Manpower Minister's photo book raises more than $900k for charity

Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin snaps a selfie with former Singapore Armed Forces colleagues. Mr Tan has raised more than $900,000 for four charities after launching a 178-page book of his travel photos. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE 
Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin snaps a selfie with former Singapore Armed Forces colleagues. Mr Tan has raised more than $900,000 for four charities after launching a 178-page book of his travel photos. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE 

SINGAPORE - Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin has raised more than $900,000 for four charities after launching a 178-page book of his travel photos.

The World We Live In was published in May to raise funds for the National Kidney Foundation, the Movement of the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore, Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society, and Cheng Hong Welfare Service Society.

The amount came from the sales of about 300 copies of the book as well as a silent auction of eight framed prints at an event at The National Library on Friday.

"I thought 'why not use my hobby for a good cause?'" Mr Tan said. "There's beauty around us, it's just whether we choose to see it or not."

With government-matching through the Care and Share programme, around $1.8 million should have been raised, Mr Tan posted on Facebook after the event. It was attended by around 200 people, with GIC director and former senior cabinet minister S Dhanabalan as the guest of honour.

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