SPH staff donate gifts worth $20,000

Children trying to form the longest line they could with items they had at the Share-a-Gift party at Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) News Centre auditorium in Toa Payoh yesterday. They were among 140 people - beneficiaries and caregivers - at the even
Children trying to form the longest line they could with items they had at the Share-a-Gift party at Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) News Centre auditorium in Toa Payoh yesterday. They were among 140 people - beneficiaries and caregivers - at the event. More than 130 SPH staff contributed gifts with an estimated value of $20,000, granting about 300 wishes of people from 11 charities. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

Christmas came early for Danial Arfan, 17, and his six younger siblings, thanks to a festive collaboration between Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) and The Boys' Brigade.

All they wanted was a bag each for the new school year and that wish came true at a party yesterday.

The siblings were among the 140 people - beneficiaries and caregivers - who attended the Share-a-Gift initiative at the SPH News Centre auditorium, the 14th year the event has been held.

More than 130 SPH staff contributed gifts with an estimated value of $20,000, granting about 300 wishes of people from 11 charities.

They included Care Corner Family Service Centre (Toa Payoh), Marymount Centre - Good Shepherd Place and Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprise (Score). This was the first time SPH has partnered Score.

Danial, a first-year Higher Nitec hospitality operations student at ITE College West, said: "We only have simple wishes. We asked for essentials such as school supplies."

Ms Chin Soo Fang, SPH's head of corporate communications and corporate social responsibility, said: "We have been adopting and fulfilling about 300 wishes worth about $20,000 every year... So we want to say a big 'thank you' to Boys' Brigade and the charities for giving us this cherished opportunity to put a smile on their faces."

The Share-a-Gift project is organised by The Boys' Brigade with support from the National Council of Social Service and Ministry of Social and Family Development.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 12, 2019, with the headline SPH staff donate gifts worth $20,000. Subscribe