Charity concert supported by CapitaLand Hope Foundation raises S$200,000 for President’s Challenge 2014
Singapore, 12 August 2014 – CapitaLand Limited’s philanthropic arm, CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF), is the Presenting Charity Sponsor of this evening’s My Singapore 2014: ‘Moments of Love’ National Day Charity Fund Raising Concert in support of President’s Challenge 2014. This is the second year that CHF is supporting this meaningful effort.
CHF pledged to match dollar-for-dollar the proceeds raised from the concert. With a total of S$100,000 raised and CHF’s pledge, a S$200,000 cheque donation will be presented by Mr James Koh Cher Siang, Director of CapitaLand Hope Foundation, to His Excellency Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, President of the Republic of Singapore, at the concert. The donation will go towards children’s charities under President’s Challenge 2014.
Started in 2011, the ‘My Singapore Project’ led and founded by Singaporean singersongwriter Lorraine Tan, aims to inspire and bring people together to contribute to the less fortunate through music and the arts. Every year, an original theme song and music video is produced to celebrate National Day. This year’s theme song, “Moments of Love” will be performed ‘live’ by Lorraine at this evening’s concert.
CHF has supported President’s Challenge since 2008. To date, the Foundation has donated more than S$1.4 million to support 25 children charities in Singapore through the President’s Challenge. Since 2005, CHF has donated more than S$23 million for the education, healthcare and shelter needs of underprivileged children in Singapore and overseas.
Beyond donations, CHF will also be giving two CapitaKids from China, whom it has been supporting under the CapitaKids Programme @ Arts Scheme since 2012, a memorable performance opportunity at the concert. Fifteen-year-old Guo PingYan will put up a Beijing opera performance together with Zhou Fu Yi, a student from Dunman High School; while 16-year-old Yang JinFu will perform a cultural dance. In addition, CapitaLand staff volunteers will also put up a ‘live’ band performance to play their part for charity.
Mr Lim Ming Yan, President & Group CEO of CapitaLand Limited, said: “CapitaLand is pleased to be the Presenting Charity Sponsor of the My Singapore 2014: ‘Moments of Love’ National Day Charity Fund Raising Concert. This concert, in celebration of Singapore’s 49th National Day, serves as a timely affirmation of our commitment to contribute towards young Singaporeans in need. This is in line with our credo of ‘Building People. Building Communities.’.”
He added: “We are also proud to introduce two CapitaKids beneficiaries from China, who have demonstrated great talent and determination by blossoming into promising young artists. They attest to our belief that each child has within them the potential for greatness, which if nurtured and built upon, can bring significant value to future societies.”
CapitaKid Guo PingYan said: “I would like to say a big ‘Thank You’ to CapitaLand for giving me this opportunity to perform in Singapore. This is my first trip overseas and an exciting opportunity for me to see the world outside China. To me, this is not a vacation but a journey of discovery and learning. I am certain this experience will be a memorable and enriching one.”
CapitaKid Yang JinFu said: “This is the first time I have been given an opportunity to perform overseas. It is also my first cultural exchange with a foreign student. I am extremely thrilled and excited to be performing in Singapore before such an important audience. I am very much looking forward to experiencing and understanding the sights, sounds and culture of Singapore; as well as making friends with people who are passionate about Beijing opera like me.”
Ms Crystal Deng, a CapitaLand staff volunteer who will be fronting a ‘live’ band performance at the concert, said: “I am extremely excited to be part of the charity concert. I would like to thank CapitaLand Hope Foundation for giving me the rare opportunity to be part of this unique and meaningful event. Lending a helping hand to the less fortunate has always been my passion and I look forward to participate in more staff volunteering activities organised by CapitaLand.”
Mr Ali Omar, another CapitaLand staff volunteer who will be playing the guitar in the band, said: “The opportunity to perform at the charity concert gives me a strong sense of satisfaction as it marries music and doing something good for others, the two things I am passionate about. I am proud to be part of this special event.”
In conjunction with CHF’s support of the concert for the President’s Challenge, the Foundation will bring 40 children beneficiaries from Beyond Social Services on a P.E.E.K (Providing Educational Exposure for Kids) discovery trail at The Star Vista today. They will be given a rare glimpse into behind-the-scene operations of the property and learn about the green features of Singapore’s first naturally cooled shopping mall.
Please refer to the Annex for more information on the CapitaKids Programme.
ANNEX
About CapitaKids
The CapitaKids Programme provides long-term financial support to promising underprivileged children beyond their primary school education, with the objective of tracking their growth and development. This helps to ensure that their access to education will not be compromised by their disadvantaged family background.
In Singapore, CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF) has been supporting the educational needs of 10 underprivileged children, known as CapitaKids, in a 10-year programme since 2012. This programme is an initiative administered by the Community Foundation of Singapore, with "Help Every Lone Parent Family Service Centre" (HELP FSC) appointed as the voluntary welfare organisation to facilitate the programme. The 10 CapitaKids, aged seven to 12, are children from single-parent families supported by HELP FSC. In order to know the CapitaKids better, CapitaLand staff volunteer to be CapitaKids mentors to meet and interact with them regularly.
The CapitaKids Programme in China shares the same aim of realising the full potential of outstanding and gifted underprivileged students from CapitaLand Hope Schools.
Under the CapitaKids Programme @ Arts Scheme started in partnership with a top Chinese arts academy, selected artistically-gifted Grade 5 & 6 underprivileged students from CapitaLand Hope Schools receive CHF’s support from junior high school to tertiary level education. The objective is to provide the students with an opportunity to realise their full artistic potential, as well as contribute to the preservation of traditional Chinese culture and heritage.
The CapitaKids Programme @ Education Bursary Scheme, implemented in partnership with the China Youth Development Foundation, provides financial assistance for academically-gifted Grade 5 & 6 underprivileged students from CapitaLand Hope Schools to complete to their senior high school education.
Guo Pingyan, 15 and Yang Jinfu, 16, were the first batch of beneficiaries selected under the CapitaKids Programme @ Arts Scheme to enroll in The Middle School Affiliated To the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts in 2012 after auditions in Inner Mongolia, Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces were held. The two Hani-ethnic students from CapitaLand Huangmaoling Hope School in Yunnan Province, China, are presently pursuing arts education in Cultural Dance and Beijing Opera. CHF will fund their education from junior and senior high schools and through their university education.
In 2014, four more CapitaKids from Guangdong Province have been identified and will embark on their arts education with Guangdong Dance and Drama College.