Philanthropic body raises more than $5 million for small groups, charities serving community

Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam speaking at The Majurity Night, which raised more than $5 million for charity on Nov 24, 2022. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

SINGAPORE - Groups and charities serving the community will benefit from more than $5 million donated by philanthropists and companies at a charity event on Thursday night.

The money will fund grants set up by philanthropic organisation The Majurity Trust (TMT), which supports projects that address community issues, such as the elderly with dementia, youth with mental health challenges, and migrant workers.

The organisation has raised more than $25 million since 2018 to support 220 ground-up groups, non-profit organisations and charities that have helped more than 393,000 beneficiaries.

TMT disburses the money through nine specialised funds dedicated to different causes.

The BlueStar Fund, for example, supports groups and organisations that focus on youth mental health, while the Scaffold Fund helps migrant workers.

Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the guest of honour at The Majurity Night event at Hilton Singapore Orchard on Thursday, said that it is important to not lose the authenticity of ground-up initiatives as they grow, and that they should not be over institutionalised.

He highlighted the importance of teamwork to reach goals, and cited the recent upset win by Japan over Germany during their Fifa World Cup match on Wednesday.

He said that while everyone praised Japanese striker Takuma Asano for the winning goal, it was the skilful long pass by his teammate Ko Itakura that made it possible.

He said: “You are only enabled by the rest of your team.”

One group that will benefit from the funds raised on Thursday is 6th Sense Singapore, a group that engages children from rental flats on weekends.

The project ensures that children from less privileged environments can pursue enrichment activities and hobbies, which are often unaffordable to them.

Group founder Abhishek Bajaj said: “I am extremely grateful for the funds raised to support the good work done by many active citizens and volunteers as part of their ground-up initiatives.

“These go a long way in ensuring continuity of the collective effort needed to deepen the trust in our relationships, and explore opportunities which bring benefit to our communities.”

A 6th Sense volunteer helping a child make Christmas cards. The group ensures that children from less privileged environments can pursue enrichment activities and hobbies, which are often unaffordable to them.  PHOTO: ST FILE

Of the $5 million raised on Thursday night, $2 million was pledged by Maybank Singapore to help the Maybank Momentum Grant, aimed at helping smaller charities.

The grant has helped nine charities to tide over the difficult Covid-19 pandemic period and expand their services.

TMT chief executive Martin Tan said that the organisation has bridged the gap between philanthropists and companies looking to give, and charities and organisations that need resources to tackle needs on the ground.

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