CapitaLand pledges S$300,000 to Community Chest’s The Courage Fund to lead in supporting the Singapore community affected by COVID-19
Singapore, 13 February 2020 – CapitaLand, through its philanthropic arm, CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF) has pledged S$300,000 to the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) and Community Chest, contributing to The Courage Fund[1] to support the vulnerable who are impacted by COVID-19 in Singapore. CapitaLand is the first and largest corporate donor to the renewed fund. CapitaLand employees in Singapore will also be encouraged to donate to the fund.
Announced yesterday by the Minister for Social and Family Development, Mr Desmond Lee, The Courage Fund will assist patients, healthcare workers and members of the community who need support. The Courage Fund will also be an avenue for members of the public to help the vulnerable and those impacted. The NCSS and Community Chest will facilitate and administer the fund.
Beyond monetary donations, CHF will also work with NCSS and Community Chest to identify opportunities for CapitaLand staff volunteers to further contribute their time and support these vulnerable groups.
Mr Tan Seng Chai, Chief Corporate & People Officer for CapitaLand Group and Executive Director of CapitaLand Hope Foundation, said: “As a homegrown company and a socially responsible corporate citizen, CapitaLand is taking the lead to support this effort to fight against COVID-19. We hope more corporates will also be encouraged to come forward and strengthen our collective support for the community. We need to respond effectively and swiftly, and with compassion to ensure the vulnerable groups in Singapore continue to receive the required assistance. Guided by our credo, ‘Building People. Building Communities.’, CapitaLand’s dedication towards building a more caring and inclusive community remains unwavering. We stand by our efforts to help those affected by COVID-19 in Singapore.”
As a homegrown company and a socially responsible corporate citizen, CapitaLand is taking the lead to support this effort to fight against COVID-19. We hope more corporates will also be encouraged to come forward and strengthen our collective support for the community.
CapitaLand’s medical and healthcare relief efforts in China
CapitaLand’s pledge to The Courage Fund complements the Group’s assistance to the medical and healthcare relief efforts to fight against COVID-19 in China. Since the RMB10 million healthcare fund by CHF was set up on 27 January 2020, the fund has dispatched 40,000 surgical masks, 500 barrels of disinfectant, and 750 cartons containing 375,000 pairs of medical gloves to five hospitals in Wuhan, China.
Most recently, on 11 February 2020, 50 medical ventilators from Tianjin, China, were sent to Wuhan Union Hospital, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, and the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University. The medical ventilators offer respiratory support for affected patients.
CapitaLand’s RMB10 million healthcare fund is administered by the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation and is under the guidance of China’s National Health Commission and relevant authorities in Hubei Province. The first phase of the healthcare fund will be disbursed to support immediate intervention such as the procurement of critical medical supplies for hospitals. Post-emergency, the fund will support nationwide healthcare and rehabilitation efforts.
[1] The Courage Fund was first set up in 2003 as a fund-raising effort to provide relief to SARS victims and healthcare workers.
