Singapore Children's Society raised $5 million last year from two initiatives

SINGAPORE- The Singapore Children's Society (SCS), which helps kids in need, raised $5 million last year from two fundraising initiatives.

The group noted at an appreciation dinner at Fairmont Singapore on Friday (March 16) that its 1000 Enterprises for Children-in-Need, a corporate social responsibility initiative that encourages firms to adopt SCS as their official charity, raised $2.51 million.

The 1000 Philanthropists programme that asks individuals to contribute $1,000 a year collected $2.51 million.

SCS chairman Koh Choon Hui thanked donors for their support: "Together with all of you, we have been able to reach out and transform the lives of many more children, youth and families in need; much more than what Singapore Children's Society is able to achieve on our own."

Mr Koh added that the SCS's donation income had declined between 2015 and 2017, in tandem with a fall in the social service sector's tax-deductible donations over the same period following record donations in SG50.

Singapore's Golden Jubilee in 2015 saw a record amount of tax-deductible donations for the sector, but the amount received in 2016 fell by 36 per cent, from $1.361 billion to $865.6 million, according to the Office of the Commissioner of Charities.

Mr Koh told the dinner guests: "On the other hand, our expenditure increased from $13.86 million in 2015 to $16.48 million last year, an increase of $2.62 million."

He also announced a new initiative, Give2Children, a donation programme in which company employees can donate a minimum of $5 a month with employers matching the amount.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean , a guest at the dinner, also thanked the donors.

SCS started in 1952 to serve the needs of sickly and malnourished children. It now has 11 service centres islandwide, supporting about 65,000 children, youth and families.

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