CapitaLand’s call to support volunteerism receives overwhelming response with over 200,000 volunteer hours pledged towards its #100KHopeHours initiative
#100KHopeHours earns S$1.3 million donation from CapitaLand Hope Foundation to benefit children’s charities
Singapore, 3 October 2015 – CapitaLand’s year-long #100KHopeHours global volunteer initiative has received overwhelming support from the community, garnering over 200,000 pledged volunteer hours surpassing its 2015 target ahead of schedule. This is also more than double the target of 100,000 pledged volunteer hours set by CapitaLand in March to mark its philanthropic arm CapitaLand Hope Foundation’s (CHF) 10th anniversary this year.
In light of this achievement, CapitaLand announced today at the finale of its #100KHopeHours Online to Offline (O2O) Challenge, that it will donate S$300,000 to President’s Challenge (PC) 2015. This is in addition to the S$1 million donation it had earlier committed to benefit underprivileged children in Asia, under the #100KHopeHours global volunteer initiative.
Despite the cancellation of this morning’s experiential heritage trail due to health and safety concerns over the haze, CapitaLand kept the intent of the Challenge by bringing key activities indoors. Conceived as a special SG50 edition of the annual CapitaLand Volunteer Day, CapitaLand staff, their families and friends, business associates and the public gathered at Raffles City Singapore for the finale of the Challenge to show their unwavering support for volunteerism.
Participants went through three experiential activities – ‘Sign to Me’, ‘Guide Me’ and ‘Read with Me’ – at the indoor CapitaLand Carnival @ Raffles City Singapore, where they had to learn sign language, walk blindfolded and decipher messages in dyslexic font to experience and understand some of the hardships faced by the deaf and hard of hearing, visually impaired and dyslexic respectively in the community. An SG50 trivia activity that was meant to take place at eight heritage sites across central Singapore during the trail was also brought to the Carnival, where participants were tested on their knowledge of the sites’ historic past. Limited edition CapitaLand SG50 collectibles were given to those who scanned QR codes at the Carnival and answered the trivia questions correctly.
Topping off the Carnival of food, fun and games was a cheque presentation to President’s Challenge 2015. Guest-of-Honour Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, President of the Republic of Singapore, received the S$300,000 cheque donation from Mr Lim Ming Yan, President & Group CEO, CapitaLand Limited and Director, CapitaLand Hope Foundation. Nine 2 companies and non-profit organisations were also recognised as Champions of Volunteerism for their contributions in pledged volunteer hours.
President Tony Tan Keng Yam said: “I was delighted to join in the CapitaLand #100KHopeHours Challenge this morning. Besides earning donations for charities, this event provides a platform for CapitaLand’s corporate partners, their staff and families, and the community to bond with one another. This shows that doing charity can be fun too! It is also a wonderful example of how corporates play an important role in contributing towards the building of a cohesive and caring society. On behalf of the beneficiaries of President’s Challenge, I thank CapitaLand for their strong and steadfast support.”
Mr S R Nathan, Chairman of CapitaLand Hope Foundation, said: “CapitaLand Hope Foundation has been a long-term supporter of President’s Challenge, having donated S$1.7 million since 2008 to benefit underprivileged children under its care. Beyond donations, we also advocate volunteerism. CHF marked its 10th anniversary this year with the start of the #100KHopeHours global volunteer initiative in March. With a target to garner 100,000 pledged volunteer hours, #100KHopeHours signified CapitaLand’s focus on rallying people within and beyond the Group to support volunteerism. CHF has committed to donate S$10 for every volunteer hour pledged. I am heartened by the support received from companies and non-profit organisations that have answered our call for volunteerism. With the support from these Champions of Volunteerism, #100KHopeHours has garnered over 200,000 pledged volunteer hours to-date, double our target.”
Mr Lim Ming Yan said: “CapitaLand has been actively promoting volunteerism in our people, in line with our credo of ‘Building People. Building Communities.’. The Challenge is our first public volunteer engagement in Singapore and I am pleased to see people within and outside CapitaLand coming together, despite the challenging weather, to support volunteerism at the Carnival. Undeterred by the challenges we faced today, CapitaLand Hope Foundation will fulfill its S$300,000 donation to President’s Challenge 2015. Going beyond donations, we believe that it is the strong commitment of volunteers that embodies the true spirit of giving. With over 200,000 pledged volunteer hours garnered from all facets of the community, we are confident that this will not be a one-off effort and our spirit to volunteer remains strong. There are many other disadvantaged members of society, and we hope that our initiative will continue to spur volunteerism within CapitaLand, as well as among other organisations and the public.”
CapitaLand Carnival @ Raffles City Singapore
Apart from indoor experiential activities, participants enjoyed a bonanza of food, fun and games at the CapitaLand Carnival @ Raffles City Singapore Level 3 atrium. Other activities included stage games, performances by popular singing duo Jack & Rai and percussion band Voodoo Sound, and nostalgic carnival games such as Milk Can Toss, Pick-Up Sticks, Five Stones and more.
Besides reminiscing the good old times, participants were also invited to send an e-card through a special SG50 edition of CHF’s popular Send E-card and Donate (S.E.N.D) For Hope initiative to benefit underprivileged children through The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. CHF will donate S$5 for every e-card sent by a unique individual until 4 October 2015.
Other PC beneficiaries such as the Dyslexia Association of Singapore, The Singapore Association for the Deaf, SportsCares Foundation, iC2 PrepHouse and Care Corner – Teck Ghee Youth Centre raised awareness of their causes through interactive and educational games at their event booths.
As a treat for both the young and young at heart, the carnival also featured funfair staples such as ice-cream, popcorn, candy floss, balloon sculpting and a roving magic show.
Champions of Volunteerism
Several organisations, including corporations MediaCorp, OMD Singapore and Dentsu Aegis Network Singapore as well as non-profit organisations SportCares Foundation, Care Corner Singapore, the Dyslexia Association of Singapore, The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, The Singapore Association for the Deaf and iC2 PrepHouse have come on board to support #100KHopeHours and pledged staff volunteer hours. These nine organisations were recognised as Champions of Volunteerism at today’s event.