CapitaLand pledges S$200,000 to President’s Challenge 2020 to support children and youth with special needs
Rallies community to make 8,000 mask pouches under #CareKitWithLove
Singapore, 17 September 2020 – CapitaLand, through its philanthropic arm CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF), has pledged S$200,0001 to President’s Challenge 2020 as it rallies the community to make 8,000 mask pouches under #CareKitWithLove to support children and youth with special needs as well as frontline staff from special education schools amid COVID-19. The charities identified by President’s Challenge to receive the mask pouches are Association for Persons with Special Needs, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore, Lighthouse School, Metta Welfare Association, Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore and Rainbow Centre Singapore.
In addition, 2,000 mask pouches produced by Arts@Metta, a programme under Metta Welfare Association that promotes employment and independence of special needs alumni from the Metta School, will be available for sale to the public in October 2020 and CHF will pledge S$20 for each item sold. Proceeds from the sale will go to Arts@Metta and CHF’s donation will go to President’s Challenge 2020.
Mr Tan Seng Chai, Chief Corporate and People Officer for CapitaLand Group and Executive Director of CapitaLand Hope Foundation, said: “As a socially responsible company, CapitaLand has been contributing to the communities we operate in globally. We were swift to galvanise our resources and staff volunteers to render assistance to the vulnerable communities in Singapore from the onset of COVID-19, and we are continuing our efforts as the situation gradually improves. The Group’s support for children and youth with special needs through President’s Challenge reinforces our commitment to play our part in building a caring and inclusive society.”
Mr Tan added: “Our philanthropic arm, CapitaLand Hope Foundation, has contributed more than S$3 million over 13 years to President’s Challenge to benefit over 40 charities that support the needs of vulnerable children and elderly in Singapore. Besides tapping on our network of partners, tenants, customers and staff to join in our philanthropic efforts, we are reaching out to our community to contribute their time and skills through #CareKitWithLove. By bringing people together through a common cause of caring for the underprivileged, we aim to help build a stronger and more united Singapore.”
#CareKitWithLove: How the community can volunteer
The #CareKitWithLove initiative is calling for volunteers to prepare and pack sewing materials, as well as conduct virtual workshops for students with special needs to personalise their mask pouches, with training provided by charity organisation Heartware Network.
Video tutorial on sewing the mask pouches
Volunteers who have sewing skills and a sewing machine at home can register for a kit which includes materials for making 50 mask pouches and a QR code that links to an e-guide and video tutorial. The kit can be collected from Metta Welfare Association or the Click + Collect service at Basement 2 of CapitaLand’s Funan, from now till 15 October 2020. The completed mask pouches can be deposited at Metta Welfare Association or Funan’s Concierge by 29 October 2020. Volunteers without a sewing machine can book a slot to make mask pouches at BERNINA (Singapore), a Swiss sewing concept store at Funan, or at Metta Welfare Association. Interested volunteers can register at: www.capitaland.com/carekitwithlove
In June 2020, CapitaLand partnered with Yellow Ribbon Singapore to make over 1,400 mask pouches for children with special needs from Rainbow Centre Singapore. CapitaLand staff volunteers and Rainbow Centre staff co-designed the mask pouch and a guide to help teachers explain the use of the pouch, encourage the children to wear face masks and maintain proper hygiene. Virtual sessions were also conducted to demonstrate how to use the mask pouch and guide students to personalise them.
In June 2020, CapitaLand partnered with Yellow Ribbon Singapore to make over 1,400 mask pouches for children with special needs from Rainbow Centre Singapore
Ms Helen Lui, Vice-Principal, Rainbow Centre Singapore, Margaret Drive School said: “Most of our students have challenges with organising their materials and activities. The mask pouches definitely came in handy to help them learn how to store their new and used masks appropriately. It is also a great resource for our teachers and parents as they have a standardised mask pouch to help the students get used to this new routine.”
To date, CapitaLand has pledged over S$2.2 million to support underprivileged children, vulnerable elderly, healthcare workers and community care staff impacted by COVID-19 in Singapore. CapitaLand has also mobilised close to 900 staff volunteers to support the vulnerable communities, from delivering meals and conducting virtual engagement sessions with the elderly to distribution of care kits and hand sanitisers.
Note:
1 CHF will pledge S$20 to President's Challenge for every mask pouch made or sold, up to S$200,000.
Please refer to Annex A for the profiles of #CareKitWithLove’s key partners, Annex B for the partners’ quotes, and Annex C for the key design features of the mask pouches that the charities will receive.