A GROUP of 70 employees of OCBC Bank raised more than $30,000 in a mere three hours for underprivileged schoolchildren on Monday.

Led by a committee formed by seven of its staff members, the bank's Group Human Resources division set up a 'charity cafe' whose proceeds were donated to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund.

Ten stalls were set up in one of OCBC Centre's conference rooms on Chulia Street to create the 'Economic $timulus Package' cafe.

The employees cooked seafood fried rice and baked cakes, as well as sourced for food from various vendors, including Barcook Bakery and Fairmont Hotel Bakery. There were also local curry dishes and Japanese bento sets, which colleagues and friends alike quickly snapped up.

About 1,500 people attended the event.

This is the second time the Group Human Resources division has organised a 'charity cafe' as part of its fund-raising efforts.

The staff set the $30,000 target after the same amount was collected at their first 'cafe' in December last year.

'We want to play a part to improve the lives of children from lower-income families.

'Donating to the ST School Pocket Money Fund is our way of making it possible for school-going children to receive pocket money to continue to attend school and receive a proper education,' said Mr Adrian Khoo, vice-president of OCBC's Group Human Resources. He was one of the main organisers of this year's 'charity cafe'.

Mr Ngew Seng Poh, vice-president of operations support for OCBC's Global Corporate Bank, said: 'I enjoyed the feeling of togetherness brought about by the event, which allowed our colleagues from various departments to come together to mingle and at the same time do their part for the less fortunate.'

CORRIE TAN