A sweet way to raise funds to support President's Challenge

Celebrate National Day this year with some red and white desserts, and donate to a good cause at the same time.

A National Day-themed fund-raising campaign titled Share The Care was launched yesterday to support the President's Challenge.

The Families For Life council is raising funds through the sale of specially curated red and white-themed desserts and an e-recipe booklet from yesterday till Aug 15.

The e-recipe booklet contains contributions from President Halimah Yacob and local bakeries, as well as celebrity Fann Wong.

Madam Halimah said: "I am happy to contribute my own National Day agar-agar recipe to Share The Care to raise funds for the President's Challenge.

"The initiative is meaningful, especially with this year's President's Challenge's focus on supporting and empowering persons with disabilities."

The President's Challenge is an annual event that mobilises resources to help the less fortunate. This year, in its 20th edition, it will raise funds for 72 organisations.

Madam Halimah added: "May this spirit of giving continue to grow, as we support one another on this journey towards a caring, inclusive and more resilient Singapore."

To receive the e-recipe book, make a donation through the Families For Life's Share The Care page on online fund-raising platform Giving.sg.

Families For Life chairman Ishak Ismail said he hopes that families will enjoy making the special desserts together and even share them with neighbours and friends.

"While this year's National Day will be unlike any other, let us stand united and celebrate together in meaningful ways, supporting the vulnerable in our community."

This year's National Day Parade and celebrations will focus on allowing Singaporeans to celebrate in their homes and in the heartland, instead of at a central location, such as the floating platform at Marina Bay, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and safe distancing measures.

Non-governmental organisation Minds, which caters to those with intellectual disabilities, will be baking limited-edition red and white cookies, which members of the public can order through its website.

All proceeds from the sale of the cookies will be donated.

Baking ingredients supplier Phoon Huat will be sponsoring the baking ingredients to Minds.

Phoon Huat will also be selling special agar-agar kits, which include five pre-mix packs and a copy of Madam Halimah's recipe, from July 20 at its 15 retail stores. Each kit costs $10 and $4 will be donated to the President's Challenge.

Another way to support the cause is to purchase red and white desserts from participating partners, such as Metta Cafe and bakeries Delcie's, Divine Artisan, Pare, Kueh Ho Jiak and The Cookie Crumble.

As part of this campaign, POSB will also be donating up to $50,000 to the President's Challenge between July 20 and Aug 31.

DBS consumer banking group executive director Lim Bee Bee said: "National Day is a celebration of unity, solidarity and community spirit. While we may not be able to physically celebrate together this year, we can still unite to make a meaningful difference through our collective effort to help families and neighbours among us who have been harder hit by Covid-19."