

to deliver food from the heart to Singapore’s needy. Today, Food From The Heart is so much more than just a bread line. JOAN HO breaks bread with founders Christine and Henry Laimer.

N E W S A L TS A L T

“Of course I still have tooversee our business.We have to eat! Or elsewe have to eat thebread we collect!”Henry Laimer

(L) Baked goods: FFTH volunteers show off their collection. (C) Door-to-door: A grateful recipient of FFTH’s Food Goodie Bags delivery service.(R) One of FFTH’s latest initiatives is Toys From The Heart, a festive season project that distributes toys to needy children.


impressed at how Singaporeans haveresponded, with everyone willing to gothat extra mile.”

She thinks Europe’s welfare systemtakes care of the needy so volunteerismis less developed. “This bread collectionscheme also wouldn’t work in Europebecause the consumer behaviour thereis different. In Singapore, bakeries bakeuntil closing time as people like to seethe shelves full of bread, so there are alot of leftovers. In Europe, bakeriesclose at 6pm and bakers don’t bother tobake bread right to the last minute,”Christine noted.

Apart from bread, FFTH has diver-sified its operations and now alsodistributes school assessment books andnon-perishable food items packed intogoodie bags for needy families.

“We haven’t been sitting on ourlaurels. We’re targeting food industriesand manufacturers to donate their food. Recently, we also succeeded inrecruiting hotels such as the GrandHyatt, Shangri-La, Ritz-Carlton and the Marriott to our cause.”

Christine Laimer may be the mostvisible spokesperson for FFTH, but shereadily admits that were it not for thesupport of her husband Henry – whoruns their logistics-related business –she couldn’t have started, let alonecontinue operating, FFTH.

“He comes to the important meet-ings, especially the ones where theclients are a bit more conservative andprefer to see a man!”

The demands of FFTH consumemuch of Christine’s waking day. Sheestimates she spends around eight to 10 hours daily coordinating FFTH activ-ities from its United Square office andattending meetings.

What new targets has she set forherself? “More sleep,” she joked. “Iwould also like to spend more qualitytime with my daughter. It is difficult. I feel constantly guilty not spendingenough time with her. On the otherhand, this is also a very fulfilling andexciting time for me as it is in my hands to help somebody.”

Nights are reserved for her youngdaughter and her husband, and the coupleselect evening engagements carefully.“We also try to bring our daughter alongto functions when it’s appropriate to doso!” Christine laughed.

Due to her FFTH commitments,Christine has had little time for thebusiness, where she is in charge of finan-cial and administrative matters. “I’llhave to look for another person who willdo the job for Christine,” joked Henry.

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

“We’ve put in significant amounts

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

Husband and wife are equallypassionate about FFTH. “It is always on our minds. That’s all we talk aboutday in and day out. It never stops!”Christine exclaimed. The Laimers havefaced their own fair share of detractors,especially in their goal to run FFTH like a business enterprise.

“Some people said it’s unnecessaryto waste money hiring permanent staff and pay them market rates, butthat is just not doable. If you don’t have good people, it’s not efficient. Weare bringing in business principles torun FFTH. We have shown resultsthrough our hard work and our detrac-tors are now our strongest supporters,”she noted.

Has the fact that they are expatriatesever hampered their charitable efforts?Far from it. “Many Singaporeans havecome up to say that it’s they who shouldbe doing this and not us as we are ang mohs. So we are banking on theguilt factor!” she grinned.

“Singapore has become our secondhome. We’re happy to give somethingback.”

And what goes around, comes around.On 23 November 2004, Food From TheHeart won the New Nonprofit InitiativeAward at the National Volunteerism &Philanthropy Awards.

“Food From The Heart was wonder-fully innovative in its simplicity. Thelogistical challenges were enormous,and we were impressed by the way theyplanned their operations and mobilisedlarge numbers of volunteers to takepart,” said Dr Tan Chi Chiu, thechairman for the New Nonprofit Initia-tive Award Assessor Panel.

Remarked Christine, “We weresurprised because we are very young.I’m very happy and I think this award ismost important for the volunteers asthis is recognition of their efforts. Thisalso shows the appreciation of Singa-poreans for our efforts which have notbeen spent in vain.” ✩

“Some people said it’sunnecessary to wastemoney hiring permanentstaff and pay themmarket rates, but that isjust not doable. If youdon’t have good people,it’s not efficient.”Christine Laimer

Fast facts on Food From the Heart:

Participating bakeries 117

Beneficiary homes 95

Self-collection centres 6

Volunteers in database 2,000

Collection routes 192

Active volunteers 1,400

Volunteers deployed in a day 200

Individuals benefiting from scheme:

10,000 (including 400 families)

Donations collected in 2003

(including bread, non-perishable

food items, toiletries):

Approx $2.4 million

Bread collected monthly:

20,000-22,000 kg

(equivalent to about 430 NTUC

trolleys filled with bread)

EAT YOUR HEART OUT

There was glitter and glamour in equal measure

as Singapore’s high-society gathered to celebrate

Sincere Watch’s Golden Jubilee. 650 guests

feasted on a sumptuous dinner prepared by five

award-winning chefs including Sydney’s cele-

brated Tetsuya Wakuda.

Watched on by Guest-of-Honour, President

S R Nathan, 25 limited edition watches were

auctioned off. Over $1 million was raised, with all

proceeds and donations from the evening going

to The Tent, Sincere Watch’s adopted charity.

It was rush hour of a different kind. Over 2,000 corporate big-shots and CEOs raced 2.8 km togged up

in their sporting best at the Singapore Exchange’s first Bull Run – a charity event that raised $2 million

for the Community Chest, Autism Association (Singapore) and the ST School Pocket Money Fund.

Flagging off the runners was Guest-of-Honour, Ms Ho Ching, Executive Director and Chief Executive of

Temasek Holdings. On the women’s side, first across the finish line was Ms Trina Soh from the Ministry of

Health and on the men’s, Mr Chris Flanagan of Credit Suisse First Boston.


SCENE&SEEN

Tee Time7 October 2004, Great Eastern Annual Charity Golf Challenge, Tanah Merah Country Club

166 golfers descended on the

greens of Tanah Merah Country

Club to tee-off for a good cause

– GoldenCare, a Community

Chest project supported by

insurance giant Great Eastern.

In all, $220,000 was raised at

Great Eastern’s fourth annual

charity golf challenge for

AWWA Community Home for

Senior Citizens, SAGE Coun-

selling Centre, SILRA Home,

SWAMI Home Help Services

and TOUCH Home Care.

President S R Nathan was the

Guest-of-Honour.

Watchand Wear9 November 2004, Sincere Watch Golden Jubilee, Ritz-Carlton Millenia

Setting the Pace22 October 2004, Inaugural Bull Run, Central Business District

Pho

to c

ou

rtes

y o

f SPH

– T

he B

usin

ess T

imes

No bull.

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

Chefs Tetsuya Wakuda (second from left) and hismerry chefs.

All watched up.Above: JimmyKoh (L) and Dr Lee Suan Yew.

Left: Eddy Koh(L) and Tina Tan-Leo.


Guest-of-Honour Dr Vivian Balakrishnan,Acting Minister forCommunity Develop-ment, Youth and Sportswith the paralympicathletes.

Pooling Resources12 October 2004, Paralympics Appreciation Dinner, The Grassroots Club

Paralympian swimmer Theresa Tan slipped off her goggles at an appreciation

dinner held in honour of the paralympic athletes. The O-Level student

clocked nine personal bests in five events in the pool. Her efforts earned her a

certificate of participation and a commemorative medal from the International

Paralympic Committee.

Kudos toVolunteers2 October 2004,Institute of Mental Health

57 dedicated Lions Befrienders were honoured for their work with the elderly at

the annual organisation’s Appreciation and Award Presentation Ceremony. This

year’s theme ‘Colours of Life’ reflected the ‘colour’ that each of the 1,200

volunteer befrienders brings to the lives of the 4,000-plus elderly beneficiaries.

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

Befriending Programme.

LionHearted29 October 2004, Lions Befrienders Appreciation and Award Presentation Ceremony, Overseas Union House

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

The Singapore Sports Council paid tribute to the contributions and

indomitable spirits of 53 sports advocates, recognising their indi-

vidual and collective commitment to sports and the example they

set in leading more active lifestyles. The two oldest recipients of

the awards were 107-year old Teresa Hsu, founder of the Home for

the Aged Sick (she holds talks on healthy living and yoga), and

71-year old Tan Howe Liang, Singapore’s only Olympic medallist.

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

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

Sporting Line Up29 October 2004, Sporting Singapore Inspiration Awards,InterContinental Singapore

To commemorate World Mental Health Day

on 10 October 2004, a Volunteer’s Day

celebration was held on 2 October 2004 for

Institute of Mental Health (IMH) volunteers.

Guest speaker Dr Ang Yong Guan, a

consultant psychiatrist,“entertained” the

audience with his comical yet enlightening

presentation “Volunteering in Mental

Health”. Long service awards and

certificates of appreciation were also

presented to the volunteers by Guest-of-

Honour, Mrs Tan Chee Koon, Chief Executive

Officer of NVPC, and Mr Leong Yew Meng,

Chief Executive Officer of IMH.


THE INAUGURAL NATIONAL VOLUNTEERISM & PHILANTHROPY AWARDSNVPC’s pinnacle awards were presented at the Istana by President S R Nathan.The 2004 Awards marked NVPC’s wider mission as it positions both volunteerism and philanthropy on the national agenda.

he chandeliers sparkled and the ladies glittered in their

gowns as the evening gathered guests and friends

from all sectors of the community of volunteers,

donors and nonprofits. The occasion was the Inaugural

National Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards in the grand rooms

of the Istana on 23 November.

The first National Volunteerism Awards were presented in 2001

by the National Volunteer Centre. The new Awards provide a

national platform to recognise excellence benchmarks in nonprofit,

corporate, group and individual community contributions as well as

best practices in philanthropy incorporating donor management

and good governance.

It was an evening of remembrances and growth, of those recently

passed, of deeds accomplished, goals achieved and the challenges

that remain to be tackled. The Guest-of-Honour was President S R

Nathan, accompanied by Mrs Nathan and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan,

Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, and

Mrs Balakrishnan.

In his welcome address, Mr Willie Cheng, Chairman of NVPC,

took a moment to remember the late Diana Young, CEO of Mil-Com

Aerospace Group, a panelist for the New Nonprofit Initiative Award,

and a long-time supporter of NVPC. Mr Cheng hailed Ms Young as

“a fine example of giving”.

From the beautiful table settings and the food and beverage

coordination by Violet Oon, Singapore’s leading food ambassador,

to the table gifts of incredibly delicate “Giving Trees” created by

Mr Christopher Pereira, the entire evening was a community project

involving a host of community partners who contributed their

valuable time, talents and skills towards making the occasion a

memorable one.

In the spirit of the evening’s theme,“Community Roots”,

pastry chefs from Conrad Centennial, Goodwood Park Hotel, Grand

Copthorne Waterfront, Pan Pacific, Raffles The Plaza and Sheraton

Towers created unique Community Cakes expressing their

interpretation of the theme. Award winners and President Nathan

received a cake each.

Disparate yet harmonious elements – CEOs and philanthropists,

an army of volunteers, donors, captains of industry, and ordinary

folk doing extraordinary deeds on a daily basis – bonded together

in clear testimony that this community, at least, has deep roots.

★ T

Pastry chefs from the SCA partneredwith the Association for Persons withSpecial Needs (APSN) to makedelightful cupcakes that were includedas table gifts for guests.

Singer and composer Mr Clement Chow,serenaded with a medleyof ballads including What a Wonderful Worldand The Way We Were.A refreshing jazzensemble featuring a lady saxophonist (left)and Asian drum percussionists roundedup the experience.

Under the assuredspatula of Mr OttoWeibel, Director ofKitchens at SwissotelThe Stamford andPresident of the Singapore Chefs Association (SCA),volunteer chefswhipped up a delicious three-coursedinner that won Singapore severalmedals at the recentInternational CulinaryOlympics 2004 inGermany.

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


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

(L-R) Lee Kim Siang (Thye Hua Kwan MoralSociety), Christopher Yeow (Very Special ArtsSingapore) and Koh Cher Siang (IRAS).

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

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

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

In conversation: (L-R) Lee Suan Hiang (NationalArts Council), Pek Beng Choon (Principal PrivateSecretary to the President), Tan Boon Huat(People’s Association) and Noel Hon (SingaporeKindness Movement).

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

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

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THE WINNERS GALLERYNONPROFIT ORGANISATION

AWARD

Singapore Children’s Society

NEW NONPROFIT INITIATIVE AWARD

Food from the Heart

INNOVATIVE FUNDRAISING INITIATIVE AWARD

The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund

CORPORATE CITIZEN AWARD

Hewlett-Packard Singapore

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

The Lee Foundation

This year’s winners received a beautiful glass sculpture trophy by

glass artist Ms B Jane Cowie.


8 January 2005Ling Kwang Youth Centre Flag DayTime: 10am – 8pmVenue: MRT stations island-wide

Ling Kwang Youth Centre

(LKYC) is looking for 2,000 volun-

teers to sell flags and 50 volunteers

to supervise tin distribution centres

located at various MRT stations

for its flag day to raise funds for

the operation of LKYC. A voluntary

welfare organisation, LKYC reaches

out to youths, especially youths-

at-risk, through various means such

as its Information Technology

Hub, drop-in centre, adventure

programmes, and low-cost tuition

centres. Volunteer flag sellers have

to be at least 14 years old; tin

distribution supervisors at least

21 years old.

To volunteer, please contact

Mr Bernard Oh at 65547100 or email

[email protected].

16 January 2005My ‘Huay’ Lady: The MusicalTime: 2pm and 7pmVenue: DBS Arts Centre,20 Merbau Road

Based on George Bernard

Shaw’s 1913 play Pygmalion which

was adapted into the well-loved

musical My Fair Lady, My ‘Huay’ Lady:

The Musical is the brainchild of

Cassandra Lee (who is also the

creator and lead actress). Together

with her group of dedicated friends,

Cassandra is putting on this locally

flavoured not-for-profit musical

production to help raise funds for

the Canossaville Home and their

programmes. Details of the Home’s

programmes and the musical can

be found at www.MyHuayLady.com.

Tickets are priced at $28 and

$38 each. For bookings, please

contact Ms Vivien Lim at 96927623 or

email [email protected].

4 February 2005 When Caring Doesn’t HelpAnymoreTime: 6.30-8.30pmVenue: Patient Care ServicesLobby, Level 2, National CancerCentre, 11 Hospital Drive

Organised by the National

Cancer Centre, this workshop is

aimed at caregivers and family

members of cancer patients. Caring

can appear to be controlling to

some cancer patients, and yet for

others, no amount of care is

enough. What does caring really

entail? Find out from other care-

givers who will be sharing their own

experiences of caring for someone

with cancer at this workshop.

To register, please call the

Cancer Helpline at 62255655 during

office hours.

15 February 2005International ChildhoodCancer Day

According to statistics from

the International Confederation

of Childhood Cancer Parent

Organisations (ICCCPO), over

250,000 children in the world get

cancer each year. With proper

diagnosis and treatment, 70 per

cent survive, and over 100,000

deaths can be prevented each

year with equal access to diagnosis

and treatment. Commemorated

by 52 countries in 2004 (including

Singapore), International

Childhood Cancer Day focuses

attention on the plight of child

cancer sufferers around the world,

aided by support from celebrities

such as opera great Jose Carreras,

himself a cancer survivor. The

Children’s Cancer Foundation in

Singapore will be planning various

activities for the day, so do your bit

to support the fight to eradicate

the disease.

For details of activities, please

contact Children’s Cancer

Foundation at 68356465 or log onto

www.ccf.org.sg.

19 February 2005“Out Of Africa” Charity Dinner& Dance – Riding For TheDisabled (RDA)Time: 7.30pm till late Venue: RDA Centre,5 Jalan Mashhor (off Andrew/Thomson Road)

Featuring an international

gourmet menu by Goodwood Park

Hotel,“live” entertainment, an

African drum welcome and free

flow of wine, beer and refresh-

ments, RDA’s annual charity dinner

and dance is aptly titled “Out Of

Africa”. Charity tables are available at

$5,000, $3,500 and $2,000 (for

tables of 10) and individual tickets

at $175 each ($150 for RDA

members). All proceeds go to the

RDA Centre to fund its free thera-

peutic horse riding lessons for

adults and children with disabilities.

Dress code for the evening is “On

Safari” of course.

For tickets, please call RDA at

62500176.

7-11 March 2005Susan Ellis Seminar & Workshop

Renowned volunteer manage-

ment expert Susan Ellis will be in

Singapore to conduct a series of

seminars and workshops from 7-11

March 2005. A highly sought after

international speaker for volunteer

management, she is the president

of Energize, Inc., an international

training, consulting and publishing

firm specialising in volunteerism.

Author of 11 books on volunteerism

and numerous articles, Susan is also

co-publisher of the international

online journal, e-Volunteerism

(www.e-volunteerism.com). Based

in the USA, this is a rare opportunity

to catch Susan in action and is not

to be missed!

Details on the seminar and

workshop will be available soon. Log

onto www.nvpc.org.sg for updates.

CALENDARD A T E S T O N O T E

February/March 2005

Romancing for a LifetimeA weekend escapade for marriedcouples seeking to build strongmarriages organised by TOUCHCommunity Services, this one-and-a-half day stay-in event is filledwith learning, loving, laughter andeven a marriage vows renewalceremony! The cost is $280 percouple inclusive of hotel stay andmeals. For more information or to

register, please call 63770122.

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“Stepping up public education and increasingpublic awareness of responsible pet ownership isthe way forward, if we ever hope to effectivelycontain the growing number of strays on our streetswithout overly relying on culling.”Lim Swee SayMinister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for National Development

“To sit with a dog on a hillsideon a glorious afternoon is tobe back in Eden, wheredoing nothing was not boring– it was peace.” Milan Kundera, Czech novelist


A D A S H O F S A L TD A S H

“I have always believedthat one should never beafraid to pursue whatone is most passionateabout in life. This issomething that I wouldlike to share with theyouth of today.”Eunice Olsen, Nominated MP and NVPC’s Youth Volunteerism Ambassador

“[The perception of volunteerism] should be expandedto activism – feeling that you have a stake in yourneighbourhood, your school, your home… so then, howdo you establish that stake?”Suzaina Abdul Kadir, Co-Chairman, North-East Youth Parliament

“If you have passion in you, it keeps you young.”Dr Anamah Tan, lawyer, women’s rights champion and winner of NTUC FairPrice’s Active Senior Citizen of the Year 2004

“One dog is one life, they havethe right to live.”Anonymous donor by email to Action for Singapore Dogs donating$500 as a reward to find those responsible for the poisoning of threestray dogs that died in Clementi in October 2004

“At this point, animals haveto be used for scientificpurposes, that’s a given…What we have tried to do isto ensure they are usedhumanely.”Professor Bernard Tan, Head of the NationalAdvisory Committee for Laboratory AnimalResearch on new guidelines on the care and useof animals for scientific purposes in teaching,filed trials and research

“If people keep abandoning theirpets, and we keep picking them up,there will be no end to theproblem.”Goh Shih Yong, Manager of Corporate Communications,Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority

“Animals are such agreeable friends – theyask no questions, theypass no criticisms.”George Eliot, English novelist

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