The NTUC FairPrice Foundation donated $300,000 to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (SPMF) yesterday.

Its chairman Ng Ser Miang presented the cheque to Singapore Press Holdings chairman Lee Boon Yang at an award ceremony held at the Marina Barrage.

The fund, started by The Straits Times, supports about 10,000 needy children each year with school-related expenses.

Mr Han Fook Kwang, chairman of the SPMF, said the donation was one of the biggest it had received this year.

He said: "We are very grateful for this generous donation, which will go a long way in helping the many needy children who require financial assistance."

Mr Ng said the SPMF was a worthy cause that had already helped many children.

"We are glad to be able to play our part by contributing towards this cause and to the fund, so that these children can direct their efforts to studying and enjoying their school activities without having to worry about going hungry or being distracted by financial issues," he said.

Eight upper primary pupils who benefited from the STep-Up programme, an English coaching initiative by the SPMF, were also presented with $300 worth of FairPrice vouchers each for doing well in their English exams.

Nur Umairah Marzlan, 12, said her grammar and vocabulary had improved by leaps and bounds.

"I used to get Ds but am now more confident of getting at least a B for my PSLE," she said.